Process for stacking individual one piece receptacles

• US 5,032,414 A
• Filed: 03/12/1990
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franz Haas Waffelmaschinen
• Original Assignee: Franz HAAS Waffelmaschinen IndustrieGmbH
• Inventors: Buschbeck, Frank, Haas, Franz, Schmeskal, Theodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, George
• Application Number:
  US07/492,979
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 426/231, 426/390, 426/496, 426/523, 426/139, 194/328, 194/332, 73/37.5, 99/335, 99/450.6, 99/472, 414/902, 414/922
• US Class Current: 426/231
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 5/026 for baking waffle cups or cones
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 15/00 Apparatus for handling baked articles
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3404 according to properties of containers or receptacles, e.g. rigidity, leaks, fill-level control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging B65B19/28; investigation of fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/52 building-up the stack from the bottom

Abstract

Process and apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptables are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Claims

1. A process for the stacking of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end to provide a charging aperture and are capable of being stacked by being nested, placed or inserted one inside or on top of the other, comprising

depositing the receptacles on a conveyor line individually or in several groups next to each other;

imparting the same spatial orientation to the receptacles;

passing said receptacles on said conveyor line through at least one testing station;

taking measurements of each receptacle in order to obtain measurement results specific thereto; and

analyzing said results to indicate the structural integrity and the accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle to differentiate between acceptable and defective receptacles,

removing said defective receptacles from the conveyor line;

stacking only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptacles; and

further advancing said acceptable receptacles as a stack.

2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising:

baking said receptacles in a baking oven with revolving baking molds which can be opened and closed;

having the receptacles fall out of the open baking molds in an arrangement predetermined by the baking molds themselves; and

turning said receptacles over to the conveyor line in the same spatial orientation.

3. A process according to claim 1 comprising:

determining the permeability and structural quality of the receptacle material together with the structural integrity of the receptacle at the testing station.

4. A process according to claim 1 comprising:

passing the receptacles initially through a first testing station;

testing said receptacles at said first testing station for accuracy of shape;

passing said receptacles through a second testing station; and

testing said receptacles at said second testing for structural integrity.

5. A process according to claim 4 comprising:

removing any protruding crusts or bumps which project above the finished nominal size of the receptacles within predermined tolerances during testing for accuracy of shape.

6. A process according to claim 5 comprising:

destroying, during the test for accuracy of shape, any region in the receptacle wall exhibiting deviations from the nominal finished shape of the receptacle exceeding default tolerances.

7. A process according to claim 1 comprising:

applying a vacuum to said charging aperture of the receptacle to test the receptacle for structural integrity; and

using the supply current of air through the walls of the receptacle to establish a value for the structural integrity of the receptacle or the receptacle material.

8. A process according to claim 1 comprising:

introducing compressed air into the receptacle through the charging aperture of the receptacle to test the structural integrity of the receptacle; and

using the loss of air through the walls of the receptacle to establish a value for the structural integrity of the receptacle or the receptacle material.

9. A process according to claim 7 comprising:

measuring the pressure difference between the internal pressure of the receptacle and the external or ambient pressure to determine the value.

10. A process according to claim 8 comprising:

arranging a restrictor in a line leading to the respective receptacle; and

measuring the pressure difference at said restrictor to determine the feedback value.

11. A process according to claim 7 comprising:

comparing the value ascertained with a predetermined nominal value; and

stacking or rejecting the receptacles as a function of the comparison of the values.

12. A process according to claim 11 comprising:

testing at least one structurally integral and shape-accurate reference receptacle to determine the nominal value; and

stacking or rejecting the receptacles as a function of the comparison of the values.

13. A process for the stacking of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end to provide a charging aperture and are capable of being stacked by being nested, placed or inserted one inside or on top of the other and made of a porous or fine-pored material, comprising:

depositing the receptacles on a conveyor line individually or in several groups next to each other;

imparting the same spatial orientation to the receptacles;

passing said receptacles on said conveyor line through at least one testing station;

taking measurements of each receptacle in order to obtain measurement results specific thereto; and

analyzing said results to indicate the structural integrity and the accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle to differentiate between acceptable and defective receptacles,

removing said defective receptacles from the conveyor line;

stacking only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptacles; and

further advancing said acceptable receptacles as a stack.

14. A process according to claim 13 further comprising:

baking said receptacles in a baking oven with revolving baking molds which can be opened and closed;

having the receptacles fall out of the open baking molds in an arrangement predetermined by the baking molds themselves; and

turning said receptacles over to the conveyor line in the same spatial orientation.

15. A process according to claim 13 comprising:

determining the permeability and structural quality of the receptacle material together with the structural integrity of the receptacle at the testing station.

16. A process according to claim 13 comprising:

passing the receptacles initially through a first testing station;

testing said receptacles at said first testing station for accuracy of shape;

passing said receptacles through a second testing station; and

testing said receptacles at said second testing for structural integrity.

17. A process according to claim 16 comprising:

removing any protruding crusts or bumps which project above the finished nominal size of the receptacles within predermined tolerances during testing for accuracy of shape.

18. A process according to claim 17 comprising:

destroying, during the test for accuracy of shape, any region in the receptacle wall exhibiting deviations from the nominal finished shape of the receptacle exceeding default tolerances.

19. A process according to claim 13 comprising:

applying a vacuum to said charging aperture of the receptacle to test the receptacle for structural integrity; and

using the supply current of air through the walls of the receptacle to establish a value for the structural integrity of the receptacle or the receptacle material.

20. A process according to claim 13 comprising:

introducing compressed air into the receptacle through the charging aperture of the receptacle to test the structural integrity of the receptacle; and

using the loss of air through the walls of the receptacle to establish a value for the structural integrity of the receptacle or the receptacle material.

21. A process according to claim 19 comprising:

measuring the pressure difference between the internal pressure of the receptacle and the external or ambient pressure to determine the value.

22. A process according to claim 20 comprising:

arranging a restrictor in a line leading to the respective receptacle; and

measuring the pressure difference at said restrictor to determine the feedback value.

23. A process according to claim 19 comprising:

comparing the value ascertained with a predetermined nominal value; and

stacking or rejecting the receptacles as a function of the comparison of the values.

24. A process according to claim 23 comprising:

testing at least one structurally integral and shape-accurate reference receptacle made of porous material to determine the nominal value; and

stacking or rejecting the receptacles as a function of the comparison of the values.