Patent GB-603763-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to photo-electrically controlled inspection apparatus
IPC: G01N21/90
Filed: 1945-11-23
Abstract: 603,763. Photo-electric control of hollow glass articles. HARTFORD -EMPIRE GO. Nov. 23, 1945, No. 31645. Convention date, Aug. 24. [Class 40 (iii)] In a hollow glass article inspection apparatus, the articles, e.g. jars, are urged forward by a rotating spiral to an intermittently revolving carrier which first places each jar in an inspection station, where a light beam activates a photo-electric cell if the jar is defective and thereby places the jar on to an appropriate slideway. In the embodiment shown, Figs. 1, 3, 6, the shaft 27 is continuously rotated by a motor through a system of pulleys and gears (not shown). Sprockets 65, 67 are connected by chain 66, effecting the rotation of shaft 63 and thereby also, through sprockets 58, 62 and chain 61, of the shaft 55. Similarly, the shaft 77 is rotated by sprocket 84 and chain 83. The jars are loaded on to the carrier, comprising upper and lower plates 1, 2, by the worm 47, supporting the spiral coil 49, rotated through the worm gears 59, 60 by the shaft 55. Plates 1 and 2 are supported on vertical shaft 4, which derives an intermittent or step-by-step rotation from shaft 27 through a Geneva drive (not shown). On being urged from the slideway 46 to the carrier at the loading position A, each jar is received by the shaped edge 9, 10 of plate 1 in conjunction with positioning rollers 8, 11. The rotary movement of the carrier brings the jar to the inspection station B, where it is rotated about its vertical axis owing to its outer surface making contact with the rubber surface 76a of the roller 76, rotated continuously by shaft 77. Light beam 68 from source 69 passes through the rear wall 7a to the far wall, which it also passes through, if no flow is present. If a flaw exists at 70, the light beam is reflected at 71 and enters the photo-electric unit 73. The restricted sizes of the aperture 74a, 73a prevent energization of the photoelectric cell by the reflection of the light beam from surfaces other than at 70. Upon the energization of the photo-electric cell unit 73 by reflected light from a flaw in the jar rim, the solenoid 89 is energized, by an amplifier and power unit 85, to operate armature 93 which turns bell-crank lever 94 and causes latch 96 'to disengage from article-ejecting lever 98. Each jar position on the carrier is associated with a lever 98 which extends through the slit 5 in the carrier plate 2 and between the rollers 8. A tension spring (not shown) urges each lever 98 into contact with the corresponding latch 96 and on the disengagement of the latch by the flaw-detecting mechanism, the lever moves radially along slot 5 and effects ejection of the jar. Ejection is delayed, until the rejection station C is reached by further intermittent rotary movements of the carrier, by a. closed cam surface (not shown) provided in plate 50, which holds a released lever 98 against the action of the tension spring, and by appropriate shaping, permits engagement with the jar at station C. During the subsequent movement of the carrier back to position A, the lever 98 is returned radially inwards by the remaining portion of the cam surface until the latch 96 re-engages. After the presentation of a non-defective jar at the inspection station B, the arm 117 of bell-crank lever 118 is swung outwardly against the article upon its reaching the delivery station D, by the link 122 and eccentric 123 in shaft 55. The rejection system is rendered inactive during the indexing movements of the carrier by a micro-switch 91 included in the operating circuit and controlled by a cam and roller 126, 128 associated with continuously rotating shaft 27.