Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the liquid fill level in bottles while the bottles are still within the turret section of the filler system. A source of focused light, such as that generated by a laser, is directed onto a series of targets positioned on the turret behind the bottles. The beam is directed back through the bottle neck and detected by a remote camera.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying items, such as bottles and cans, from a first position whereat they are magnetically encoded by using magnetic energy and wherein the coded item is detected at a spaced apart second position using a magnetic sensing device such as a Hall effect sensor. The magnetic encoder can place different levels of magnetism on the container caps and the Hall effect device can detect these different levels of magnetism. By using this technique, containers may be divided into different categories by placing different levels of magnetism on them. The Hall effect device can differentiate these different levels of magnetism which allows the system to do selective sorting at the downstream station.

Abstract: Container diverter apparatus and method for displacement of selected containers on a conveyer for such purposes as rejection, sorting and the like. In accordance with the invention, a servo controlled actuator is positioned adjacent to the stream of containers on the conveyer, so as to be able to push selected containers to a different position across the width of the conveyer. The servo controlled actuator is controlled by a commanded position waveform, which may be tailored to the containers being deflected and which may be readily changed for different containers by use of a look-up table. Detection of the precise initial position of each container on the conveyer allows initial servoing of the actuator to a predetermined distance from the container prior to initiation of the ejection waveform, resulting in fast and precise displacement of selected containers in a highly reliable and very repeatable manner. Various embodiments are disclosed.