US 12,454,422 B2
Hybrid starwheel system for inspecting an empty bottle
Darin Cerny, Hayward, CA (US); Robert T. Catalanotti, Jr., Lakewood, CA (US); Justin McJones, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Dave Petersen, Torrance, CA (US); Ranch Peterson, Torrance, CA (US); Andy Barmeyer, Orange, CA (US); and Ron Wilson, Sherman Oaks, CA (US)
Assigned to INDUSTRIAL DYNAMICS COMPANY, LTD., Torrance, CA (US)
Filed by INDUSTRIAL DYNAMICS COMPANY, LTD., Torrance, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/235,377.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/399,793, filed on Aug. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0059501 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 47/84 (2006.01); B65G 47/42 (2006.01); B65G 47/82 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/846 (2013.01) [B65G 47/42 (2013.01); B65G 47/82 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0244 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0216 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); B65G 2207/14 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid starwheel system for inspecting a quality of empty bottles comprises:
a conveyor conveying one or more bottles along a path in a single direction; the conveyor conveying the one or more bottles at a first speed;
a starwheel, disposed along the path, receiving each of the one or more bottles from the conveyor, the starwheel rotating at a second speed, relative to the path; the second speed being less than the first speed;
a sensor disposed adjacent the starwheel for detecting at least one of a residual liquid in any bottle disposed in the starwheel and a defect in one of a base of the bottle, inner sidewall of the bottle, finish of the bottle or a thread of the bottle; the starwheel depositing each bottle on the conveyor at a position along the path downstream of the starwheel;
an outer sidewall inspection system disposed along the path, downstream of the starwheel, receives each bottle that exits the starwheel; the outer sidewall inspection system has a first camera assembly and a second camera assembly disposed along the path so that each bottle passes between the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly;
a first belt is disposed along the conveyor, downstream of the second camera assembly, on a first side of the conveyor; a second belt is disposed along the conveyor, downstream of the second camera assembly, on a second side of the conveyor in facing relation with the first belt; the first belt and the second belt rotating the bottle as the bottle passes therebetween, and
the outer sidewall inspection system having a third camera assembly and a fourth camera assembly disposed along the path, downstream of the first belt so that each bottle passes between the third camera assembly and the fourth camera assembly.