US3228520A

US3228520A - Bottle sorting apparatus having selective discharge channels

Info

Publication number: US3228520A
Application number: US321182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul J Schneider
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-11-04
Filing date: 1963-11-04
Publication date: 1966-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-11

Description

'deg

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .fly/FT P. J. SCHNEIDER FIG.. 1

BOTTLE SORTING APPARATUS HAVING SELECTIVE DISCHARGE CHANNELS Jan. 1l, 1966 Filed Nov. 4, 1963 1 `san. 11, 1966 P. J. SCHNEIDER BOTTLE SORTING APPARATUS HAVING SELECTIVE DISCHARGE CHANNELS Filed Nov. 4, 1965 NN H.. NQTSSS H SA ww: Y

l JWUNNNI 1 N VE N TOR. .H7111 Idd/Mide@ BY 62A) s QJ) .4 fram/Ens.

United States Patent O M 3,228,520 BOTTLE SORTING APPARATUS HAVING SELEC- TIVE DISCHARGE CHANNELS Paul J'. Schneider, 18 9th Ave., Haddon Heights, NJ. Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,182 7 Claims. (Cl. 209-111.6)

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically identifying and sorting into two different channels two different types of bottles which differ from each other in their light transmissive (or light reliective) properties.

The apparatus of the present invention includes manually operable switch means whereby either one of the two types of bottles may be channeled into either one of the two delivery channels.

The present invention and its advantages will be clear from the following description taken together with the drawing in which:

FIG. l is a block diagram of a control system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a known form of vacuum cup starwheel separator adapted to be controlled by the control system of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of two of the waveforms used in the control system.

Referring first to FIG. 2, two types of bottles are illustrated, identified as type A and type B. Mixed bottles of these types are fed on the lead-in conveyor into the starwheel of a Barry-Webmiller vacuum turntable or ejection machine. This is a known form of a machine commercially available, manufactured by the Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company.

Bottle type A may, for example, be a white glass bottle and bottle type B may be a green glass bottle. As mentioned above, a mixture of bottles of these two types is fed by the lead-in conveyor 10 one by one into the pockets 22 of the starwheel 20. The starwheel 20 is mounted for free rotation; it is not power driven. Rotational movement of the starwheel (clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 2) results from the force of a bottle being carried into a pocket 22 by the lead-in conveyor 10. When the conveyor 10 pushes a bottle into one of the pockets 22, the starwheel is caused to rotate sufficiently to bring the next pocket into position to receive the next bottle.

The bottles which enter the starwheel are carried through an identification or recognition station 25. As best seen in FIG. l, the identification station 25 comprises a pair of

light sources

26 and 27 each adapted to project a beam of light, an upper beam 36 and a lower beam 37, respectively, transversely across the arcuate path along which the bottles are being conveyed by the starwheel 20. Light source 26 is so disposed that its beam 36 is intercepted by the neck of the bottles, while light source 27 is so positioned lower down so that its beam 37 is intercepted by the main body portion of the bottles.

Light beam 36 is directed toward and received by a photosensitive device 46 which may preferably be a phototransistor, while light beam 37 is directed toward and received by a photosensitive device 47 which may preferably be a commercially available device known as a Clairex eye, manufactured by the Clairex Company.

The

photosensitive devices

46 and 47 developed electrical output signals in response to variations in light received, and these developed electrical signals are used -in the control system of FIG. 1 to control selectively the application of vacuum pressure to the suction cups 23 of the starwheel 20. One suction cup 23 is located at each of the pockets 22 of the star wheel. Each suction cup is individually controlled. As suction is applied, the cup operates to retain the bottle in the pocket. If no 3,228,520- Patented Jan. 11, 1966 ICC suction is applied, the bottle is not retained. In FIG. 2, the bottles which are not retained are carried away by the first delivery conveyor 11. The bottles which are retained are carried past the first conveyor 11 and are not released until the second conveyor 12 is reached.

The control system of FIG. 1 includes a manual switch 30, -illustrated as having two mechanically-linked arms 30-1 and 30-2. The position of this switch controls which of the two types of bottles will be carried away by the first delivery conveyor 11 and which type will be retained by the starwheel for delivery to the second conveyor l2. In one position of switch 30, the type A bottles are released by the starwheel and carried away by the first conveyor 11, while type B bottles are retained by the starwheel and not released until the second conveyo-r 12 1s reached. In the other position of the switch 30, the reverse occurs, that is, type B bottles are released by the starwheel at conveyor 11 while the type A bottles are retained by the starwheel until the second conveyor 12 is reached.

