Alan C Thomas

US Patent:

7543479, Jun 9, 2009

Filed:

Sep 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/903784

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Michael C. Bagley - Palm Harbor FL, US
Philippe Spiteri - St. Petersburg FL, US
Richard B. Otto - Crystal Beach FL, US

Assignee:

Emhart Glass S.A.

International Classification:

G01M 3/02

US Classification:

73 37

Abstract:

An inspection machine for pressure testing a glass bottle filled with water. A normal test pressurizes the bottle until the pressure reaches an acceptable level. If the bottle bursts or leaks the pressure will not reach the acceptable level. A control monitors the pressure curve and can determine when a bottle bursts. The control can also determine that a leak is present and when the leak happens with “N” successive bottles, the control indicates that there is a maintenance problem.

US Patent:

7552814, Jun 30, 2009

Filed:

Dec 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/999842

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Richard B. Otto - Crystal Beach FL, US

Assignee:

Emhart Glass S.A.

International Classification:

B65G 37/00

US Classification:

1983461, 198456, 1984721, 1985022

Abstract:

A machine for inspecting a container having a vertical axis has an inspection station including an inspection device for carrying out an inspection on a transparent container relative to a vertical inspection axis. The bottle is delivered to the inspection station by a conveyor, which includes structure for engaging the sidewall of the bottle. The invention is an object to be inspected by such an inspection machine, which includes a container like adaptor having a vertical axis, and configured for handling by the conveyor structure so that when the container like adaptor engages the structure, the conveyor will deliver the container like adaptor to the inspection station. The container like adaptor has a horizontal top surface and a vertical axis, and a magnet is mounted in the top surface having a centering axis coincident with the vertical axis of the container like adaptor. The object to be inspected additionally includes a transparent bottle located on top of the magnet having metallic material in the bottom portion thereof so that the magnet will operate on the metallic material to locate the axis of the transparent bottle coincident with the centering axis of the magnet.

US Patent:

7963302, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Sep 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/903868

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Michael C. Bagley - Palm Harbor FL, US
Philippe Spiteri - St. Petersburg FL, US

Assignee:

Emhart Glass S.A. - Cham

International Classification:

B65B 1/30
G01M 3/02

US Classification:

141 95, 141 83, 141 94, 141198, 141148, 141153, 73 37, 73 45

Abstract:

An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.

US Patent:

8151833, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Jun 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/164043

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Michael C. Bagley - Palm Harbor FL, US
Philippe Spiteri - St. Petersburg FL, US

Assignee:

Emhart Glass S.A. - Cham

International Classification:

B65B 1/30
G01F 23/00

US Classification:

141 95, 141 2, 141 83, 141 94, 141198, 73290 R

Abstract:

An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.

US Patent:

20050041848, Feb 24, 2005

Filed:

Aug 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/921749

Inventors:

Alan Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Michael Bagley - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382141000

Abstract:

The invention provides a method and system for the real time, inspection of container preforms having a core barrier material therein. The system is operable to inspect the preform during the production process of the preform. The system is comprised of a process computer and a display output. A beam generator is used to generate a focused beam onto the preform. The preform will refract the beam. The refracted beam will be read and recorded by an image capture device. The image capture device will transmit refractive data to the process computer. The system is able then to generate an image corresponding to the inspected preform and the data related to the core barrier material is graphically represented as an area preferably having a geometric shape. The system then applies a mathematical function to the area to generate output that can used by the user for inspection purposes.

US Patent:

20050098482, May 12, 2005

Filed:

Nov 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/706434

Inventors:

Alan Thomas - Clearwater FL, US
Michael Bagley - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

B03C001/00

US Classification:

209552000, 209214000, 209643000

Abstract:

The invention is a novel automated apparatus for optically inspecting both sides of manufactured components for manufacturing defects. The invention can be used to inspect either ferrous or non-ferrous components. The apparatus comprises a first and a second rotable disc and either a first and a second nonrotable magnet or a first and second nonrotable vacuum plenum. The first rotable disc rotates in a first direction and the second rotable disc rotates in a second direction. Components are either magnetically held to each disc or held by vacuum. At a transfer station, a bottom surface of the second rotable disc partially overlaps a top surface of the first rotable disc, and components are transferred from the first rotable disc to the second rotable disc.

US Patent:

60611251, May 9, 2000

Filed:

Jan 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/014052

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL
Michael C. Bagley - Clearwater FL

Assignee:

Insight Control Systems International - Safety Harbor FL

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

356237

Abstract:

A container inspection system wherein diffused light and collimated light provide backlighting to image a container (10) by a color camera (18). Light strobed through a ring light (36) and parabolic reflector (39) is diffused at a diffusion laminate (46). Light strobed through a ring light (60) and parabolic reflector (64) is collimated at lens (68) and aligned with the diffused light by reflector laminate (48). Diffused light is filtered by a blue band-pass filter (42) and collimated light is filtered by a red band-pass filter (66) and camera (18) segregates the container image according to blue and red color planes.

US Patent:

59234199, Jul 13, 1999

Filed:

Jun 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/876796

Inventors:

Alan E. Thomas - Clearwater FL

Assignee:

Insight Control Systems International - Safety Harbor FL

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

3562394

Abstract:

An optical inspection system wherein a camera (14) images recessed surfaces of a workpiece through a lens (16). Video signals to the image are provided to a computer (30) that compares selected parameters of the image with predetermined values. Based on that comparison, computer (30) selectively signals a controller (20) to activate a rejector assembly (24). Lens (16) is a microlens of the wide angle type to provide an open image of the recessed surface to camera (14). An illumination system (54) directs diffused light through a gap (52) between the lens (16) and the workpiece (10) to illuminate the workpiece.