Patents by Inventor James A. Ringlien
James A. Ringlien has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10557800Abstract: An inspection device calibration method includes mounting a laser-operated calibration device to a calibration fixture including an adjustable target having alignment indicia; illuminating the adjustable target with laser light from the calibration device; adjusting the adjustable target to operatively align the alignment indicia with the laser light; removing the calibration device from the calibration fixture; mounting to the calibration fixture, an inspection device including one or more adjustable features; and operating the optical inspection device, including adjusting the inspection device to operatively align the inspection device with the adjustable target.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: James Ringlien, William Anderson
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Publication number: 20190204239Abstract: An inspection device calibration method includes mounting a laser-operated calibration device to a calibration fixture including an adjustable target having alignment indicia; illuminating the adjustable target with laser lien from the calibration device; adjusting the adjustable target to operatively align the alignment indicia with the laser light; removing the calibration device from the calibration fixture; mounting to the calibration fixture, an inspection device including one or more adjustable features; and operating the optical inspection device, including adjusting the inspection device to operatively align the inspection device with the adjustable target.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: James Ringlien, William Anderson
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Patent number: 9335274Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth, wherein light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least first and second light sources operatively disposed adjacent to each other beneath the container base and having differing operating characteristics. Light transmitted through the container mouth is sensed, and a composite image of the container mouth may be produced from two or more images of portions of the container mouth.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: George H. Hall, Jr., Benjamin L. Daniel, Stephen M. Graff, John W. Juvinall, Timothy A. Kohler, Thomas F. Michalski, James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 8941825Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting commercial variations in at least a portion of an at least partially transparent container. A light pattern in an angular domain is established from signals generated by a plurality of light sensors, wherein a point in the light pattern is generated by a signal from a corresponding portion of the light sensors and represents a light intensity corresponding to a particular reflection angle of a light ray reflected off the container. Different types of commercial variations in the container can be differentiated by analyzing the light pattern in the angular domain.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Inventors: John W. Juvinall, James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 8896828Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a mouth, and a base with a punt opposite of the container mouth. Light energy is directed into the container and through the container mouth, using at least one light source, and light energy transmitted through the container mouth is sensed. The at least one light source is disposed on at least one side of the container so that the light energy is directed through a side wall of the container and onto the punt of the container base such that at least a portion of the light energy is reflected off the punt to extend through the container mouth to the light sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Publication number: 20130002851Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth, wherein light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least first and second light sources operatively disposed adjacent to each other beneath the container base and having differing operating characteristics. Light transmitted through the container mouth is sensed, and a composite image of the container mouth may be produced from two or more images of portions of the container mouth.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: George H. Hall, JR., Benjamin L. Daniel, Stephen M. Graff, John W. Juvinall, Timothy A. Kohler, Thomas F. Michalski, James A. Ringlien
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Publication number: 20120250012Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a mouth, and a base with a punt opposite of the container mouth. Light energy is directed into the container and through the container mouth, using at least one light source, and light energy transmitted through the container mouth is sensed. The at least one light source is disposed on at least one side of the container so that the light energy is directed through a side wall of the container and onto the punt of the container base such that at least a portion of the light energy is reflected off the punt to extend through the container mouth to the light sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 7595870Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blisters in a container wall includes a light source for directing light energy onto a container wall in such a way that portions of the light energy are reflected from surfaces of the container wall, including surfaces of blisters in the container wall. A light sensor is disposed to receive light energy reflected from the container wall, and an information processor is coupled to the sensor to detect a blister in the container wall as a bright image against a darker background. Light energy reflected from the inner and outer surfaces of the container wall preferably establish the darker background, and light energy reflected from surfaces of blisters within the container wall establish the bright image.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2004Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 7387039Abstract: A container inspection apparatus and method measures both warp and off-level of an annular sealing surface of a container. The apparatus preferably has a warp gauge device and an off-level gauge device suspended over a container support and base by at least one column for the warp gauge device and a pillar for the off-level gauge device. When measuring for warp, the off-level gauge device is constructed and arranged to pivot clear of the warp gauge device, and vice-versa when measuring for off-level. The container preferably is held laterally or radially in place by two V-bracket assemblies, and vertically in place by a container support. The V-bracket assemblies are adjustable vertically to accommodate containers of differing diameters and heights.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2003Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: John W. Juvinall, James A. Ringlien, Timothy J. Nicks, William H. Anderson, Brian A. Langenderfer
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Patent number: 7385174Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting sidewall thickness of non-round transparent containers includes a conveyor for holding a container in stationary position and rotating the container around an axis. A light source directs light energy onto a sidewall of the container on the conveyor. An anamorphic lens system having a lens system axis directs onto a light sensor energy reflected from portions of the inside and outside surfaces of the container sidewall that are substantially parallel to the lens system axis. An information processor is responsive to the sensor for determining sidewall thickness at increments of container rotation as a function of separation at the sensor between light energies reflected from the inside and outside surfaces of the container sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Publication number: 20070295922Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting sidewall thickness of non-round transparent containers includes a conveyor for holding a container in stationary position and rotating the container around an axis. A light source directs light energy onto a sidewall of the container on the conveyor. An anamorphic lens system having a lens system axis directs onto a light sensor energy reflected from portions of the inside and outside surfaces of the container sidewall that are substantially parallel to the lens system axis. An information processor is responsive to the sensor for determining sidewall thickness at increments of container rotation as a function of separation at the sensor between light energies reflected from the inside and outside surfaces of the container sidewall.