The switch 30 thus gives to the control system a selectivity which has an important practical aspect in that it permits the automatic recognition `and bottle sorting apparatus of FIGS. l and 2 to be incorporated into line equipment. The line equipment may include, for example, in the order named, such components as a bottle washer, bottle lling equipment, bottle capping equipment, and bottle casing equipment. In such line equipment, only one type of bottle should pass through the bottle washer to the bottle filling equipment.

It will be seen that if the empty bottles being fed along the line-in conveyor 10 to the turntable 20 are split on an approximate 50-50 basis between type A and type B, it will merely be necessary to run the lead-in conveyor at twice the speed of the remainder of the line equipment in order to achieve full-capacity operation. There will be times, however, when the mixture of empty bottles to be sorted will contain a large proportion of bottles which are of Vone type, say type B, land only a small percentage of the other type, type A. In such case, the operator would merely push the manual control switch 30 to place it in the opposite state from that illustrated in FIG. l. In such state of the switch 30, type B bottles will be delivered to the first delivery conveyor 11 and type A bottles will be delivered to the second conveyor 12. By adjusting the speed of the input conveyor 1t), the operator could deliver type B bottles to the bottle washer at its rated capacity, and the type A bottles would be collected via conveyor 12 as pre-sorted bottles for subsequent passage through the line equipment.

The bottle recognition and control system of FIG. l will now be described in detail. When the neck of a bottle carri-ed by the starwheel 20 intercepts the upper light beam 36, the phototransisto-r 46 develops an electrical signal which triggers the position sensor 49. Position sensor 49 may preferably comprise a difference amplifier followed by a Schmitt trigger. When the Schmitt trigger is triggered, a voltage or current level change occurs at its output and an output gate pulse is developed having a waveform similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 and identified as waveform I. This gate pulse I is applied to the shunt switch 56, which may preferably be-a single transistor circuit, and the shunt switch changes from a condition in which it presents a low impedance to ground to a condition in which it offers a very high impedance to ground. This enables the -comparator 57. Gate pulse I is also applied through the D.C. level shift amplifier 66 and the diode 67 to the control fiip-op 68 to unclamp the control flip-flop in anticipation of a possible set pulse.

During the same time that the neck of a bottle is intercepting the upper beam 36, the lower beam 37 is being intercepted by the center portion of the body of the bottle. This interception causes a reduction in the amount of light received by the Clairex eye 47, the reduction being greater for a green bottle (type B) than for a white bo-ttle (type A). As a result of this change in the amount of light received, the Clairex eye amplifier 48 produces an electrical output signal 1I having a waveform such as is illustrated in FIG. 3. This signal is applied as an input signal to the voltage comparator 57.

The Clairex eye amplifier 48 is a direct coupled transistor amplier, and operates class A. The Clairex cell or eye is located between the base and emitter and controls the input transistor bias as a function of light spectrum and intensity. A signal transistor has been found to be adequate. Additional transistors could be used for eXtra gain, or for temperature stabilizing purposes, -if required. Y

A reference voltage is also applied to the voltage comparator 57 from a regulated voltage source 58. Voltage comparator 57 may, for example, comprise a first pair of transistors forming a flip-flop whose condition is determined by a second pair of transistors to one of which the reference voltage is applied and to the other of which the input signals are applied.

Input signals tothe comparator 57 include, in addition to the signals, waveform II, from the Clairex eye amplitier 48, pulses from the pulse generator 59. These pulses are combined with the waveform II at the input to the comparator to form a train of input signal pulses.

The pulse generator 59 may preferably be a freerunning unijunction transistor oscillator followed by a Schmitt trigger to square the pulses. The repetition rate of the pulses from the generator 59 is not critical. The only requirement is that the repetition rate be fast relative t-o the speed at which a bottle moves through the light beams 36 and 37. Preferably, the pulse rate from generator 59 should be high enough so that a train of about ten signal pulses are received by the voltage comparator for each bottle. A pulse rate of three or four kilocycles will usually be adequate.

