DE2454041A1 - DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DESOLED CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Description

1 BERLIN 33 8 MUNICH 80

Auguste-Viktoria-Strasse 65 p. η IIO / "■> LJ I / C S DADXMCD PienzenauerstraBe 2

Pat. Dr. Ing. Ruschka LJI ". KUOL / HISt CSt TAKIlNtK Pat.-Anw. Dipl.-lng.

Pat. Dipl.-Ing. P AT FN T AN WA LT E ^{HanS E> Ruschke}

Olaf Ruschks Γ MIC IN 1 M IM VV ΛΛ 1_ I t _, _t ".", 98 03 24

Phone: ^030/8 g »*}" BERLIN - Munich ^{Phone: 089/987} 258

Telegram address: Telegram address:

Quadrature Berlin Quadrature Munich TELEX: 183786 TELEX: 522767

B IO7I

Barry-Wehmiller Company, St »Louis / Missouri (VoSt _β ν · Α _β )

Device for detecting worn containers

The invention relates to a device with which areas that have been screened off on the wall of transparent containers are determined can.

Reusable containers are often treated and chipped during transport, so that the side walls are chafed or chipped in such a way that their appearance is impaired and a buyer is led to believe that the contents of the container are no longer correct. In addition, there is a risk that they will be weakened by the abrasion Containers can burst and shatter, which can result in personal injury when handling such containers. The containers are usually designed in such a way that when the

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The handling and treatment involved rubbing and scrubbing the walls against one another or against hard surfaces, the smoothness of the outside being destroyed and scraped off with the result that the containers become brittle and brittle _o When containers move rapidly in a line along a conveyor line and have objectionable abraded walls, can be identified and separated, the risk of an explosion or bursting can be reduced so that the filling system can be operated more efficiently and economically if such containers are separated out before they are filled

The invention therefore provides a simple device with which empty and objectionable scouring containers can be determined in a rapidly moving number.

The device according to the invention for determining abrasion on the wall of transparent containers has means for moving the containers in a single row through a detection station, a light source located at the station, Means that direct the light from the light source in the form of a well-defined beam into the detection station in such a way that the The light beam penetrates the container at an angle to the container axis and falls on the opposite wall in the zone in which the abrasions are present creating an area of diffused light and a photosensitive element on the Detection station for detecting changes in the light falling through the container as a result of abrasion, which light-sensitive element generates a signal to reject the container in question at a predetermined level of brightness, whereby the field of view of the photosensitive element is restricted to the area of scattered light.

The preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention has means with which precisely and optionally the transparent Wall of each Belialters can be illuminated when it moves through the aligned light beam, each Light scattering caused by chafing is determined and a signal is generated which a device for separating such an objectionable container from the container row

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starts up · For this purpose, a well-focused light beam is used thrown at a desired angle onto the normally vertical wall of an upright container. This The light beam is directed so that it penetrates the container and exits on the opposite side at a point where the abrasion is normally greatest, where the angle of the light beam depends on the shape of the inspected Container depends. If the container wall is relatively worn or relatively smooth, the light beam falls relatively unhindered by the container with the exception of the refraction of light by the material of the container wall. Falls however, the light beam on an abraded container wall that is scraped off and irregular becomes a secondary one Light emission area generated in which the light is scattered in all directions, so that it is on the container wall forms a bright spot, the brightness of which is a function of the degree of abrasion and abrasion. This light diffusion is generally independent of whether the container is wet or dry, which is important in many filling lines in which the containers first migrate through a washing and rinsing device before the containers are passed through the device according to the invention will.

The light-sensitive area of the container is affected by the light-sensitive Element determined, which is preferably outside the direct course of the light beam, but in the vicinity of that district is arranged in which the light diffusion takes place. Such photosensitive elements can be made of various photoelectric Devices consist, for example, of photocells, phototransistors or photodiodes, which when activated by a predetermined Brightness of light can generate an electrical signal or pulse that is used by a sorting device can be put into operation. A photomultiplier tube and focusing lenses as well as color filters, Used when checking containers other than clear, transparent containers. Furthermore, a light limiting means ζ · Β · a "Ronchi Ruling" used to determine the amount of light, which reaches the multiplier tube so that this tube in one

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desired part of the electrical characteristic is working.

