Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting glass fragments within closed filled jars on a production line. A plurality of jars is conveyed in serial fashion past an inspection station. Prior to arrival at the inspection station the jars are tilted by an acute angle of approximately 45.degree. to define a lowermost portion of the jar bottom into which glass fragments and the like settle. A light source illuminates this lowermost portion at the inspection station, and a television camera is precisely focused on the lowermost portion. The camera relays a signal for producing a magnified image on a monitor so that an operator can divert jars containing foreign matter out of the line.

Abstract: A container inverter for use in a conveyor flow path, and particularly adapted for use with open, upright cereal-type boxes, includes a ferris wheel mechanism within a cylindrical housing which is aligned along the direction of conveyor flow. The apparatus sequentially receives containers, incrementally translates them in an inverting arc transverse to the axis of conveyor flow while vigorously shaking the containers, and returns the containers to conveyor flow in an upright position. A rotary indexing system, including solenoid activated pneumatic relays, a sensor at the receiving station and a timing control, assures that the ferris wheel holds position when receiving containers in order to prevent undesired jamming.

Abstract: A hydraulic safety valve is disclosed which is operative to automatically block a liquid fluid path upon the loss of fluid pressure and to maintain the fluid path in a blocked condition until manually reset. The valve comprises a cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder defining multiple spool gates for selectively blocking a valve aperture in the side of the cylinder and for dividing the cylinder into at least a main chamber and a variable volume balancing chamber at one end of the piston. A relatively short fluid path conduit is provided between the balancing chamber and the main chamber. A manually actuable plunger axially aligned with the piston is provided for urging the piston into a valve open position. A biasing means is provided for urging the piston into a valve closed position. In operation the valve is maintained in an open position by downstream back pressure directly through the relatively short pilot fluid conduit coupling the main chamber with the variable volume balancing chamber.