If the amplitude of the train o-f input signal pulses received by the voltage comparator 57 is greater than the reference voltage 58 an output will be developed on the output lead 57-1, whereas if the amplitude of the input pulse signals is less than the reference voltage 58 an output will be developed on the output lead 57-2. According to the position of the switch arms 30-1 and 30-2,

rand providing the shunt switch 56 is in its high impedance state, one or the other of the comparator outputs 57-1 or 57-2 is applied to the control flip-Hop 68 to set the ilip-op.

In the system of FIG. l, signals which are developed by the Clairex eye 47 and amplier 48 when the edge of the bottle enters or leaves the light beam 37 are applied as input signals to the voltage comparator 57, but any output produced by the voltage comparator is shorted to ground by the shunt switch 56 which is in its low impedanoe state, Thus, these signals do not reach the control ip-flop 68. It is only when the neck portion of the bottle intercepts the beam 36 that the shunt switch 56 is in its high impedance state, and only during this period do set signals reach the flip-flop 68. At this time, the center portion of lthe body of the bottle is intercepting the flower light beam 37, and, accordingly, any output signals from the volta-ge comparator 57 which reach the control flip-flop 68 are limited to those which are developed by the center body portion of the bottle. This technique avoids the application to the control Hip-flop 68 of erroneous signals which may be developed by the edge portions of the bottle.

If the switch arms 30-1 and 30-2 of the switch 30 are in the particular positions illustrated in FIG. l, only the output signals developed on lead 57-2 are applied to the control flip-flop 68. These signals are less than the reference and are developed only when a green glass bott-le, a type B bottle in the present discussion, is intercepting the light beam 37. Thus, if the bottle passing through the recognition station is a green glass type B bottle, the control lflip-flop 68 is set, and an output level change occurs which is applied to the relay 70 through the transistor-amplifier relay-driver circuit 69. Relay 70 (which may be either an electro-mechanical relay or a completely electronic switch) then operates and solenoid 71 is energized and actuated. This solenoid is located in a fixed position near the starwheel 20. 'Iliat is, the solenoid 71 does not rotate with the starwheel. When the next valve 24 passes, the actuated solenoid 71 cams the valve open and suction is applied to the associated suction cup 23. The bottle in the particular pocket is then retained by the starwheel until the vacuum is released, as by a fixed-position valve-closing cam 28 located near the second conveyor 12. Thus, type B bottles, in the present discussion, are retained by the suction cup 23 and carried past the'rst conveyor 11; the suction is later released by cam 28 and the bottles type B are delivered onto the second conveyor 12.

Referring again to FIG. l, clear -or white glass bottles type A develop a signal which is larger than the reference voltage 58 and an output signal appears on output lead 57-1 of the voltage comparator 57. However, with switch 30 in the condition illustrated in FIG. 1, the signals on lead 57-1 are not applied to the control Hip-flop 68 due to the open contacts at switch arm 30-1. Thus, when a type A bottle passes through the inspection station, the control flip-flop 68 is not set, the solenoid 71 is not actuated, and no vacuum is applied to the suction cup 23 of that particular pocket 22. Thus, the type A bottle is not retained by the starwheel, and this type of bottle is carried away on the rst delivery conveyor 11.

It will be seen that by reversing the condition of the switch 30, the type A bottles will be retained by the starwheel and carried along to the second conveyor 12 while the type B bottles will be released on to the tirst conveyor 11. Thus, the position of the control switch 30 determines which type of bottle is carried away by each of the two delivery conveyors 11 and 12.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been Idescribed in some detail, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention as hereinafter claimed.