Below is a preferred embodiment of the invention Facility described. In the accompanying drawings the

1 shows a schematically drawn plan view of the various Components of the device according to the invention,

Fig-i-2 is a section through the device taken along line 2-2 in FIG of Fig. 1,

Fig.2A is a schematic representation of the means with which a well-focused light beam is generated through the walls of the container in the examination station falls,

FIG. 2B shows a detail from a representation of a container, showing a well-defined light beam compared to the abrasion area on the container,

FIG. 3 shows certain components of the components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shown device and the

4 shows a block diagram of the electrical device in the preferred embodiment of the invention »

The device shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a conveyor 10, which transports a series of transparent containers 11 to the various bays 12 and 13, which are provided on the band of two vertically spaced and freely rotatable star wheels 14 and 15. The star wheels 14 and 15 are attached to a vertical shaft (Fig. 2), suitable means, not shown, regulate the negative pressure of the various suction cups 17 which move together with the Move the bays of the star wheels 12 and 15. Such an institution is in U.S. Patent Ir. 5 160 277 and described.

In this device, the containers 11 are held back in the bays 12 and 15 of the SteKo wheels by a belt 20, the is guided around the bolls 21 and 22, while the containers through the examination station and to the discharge part 1OA

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of the conveying device 1jO. Containers to be sorted out are held in the bays of the star wheels by the suction cups 17 when they are activated by the electromagnets 18, whereby the containers are conveyed through the examination station onto the rotating collecting table 19 ″. The suction effect of the suction cups processing interrupted by a non-illustrated mechanical Vorrich- ^V. the containers are then released and fall to the rotating collecting table 19 ·

The inspection of each container is reported in the manner that the neck of a container interrupts a light beam falling from a light source 23 onto a photocell 24, which is attached to the structure of a suitable light shield 26 according to FIG. The, investigation of the container itself is carried out with the described means carried out. The upper star wheel 14 acts with the examination device through elongated slots 27 together, with each slot aligned with the inspection station so that the light beam from the housing 28 of the light source through the slot and obliquely through the container 11 may fall in the station. The light shield 26 holds that Light from the environment and encloses the light sensor arranged in the housing 25, which with respect to the axis of the Light source 28 outgoing light beam is arranged obliquely offset, as can best be seen from Figures 2 and 3.

The light beam from the light source 28 is through the slits 27 cLes star wheel directed obliquely downwards at an angle A of about 15 - 35 ° to the vertical axis of the container. Of the The light beam from the light source 28 follows the line x-x in FIG. 3 and is therefore on one side of the window 29 i & housing 25 aligned. There is a light regulating means 30 in the window arranged, which can consist of a "Ronchi Ruling" film-r A second wall 31 with a window 32 is located in the housing 25 provided, in which one of different color filter plates can be exchanged can be used, as shown at 33, which Filter plate suitable for the color of the container to be examined. The window 32 is relative to the x-x axis Light source arranged offset, so that the line of sight of a photomultiplier tube 34 arranged in the housing space 35 through the

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Window 29 and 32 extends and an angle B with the axis x-x of about 25 °. This angle B can be 20-40 °.

As can be seen from fig, 2, the light beam fails the light source 28 through the wall of the container facing the light source and occurs on the opposite wall in one District in which "experience shows that the greatest abrasion occurs. As already stated, the angle of inclination can be dimensioned as required so that the container wall is at different distances is illuminated from the bottom of the container «Dies.es at the Light emerging from the wall generates a second source scattered at this point if the container wall is sufficiently abraded Light like the illumination of a frosted plate, with one low abrasion does not result in the same diffusion as with a heavily abraded wall, so that the sensitivity of the Photomultiplier tube is sized so that it dissipates the Corresponds to light of an undesired container. 2A shows a light source 28, with the elements of which a very precise light beam can be produced in a desired shape. Due to the nature of the abrasion or abrasion on the containers especially in the lower part of it, proper lighting of the abraded area requires precise control of the light spot reaching the abrasion, so that an irregularity of the wall, the lower part and the bottom of the container does not affect the path of the light rays, so that a container is in an orderly condition is not falsely singled out.

A commercially available lamp with a short filament is used as the primary light source to produce a well-focused light beam. Two plano-convex condenser lenses 37 and 38 produce a concentrated image F of the filament in the lamp 36, which image 1 is used to illuminate an opening 39, which can be precisely adjusted and which is designed with a sharp-edged semicircular, elliptical or rectangular outline 39 is bounded in part by a special plate 40 _a n of the edge 41 to a knife edge © 41A is carefully added ground. The width of the aperture can be adjusted by means of a sliding member 42 on a

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Adjustment screw 43, which is held in the desired setting by nuts 44 and 45 o The sharp edges prevent the light rays from being deformed, so that a well-defined radiation louder is generated Aperture opening is projected onto a first side 47 of a mirror 48 which in turn projects the limited beam of light onto the abraded area 49 (FIG. 2B) on the container. The first side 47 of the mirror causes 48 the projection of an undeformed radiation pattern on the Abscheuerungsbezirk 49 _e The mirror 48 is mounted on a precision gear mechanism 50 and therefore can be placed in the desired inclined position, so that on the Abscheurungsbezirk 49, a light spot at a precisely determined point can be generated »Figure 39A of the aperture 39 on the abrasion area is shown in Figure 2B as a semicircle.

