SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CLOSED CARTON INSPECTION

• US 20130010298A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonacci, Steven
• Original Assignee: Antonacci, Steven
• Inventors: Antonacci, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/434
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence

Abstract

An inspection of a closed carton for acceptable content fill may be provided by a transmitting unit and a receiving unit measuring intensity values of electromagnetic waves directed at the carton. A comparison of a reference intensity value to a measured intensity value may indicate whether the closed carton is filled correctly identifying missing contents such as the main product or a missing leaflet that may contain product instructions.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting a closed carton, comprising:

directing electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic light source at a height of a fill-line of a reference carton containing required elements at the fill-line;

receiving electromagnetic waves penetrated through the reference carton by a receiving unit;

determining a reference intensity value by the receiving unit;

directing electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic light source at a closed carton at the height of the fill-line of the reference carton;

receiving electromagnetic waves penetrated through the closed carton by the receiving unit;

determining a measured intensity by the receiving unit;

comparing the measured intensity value with the reference intensity value;

wherein if the intensity value is different from the reference intensity value, the closed carton does not contain the required element including missing leaflets at the fill-line; and

determining if the closed carton is correctly filled based on the comparison of the measured intensity value with the reference intensity value.

2. The method of claim 1, including sending a pass signal to an operator if the measure intensity value is the same as the reference intensity value.

3. The method of claim 2 including sending a reject signal to the operator if the intensity value is different from the reference intensity value.

4. A system of closed carton inspection, comprising:

a micro-controller unit;

a transmitting unit attached to the micro-controller unit including an electromagnetic light source capable of emitting electromagnetic waves of non-visible wavelengths; and

a receiving unit attached to the micro-controller unit, spaced from the transmitting unit, the receiving unit capable of detecting electromagnetic waves emitted from the electromagnetic light source, wherein the microcontroller is configured to compare a measured intensity value of a closed carton passed between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit to a stored reference intensity value.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a reject signal light attached to the micro-controller configured to indicate a fail signal when the measured intensity value is different than the reference intensity value and a control output to interface a rejection system.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a pass signal light attached to the micro-controller and a control output to indicate a pass signal when the measured intensity value corresponds to the reference intensity value.