AHaving described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for recognizing and distinguishing between two types of bottles having different light transmissive properties, said apparatus comprising: irst means for generating a first light beam; first photosensitive means positioned to receive said rst light beam for generating electrical lsignals in response to variations in said beam; an electronic comparator having a reference bias applied thereto and adapted to be placed in one state or the other, said comparator having rst and second output circuits for developing an output signal on said iirst loutput circuit when said comparator is in said one state and developing 'an output signal on said second output circuit when said comparator is in its other state; a control flip-flop; means connecting both said rst output circuit and said second output circuit of said comparator to the input of said control -ip-flop; a manual control switch having interrelated switch means in said rst and second output cir- .cuits of said comparator, said switch having two positions in one of which said second output circuit is open and said first output circuit is closed, and in the other of which said second output circuit is closed and said first output circuit is open; means for coupling the output of said first photosensitive means to the input of said comparator to place said comparator in said one state or the other; and conveyor means for transporting bottles to be recognized through said irst light beam for developing recognition signals at the output of said control ilip-op according to the condition of said control switch in response to the passage through said beam of one or the other of said two types of bottles.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said conveyor means includes a vacuum cup starwheel having valve means for controlling the suction condition of the vacuum cup, and having a solenoid device for controlling the condition of the valve means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized in that means are provided for coupling the output of said control flip-flop to said solenoid to control the condition thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized in that second means are provided for generating a second light beam disposed above said first light beam, and in that second photosensitive means are provided for receiving said second light beam and for generating an electrical signal in response to chan-ge in said second beam, said second beam being disposed above said first light beam so as to be intercepted by the neck of a bottle conveyed therethrough, and means coupled between the output of said second -photosensitive means and the output of said comparator for disabling said comparator except when said second beam is being intercepted by a bottle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by means for coupling the output of said second 6 photosensitive means to said control flip-flop for resetting said flip-flop after the bottle neck has passed through said second beam.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further characterized in that a pulse generator is provided for applying pulses to the input of said comparator at a rate sufficiently high that a plurality of pulses are applied to said comparator during the period that rst-beam-intercepting signals are being applied thereto from said first photosensitive means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further characterized in that said comparator disabling means comprises a shunt switch having low impedance and high impedance states.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609,926 9/1952 Hartig et al 209-1116 X 2,627,975 2/1953 Ekstrom 209--1 11.6 2,800,226 7/1957 Drennan 209-111.7 3,191,773 6/1965 Wyman 209-111.7

M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

A. N. KNOWLES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR RECOGNIZING AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF BOTTLES HAVING DIFFERENT LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE PROPERTIES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: FIRST MEANS FOR GENERATING A FIRST LIGHT BEAM; FIRST PHOTOSENSITIVE MEANS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE SAID FIRST LIGHT BEAM FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS IN RESPONSE TO VARIATIONS IN SAID BEAM; AN ELECTRONIC COMPARATOR HAVING A REFERENCE BIAS APPLIED THERETO AND ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN ONE STATE OR THE OTHER, SAID COMPARATOR HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUITS FOR DEVELOPING AN OUTPUT SIGNAL ON SAID FIRST OUTPUT CIRCUIT WHEN SAID COMPARATOR IS IN SAID ONE STATE AND DEVELOPING AN OUTPUT SIGNAL ON SAID SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUIT WHEN SAID COMPARATOR IS IN ITS OTHER STATE; A CONTROL FLIP-FLOP; MEANS CONNECTING BOTH SAID FIRST OUTPUT CIRCUIT AND SAID SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUIT OF SAID COMPARATOR TO THE INPUT OF SAID CONTROL FLIP-FLOP; A MANUAL CONTROL SWITCH HAVING INTERRELATED SWITCH MEANS IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUITS OF SAID COMPARATOR, SAID SWITCH HAVING TWO POSITIONS IN ONE OF WHICH SAID SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUIT IS OPEN AND SAID FIRST OUTPUT CIRCUIT IS CLOSED, AND IN THE OTHER OF WHICH SAID SECOND OUTPUT CIRCUIT IS CLOSED AND SAID FIRST OUTPUT CIRCUIT IS OPEN; MEANS FOR COUPLING THE OUTPUT OF SAID FIRST PHOTOSENSITIVE MEANS TO THE INPUT OF SAID COMPARATOR TO PLACE SAID COMPARATOR IN SAID ONE STATE OR THE OTHER; AND CONVEYOR MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING BOTTLES TO BE RECOGNIZED THROUGH SAID FIRST LIGHT BEAM FOR DEVELOPING RECOGNITION SIGNALS AT THE OUTPUT OF SAID CONTROL FLIP-FLOP ACCORDING TO THE CONDITION OF SAID CONTROL SWITCH IN RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE THROUGH SAID BEAM OF ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID TWO TYPES OF BOTTLES.