GB1432120A - Apparatus for inspecting machine moulded containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1432120 Inspecting moulded products PLAT MANUFAKTUR AB 19 June 1974 [21 June 1973] 27231/74 Headings G1A G1M and G1S An apparatus for inspecting moulded containers from a plurality of moulds each of which is arranged to mould in a container or identification unique to the mould comprises an inspection station IV including means for reading the mould identifications and transmitting signals related to the read identifications, an inspection station I, II or III including a fault detector for transmitting fault indicating signals, and registering means operable to receive the identification and fault indicating signals and to register which of the moulds is producing faulty articles. Bottles 1 move between an entrance station 5 and an exit station 36 along a slide 6. The bottles are moved in steps along slide 6 to each inspection station I, II, III, IV in turn by means of arms 10 fixed to a reciprocating rod 7 articulated by means of links 8, 9. A bar 13 is moved by a cam mechanism (not shown) towards the bottles during each test period to press the bottles in a direction away from the bar 13. Bar 13 has two rollers 14 at each inspection station which engage the bottles. At station I and II the bottles are pressed against a drive roller 15 and rotated. At stations III and IV the bottles are pressed against a rear support 25. An evaluation means such as a computer 19 is connected to the fault indicating equipment at the inspection stations which provide fault indication signals in pulse or binary form. At stations I, II, light sources 16, 21 and light detectors 17, 22 are provided, and a flaw in the rotating bottle causes a pulse in the output of the associated detector. At station III, a gauge 27 measures both the inner and outer mouth diameters and produces a fault signal if the diameters are outside predefined limits. At station IV a height gauge 30 includes a lamp producing two parallel beams which are detected by two light sensors 31 to determine whether a bottle is of acceptable height, too tall or too short. The computer 19 may receive signals via line 44 from other inspection devices and may reject a bottle by means of an air jet from nozzle 38 at the exit station. A display screen 45 and a printout may be provided. At station IV, the means for reading the mould identifications comprises a source 33 which sends a beam of light down through the bottom of the bottle on to a rotating light sensor 34. Moulded into the bottom of the bottle are a series of lenses which represent the identity of the mould in binary form which is read by sensor 34. The angular position of sensor 34 is also signalled to the computer by means of a pulse generator connected to line 35. In a modified apparatus Fig. 3, (not shown), the bottles are removed from the exit station by band conveyers, and the inspection operations are controlled by means of a timing disc.