Patent ID: 9470510
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B65G,C12M,G01B,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An automated misfeed and/or fallen container detection system comprising: a conveyor providing a travel path for groups of elongated containers; a rotating wheel in cooperating alignment with the conveyor, the wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart pockets, each pocket configured to accept a single upright elongated container; a plurality of spaced apart sensors including (i) at least one lower sensor configured to transmit a respective optical signal across the container travel path proximate the wheel at a height that is less than a width dimension of the containers, the at least one lower sensor including a first lower sensor that transmits a respective first optical signal across a front edge portion of a pocket of the wheel facing the conveyor at a loading position and (ii) at least one upper sensor that is positioned proximate the wheel configured to transmit an optical signal at a height corresponding to a top portion of an upright container to thereby allow detection of different orientations and positions of fallen containers and/or container jam or blockage conditions; a pair of laterally spaced apart sidewalls facing each other across the conveyor, wherein the sidewalls have a parallel segment that merges into a curved segment where the sidewalls travel toward each other proximate the rotating wheel to have a width that is more narrow proximate the wheel than along the parallel segment, wherein the first lower sensor is held outside the curved segment of one of the sidewalls; and a bridge member that extends across and above the curved segment of the sidewalls held by the housing, wherein the at least one upper sensor is held by the bridge member.