It should be noted that the light beam hits the container leaves obliquely and essentially undisturbed with a predetermined size and shape, if the container does not have any abrasion or has abrasion · However, there is substantial abrasion before, the light beam, when incident on the area of abrasion, creates a secondary light source (FIG. 2B), whose diffused light emits in all directions, whatever state is detected by the photosensitive element 34, the is suitably placed in the vicinity of the container. Since the light beam is well delimited, there are good containers only slight multiple reflections and refractions, so that the light-sensitive element 34 cannot generate any false signals

The apparatus described above includes circuitry for coordinating the timing photocell 24, the reject solenoid en 18 and the photomultiplier tube 34, which is shown in Fig.4 · A high voltage source 52 and a resistor network 53 are connected to the photomultiplier tube 34 and prepare the electrical signal from the tube for amplification in a solid state amplifier 54. That from the amplifier The generated signal is fed to a high-gain differential comparator 55 · With the differential comparator stands

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" ⁸ 245A041.

an adjustable reference controller 56 in connection so that the Strength of the incoming signals from the amplifier 54 with a desired reference strength can be compared »Der Eegler can be set so that any degree of abrasion on the containers can be determined »The timing photocell circuit 24 determines the arrival of each container 11 at the examination station and generates an electrical »signal, that via a Schmitt trigger circuit 57 to the time-determining monostable multivibrator 58 is passed. This multivibrator 58 generates a timing pulse to determine the exam time for the container in question. The timing pulse has a constant height and a predetermined duration and puts a timing indicator network 59 into operation, that shows the inspection of each container visually. The pulse is also fed to a mixer network 60 along with the abrasion signal from the differential comparator 55, whereby a discard pulse is generated which corresponds to the discard and monostable multivibrator 61 is supplied. This multivibrator 61 generates a further pulse with a predetermined The amount and duration that a rejection indicator circuit 62 will operate, with the rejection of a rejected Bottle is displayed visibly, and a discard counter 63 is actuated, the number of discarded Bottles, and finally the electromagnetic control circuit 64 receives power. The impulses from this Control circuitry 64 apply (Hg * 2) power to the solenoid 18, with the result that the suction cup 17 removes the rejected container Hold on until it is released and can sink onto the rotating (table 19.

Claims

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Claims (1)

Claims 1, device for the determination of objectionable absences on the wall of transparent containers, which device comprises means for moving the containers in a single row through an inspection station, a light source the examination station for x-raying the containers, and a light-sensitive element at the examination station, which element the changes caused by the abrasion "determined by the light rays falling through the container and based on a predetermined light intensity generates a container rejection signal characterized by Means that the light from the light source in the form of a single, well-defined beam on the examination station Align it so that the light beam enters the container from one side at an angle »tar. Penetrates container axis and the opposite wall in that zone illuminated in which the abrasions occur, with the abrasion on the illuminated container wall covering a region Generated diffuse light, and characterized in that: the field of vision of the light-sensitive element on the district diffuse light is limited. 2 «device according to claim 1, characterized by a Light beam shaping member with a sharp-edged aperture, through which the light falls from the light source, and through means for changing the width of the aperture " 5 · Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the diaphragm opening has a predetermined shape, and that the means /, for changing the width of the diaphragm opening movable with respect to the member having the aperture are. 509820/1055 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3> characterized in that the diaphragm member and the diaphragm opening changing Means cooperating to make the light beam semicircular. 3 * Device according to one of claims 2, 3 or 4-, characterized by a member reflecting on a first surface, which is arranged on the side of the diaphragm member facing away from the light source, and by means for adjustable holding of the reflective member in such a way that the reflected Light is projected in the form of a light beam onto a container located in the examination station. 6 · Device according to claim 5> characterized in that the reflective member is spaced above the container and the light beam down below one Angle of 15 - 35 iii with respect to the axis of one in the Examination station located container leads to a location above the container bottom. 7 · Device according to claim 5 »characterized in that the photosensitive element is a horizontal distance from the abrasion zone and to one side of the Light beam is arranged obliquely offset. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 - 7> characterized by a trigger device arranged at the examination station, which generates a signal every time a container reaches the inspection station. 9, device according to one of claims 1-8, characterized by a regulating means associated with the photosensitive member for selecting a predetermined one Sweep of the diffused light. 509820/1055 24540A] ' 10, device according to one of claims 1 - 9> characterized by regulating means having an electrical circuit including a comparator and a reference member and which compares said generated signal with a predetermined light level from the reference member and a reject signal generated when said generated signal is substantially equal to the reference light level, and by means which reject the container due to the generation of a reject pulse signal from the comparator 50 9820/105 5