Abstract: A device for inspecting a glass container to evaluate its wall thickness. The minimum thickness, the maximum thickness and the minimum to maximum thickness ratio are calculated and an inspected bottle is rejected based on one or more of these three parameters.

Abstract: The capacitance of the wall of a glass bottle is sensed and converted to a periodic voltage by a measuring oscillator. A periodic voltage is generated by a phase locked loop which includes a voltage controlled reference oscillator which is forced to operate at the same frequency as the measuring oscillator. The voltage inputted to the reference oscillator will accordingly represent the thickness of the wall of the container. The following model is utilized by the machine computer to translate capacitance to thickness;C(T)=A.times.T/(1+B.times.T)where C is the measured capacitance, T is the wall thickness, A is the coefficient describing the small thickness, linear relationship and B is the coefficient describing the large thickness, non-linear relationship.

Abstract: A selected number of data samples is taken around the periphery of the wall of a container to determine the voltages corresponding to the thinnest and thickest wall locations. These two voltages are then converted to dimensions and a minimum to maximum ratio is calculated using these two dimensions. Where this ratio is lower than a minimum settable value, the bottle will be rejected.

Abstract: A capacitive probe for a wall thickness detector comprises a plurality of flexible capacitive elements and an elastomeric body supporting the flexible capacitive elements and biasing them against a dielectric body at an inspection site. A first metallic shield is supported between the elastomeric body and the capacitive elements and a second metallic shield is supported on the other side of the capacitive elements in close proximity thereto and has a window to expose the capacitive elements to the dielectric member.

Abstract: A mold number reader for detecting code marks at the heel of a transparent bottle or the like, such code marks desirable being in the form of dots or balls protruding from the bottle's heel. During rotation of the bottle, its heel portion is illuminated with a structured light source in the form of a narrow rectangle, which light is selectively reflected by code marks and collected by field-type optics. The use of a well defined light source of small area provides a high input signal level, while the field optics enjoys a high depth of field and hence decreased sensitivity to bottle placement during inspection. The light source may be a modulated laser diode and the signal processing electronics may include a demodulator to process the photodetector output signal. The use of heterodyned signal processing decreases the sensitivity to ambient light and other sources of noise in the output signal.

Abstract: A mold number reader for detecting code marks at the heel of a transparent bottle or the like, such code marks desirable being in the form of dots or balls protruding from the bottle's heel. During rotation of the bottle, its heel portion is illuminated with a structured light source in the form of a narrow rectangle, which light is selectively reflected by code marks and collected by field-type optics. The use of a wall defined light source of small area provides a high input signal level, while the field optics enjoys a high depth of field an hence decreased sensitivity to bottle placement during inspection. The light source may be a modulated laser diode and the signal processing electronics may include a demodulator to process the photodetector output signal. The use of heterodyned signal processing decreases the sensitivity to ambient light and other sources of noise in the output signal.

Abstract: An improved electronic control system for glassware forming apparatus having a heirarchy of machine level supervisory controllers (including a machine controller and an operator communications controller), section controllers, and individual mechanism controllers. The mechanism controllers may be dedicated to the control of a variety of functions admitting of automated control, such as servo-control of electrical motors, sequencing of solenoid valves, generating alarm signals, etc. The mechanism controllers include separate control programs designed for their associated forming mechanisms, and are subject to on-off timing control in real time from the section level controllers. In general, the machine controller and operator I/O controller handle set-up, operator modifications during operation, and other "non-real-time"interactions with the mechanism controllers; the machine controller also coordinates the operation of a plurality of mechanism controllers in accordance with machine-level parameters.

Abstract: An improved electronic control system for glassware forming apparatus having a hierarchy of machine level supervisory controllers (including a machine controller and an operator communications controller), section controllers, and individual mechanism controllers. The mechanism controllers may be dedicated to the control of a variety of functions admitting of automated control, such as servo-control of electrical motors, sequencing of solenoid valves, generating alarm signals, etc. The mechanism controllers include separate control programs designed for their associated forming mechanisms, and are subject to on-off timing control in real time from the section level controllers. In general, the machine controller and operator I/O controller handle set-up, operator modifications during operation, and other "non-real-time" interactions with the mechanism controllers; the machine controller also coordinates the operation of a plurality of mechanism controllers in accordance with machine-level parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting "birdswing" flaws in glass containers. A container is illuminated using a beam of light introduced at its base. The column of light passes up through the container along its inner sidewall until it impinges upon a birdswing or like defect at the inner wall, which will cause light rays to be reflected through the outer wall. The light rays advantageously illuminate a zone at the base of the bottle which does not extend beyond the outer side wall, and are evenly distributed over a defined range of incident angles. Light reflected through the outer sidewall is detected as a bright spot by a suitable photodetector array, which monitors the entire container sidewall. This inspection technique effectively eliminates undesired indications of defects within the container wall, as well as of patterns embossed on the outer surface.

Abstract: A control system for the control of a multisection glassware forming machine in a manner which enables totally independent operation of any section regardless of the status of remaining sections. The control program for each section is stored in unalterable, read-only memory within a local computer associated respectively with each section. Each local computer is provided with at least two communication ports. A local terminal may be selectively connected to any local computer via one of the communication ports to enter and display timing setting data. A machine terminal or machine supervisory computer may be selectively connected to any local computer through the other one of the ports. A bidirectional communications interface enables data transfer between the selected local computers and selected data input/output devices.

Abstract: An actuator for use in or with a glassware forming machine for pneumatically driving a member through a predetermined path, such member being, in one embodiment, a pusher cylinder for moving one or more glassware articles through a predetermined arcuate path. The velocity of the actuator is controlled according to a predetermined velocity profile and is effected by an electromechanical control means which controls the linear velocity of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder in one direction of motion.

Abstract: A binary pseudo-random sequence generated by a shift register with feedback is used as a noise signal for testing an electrical or mechanical system, and the output is sampled and the power spectra computed by discrete Fast Fourier Transform techniques. The sequence bit interval and sampling interval have a predetermined ratio, and either the noise signal or output test signal is low pass filtered, with the result that closely spaced equal amplitude sine waves are effectively applied to the system under test and their responses separated at the output with no statistical uncertainty.

Abstract: A transducer to monitor a parameter and produce an acoustic signal from which the monitored parameter can be recovered. The transducer comprises a modified Galton whistle which emits a narrow band acoustic signal having a frequency dependent upon the parameter being monitored, such as the temperature of the cooling media of a nuclear reactor. Multiple locations within a reactor are monitored simultaneously by a remote acoustic receiver by providing a plurality of transducers each designed so that the acoustic signal it emits has a frequency distinct from the frequencies of signals emitted by the other transducers, whereby each signal can be unambiguously related to a particular transducer.

Abstract: High bandwidth stationary ergodic signals are randomly sampled upon command of a computer by a pair of high speed sample-and-hold circuits with a variable digital delay as determined by the computer. Between successively sampled data, processing of the samples and correlation function and/or power spectra computations proceed at slow processing speeds preferably using a slow multiplexer, A/D converter, and digital mini-computer.