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 7148961Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting containers having a sidewall with a shoulder and a heel includes a device for positioning a container for inspection, a light source on one side of the container positioning device, and a camera having a light sensor and an entrance pupil on an opposing side of the container positioning device. A fresnel lens is disposed between the camera and the positioning device. The fresnel lens is positioned with respect to the entrance pupil of the camera so that the light sensor has a field of view that is directed by the fresnel lens through the container sidewall onto the light source at a first converging angle through the shoulder and at a second converging angle through the heel. The positioning device preferably is such that the front surface of the container is positioned adjacent to the fresnel lens, and such that the fresnel lens has a focal point disposed between the front surface and the light source.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Publication number: 20060098191Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blisters in a container wall includes a light source for directing light energy onto a container wall in such a way that portions of the light energy are reflected from surfaces of the container wall, including surfaces of blisters in the container wall. A light sensor is disposed to receive light energy reflected from the container wall, and an information processor is coupled to the sensor to detect a blister in the container wall as a bright image against a darker background. Light energy reflected from the inner and outer surfaces of the container wall preferably establish the darker background, and light energy reflected from surfaces of blisters within the container wall establish the bright image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2004Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventor: James Ringlien
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Publication number: 20060092410Abstract: An apparatus for optical inspection of containers includes a light source having at least one light emitting diode with a light emitting die surface. Lenses and/or mirrors focus the light emitting die surface onto a selected portion of a container, and a light sensor receives an image of the selected portion of the container illuminated by the light source. An information processor is coupled to the light sensor for detecting commercial variations in the illuminated portion of the container as a function of the image received at the sensor. The image can be developed by transmission of the light energy through the selected portion of the container, and/or by reflection and/or refraction of the light energy at the selected portion of the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: Stephen Graff, Dean Margalski, James Ringlien
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Patent number: 7010863Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting lean of a container includes a light source positioned beneath a container for directing light energy onto the container bottom as the container is held in position and rotated around an axis. A light sensor positioned beneath the container receives portions of the light energy from the source reflected from the container bottom. An information processor is coupled to the light sensor for determining, as a combined function of the reflected light energy and container rotation, departure of the container bottom from a plane perpendicular to the axis. The container preferably is held in position and rotated around an axis by a drive roller that urges the container against axially spaced backup rollers so as to define an average axis of rotation as a function of the geometry of the container and spacing between the backup rollers.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: John W. Juvinall, James A. Ringlien, Stephen M. Graff, Jie Chen, William H. Anderson
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Patent number: 6903814Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting a container finish includes at least one light source for directing light energy onto the sealing surface of a container. At least one light sensor is disposed to receive light energy reflected from the sealing surface of the container, and is responsive to such reflected light energy to provide signals indicative of the level of the sealing surface at at least four points on the sealing surface spaced from each other around the axis of the container finish. An information processor is responsive to such signals for detecting variations in level at the sealing surface of the container. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the points on the sealing surface from which reflected energy is received at the sensor are at a nominal angle of 90° from each other. The information processor preferably is responsive to such signals for detecting warp, dip, off-level and overall height variations at the sealing surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: John W. Juvinall, Brian A. Langenderfer, James A. Ringlien, Timothy J. Nicks, William H. Anderson
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Patent number: 6806459Abstract: Apparatus for measuring sidewall thickness of a container includes a conveyor for moving the container transversely of its axis through an inspection station and simultaneously rotating the container about its axis. A light source and an illumination lens system direct onto the sidewall of the container a line-shaped light beam having a long dimension perpendicular to the axis of the container and parallel to the direction of movement of the container through the inspection station. A light sensor and an imaging lens system direct onto the sensor light energy reflected from portions of the outer and inner sidewall surfaces that are perpendicular to the illumination light energy. An information processor is responsive to light energy directed onto the light sensor by the imaging lens system for determining the thickness of the container between the outer and inner sidewall surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: James A. Ringlien, John W. Juvinall
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Patent number: 6256095Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting the sealing surface area of a container finish that includes a light source positioned to direct a collimated line-shaped light beam (i.e., having a length dimension many times a width dimension) onto the sealing surface area of a container. The line-shaped light beam at the container sealing surface area has a long dimension orthogonal to the container axis, and a narrow dimension tangential to the container axis. A light sensor is disposed to receive portions of the line-shaped light beam reflected from the sealing surface area, and provides an electrical output signal that varies with height or level of the sealing surface area with respect to the light source and sensor. A lens system is disposed to direct onto the light sensor only light energy reflected from the container sealing surface area in planes parallel to the common plane of the container axis and the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 6188079Abstract: A method and apparatus of measuring wall thickness of hollow glass articles, such as molded glass containers having interior and exterior wall surfaces, includes the steps of measuring intensity of radiation emitted by the article at a first wavelength at which intensity varies as a function of both temperature at the surfaces and wall thickness between the surfaces, and at a second wavelength at which intensity varies as a function of temperature at the surface substantially independent of wall thickness between the surfaces. Since the first intensity measurement is a function of both wall thickness and temperature, while the second intensity measurement is a function solely of surface temperature, wall thickness between the surfaces can determined as a combined function of the first and second intensity measurements.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: John W. Juvinall, James A. Ringlien
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Patent number: 6104482Abstract: Apparatus for detecting checks in the finish of a translucent container that includes a first optical subassembly in which a first light source directs light energy onto the container finish as it rotates and a first light sensor receives portions of the first light energy reflected from horizontal checks in the container finish, and second and third optical subassemblies include respective second and third light sources and associated second and third sensors for directing light energy onto the container finish and receiving energy reflected from vertical checks in the container finish. Each optical subassembly includes an associated mounting plate, by means of which the optical subassemblies are mounted at an inspection station with the first light source and sensor disposed in a vertical plane, and the second and third light sources and sensors disposed in opposed mirror-image arrays on opposite sides of the vertical plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: Dennis L. Brower, James A. Ringlien, John W. Juvinall, William H. Anderson