Patents Assigned to AGR International, Inc.
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Patent number: 11904520Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 11872743Abstract: An article-inspection apparatus includes a light source for directing light energy with multiple wavelengths at the article and multiple sensors to receive light reflected from external and internal surfaces of the wall of the article, with the reflections being used to compute a physical characteristic, e.g., wall thickness, of the container, due to the light absorption characteristics of the material of the wall of the article. A single light sensitive sensor may be used if the light source wavelengths can be selectively transmitted. The apparatus can be used for inspecting transparent plastic containers that are filled (with a liquid) or unfilled. The apparatus may determine the wall thickness of transparent plastic containers even if they have in-molded features or decorations that make their inner and outer walls non-parallel.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventor: Mark F. Zanella, Sr.
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Patent number: 11772317Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Robert Cowden, Sudha Jebadurai, Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 11623344Abstract: A system and method for autonomously defining regions of interest for a container are provided. The system comprises a platform for supporting the container, a detector for capturing feature data of the container while on the platform, and a computer system. The computer system is in communication with the detector and platform. The computer system is programmed to locate features of the container from the captured feature data, and define the regions of interest for the container based on the located features.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Peterson
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Patent number: 11597135Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20220097288Abstract: An article-inspection apparatus includes a light source for directing light energy with multiple wavelengths at the article and multiple sensors to receive light reflected from external and internal surfaces of the wall of the article, with the reflections being used to compute a physical characteristic, e.g., wall thickness, of the container, due to the light absorption characteristics of the material of the wall of the article. A single light sensitive sensor may be used if the light source wavelengths can be selectively transmitted. The apparatus can be used for inspecting transparent plastic containers that are filled (with a liquid) or unfilled. The apparatus may determine the wall thickness of transparent plastic containers even if they have in-molded features or decorations that make their inner and outer walls non-parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: AGR International, Inc.Inventor: Mark F. ZANELLA, SR.
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Publication number: 20220024110Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Georg V. WOLFE, Jeff SCHNEIDER, William E. SCHMIDT
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Publication number: 20210331372Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Robert COWDEN, Sudha JEBADURAI, George V. WOLFE, William E. SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 11155018Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 11065804Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Robert Cowden, Sudha Jebadurai, Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20200376736Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Robert COWDEN, Sudha JEBADURAI, Georg V. WOLFE, William E. SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 10406694Abstract: Various examples are directed to a container gripper assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member may comprise a first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second jaw member may comprise a second plurality of pivotable inserts. The first jaw member may be movable towards the second jaw member to grip a container between the first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second plurality of pivotable inserts.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: William Harkleroad, William E. Schmidt, George Fleeger, Jeremy Fleeger, Paul Di Zinno
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Patent number: 10183440Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 9868247Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 9539756Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
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Patent number: 8818755Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for measuring a thickness of a container. For example, a control device may receive data indicating a surface topology of the container and based on the surface topology of the container, instruct a multi-axis positioning system to position a sensor relative to a first point of the container such that: a distance from the sensor to a surface at the first point is about equal to a predetermined distance; and the sensor direction is about normal to the surface at the first point. Data indicating the thickness at the first point may be received from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt, Jeffery A. Peterson, Edward J. Fisher
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Patent number: 8208141Abstract: Systems and methods for in-line inspection of plastic blow molded containers. The inspection system may comprise a plurality of emitter assemblies arranged in a vertical array. Each emitter assembly may cyclically emit light energy in at least two different narrow wavelength bands at a container as the container passes through an inspection area. The system may also comprise a plurality of broadband photodetectors arranged in a vertical array, each photodetector facing at least one of the emitter assemblies with the inspection area therebetween such that the photodetectors are capable of sensing light energy that passes through the container when it is in the inspection area. The system may also comprise a processor in communication with the photodetectors for determining a characteristic of the container based on signals from the photodetectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: William E. Schmidt, Georg V. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20120018925Abstract: Systems and methods for in-line inspection of plastic blow molded containers. The inspection system may comprise a plurality of emitter assemblies arranged in a vertical array. Each emitter assembly may cyclically emit light energy in at least two different narrow wavelength bands at a container as the container passes through an inspection area. The system may also comprise a plurality of broadband photodetectors arranged in a vertical array, each photodetector facing at least one of the emitter assemblies with the inspection area therebetween such that the photodetectors are capable of sensing light energy that passes through the container when it is in the inspection area. The system may also comprise a processor in communication with the photodetectors for determining a characteristic of the container based on signals from the photodetectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: AGR International, Inc. (a Pennsylvania corporation)Inventors: William E. Schmidt, Georg V. Wolfe
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Patent number: 7924421Abstract: Systems and methods for in-line inspection of plastic blow molded containers. The inspection system may comprise a plurality of emitter assemblies arranged in a vertical array. Each emitter assembly may cyclically emit light energy in at least two different narrow wavelength bands at a container as the container passes through an inspection area. The system may also comprise a plurality of broadband photodetectors arranged in a vertical array, each photodetector facing at least one of the emitter assemblies with the inspection area therebetween such that the photodetectors are capable of sensing light energy that passes through the container when it is in the inspection area. The system may also comprise a processor in communication with the photodetectors for determining a characteristic of the container based on signals from the photodetectors.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: William E. Schmidt, Georg V. Wolfe
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Patent number: 7780898Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing and inspecting plastic containers. The apparatus may comprise a blow-molder comprising a plurality of molds and spindles for forming a plastic container from a preform. The apparatus may also comprise an inspection device, located in the blow-molder, for inspecting the plastic container after formation by the blow-molder.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: AGR International, Inc.Inventors: Craig Alan Birckbichler, Sudha Christy Jebadurai, Georg V. Wolfe, Ronald A. Puvak, William E. Schmidt