Method and system for sampling and determining the presence of compounds in containers

• US 5,376,550 A
• Filed: 09/18/1992
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Fine, David H., Fraim, Freeman W., MacDonald, Stephen J., Thrash, Kenneth M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freed, Rachel
• Application Number:
  US07/946,847
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 436/47, 436/106, 436/43, 436/172, 436/135, 209/3.1, 422/80, 422/82.05, 422/82.08, 422/50, 73/23.35
• US Class Current: 436/47
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/005 the liquid being ozonated
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/46 Inspecting cleaned containers for cleanliness
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/00 Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics; volume reduction of waste plastics, e.g. by mechanical compacting or melting disposal of solid waste B09B; chemical recovery C08J11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/02 Separating plastics from other materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0203 Separating plastics from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0275 using chemical sensors, e.g. analysing gasified constituents
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/065 containing impurities
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2229 Headspace sampling, i.e. vapour over liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/0081 containers; packages; bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/64 Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/766 of gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9018 Dirt detection in containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/62 : Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 : with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/118339 : with formation of a segmented stream
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/17 : Nitrogen containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/206664 : Ozone or peroxide

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for sampling and determining the presence of certain substances, such as residues of contaminants in containers. The method includes steps of: injecting compressed air into said containers in order to displace at least a portion of the contents thereof; evacuating a sample of the container contents so displaced by applying suction thereto; and analyzing the sample evacuated to determine the presence or absence of the certain residues therein. The compressed air is injected through a nozzle into an opening in the containers to displace a portion of the container contents and form a sample cloud outside of the container. The sample cloud is then at least partially evacuated by suction and the sample is analyzed for the presence of contaminants such as nitrogen containing compounds or hydrocarbons. In one embodiment about 90% of the sample evacuated is diverted from the analyzer and recirculated into the air injector. In another embodiment a fan is provided to blow remnants of the sample cloud downstream of the test station. A hood may be provided in a shroud assembly at the test station to provide proper aerodynamics for the region for removal of those remnants.

Claims

1. A method of sampling and determining the presence of certain substances in a plurality of containers moving seriatim on a conveyor past at least two test stations comprising the steps of:

simultaneously injecting fluid into a container at each of said two test stations to displace at least a portion of the contents of each container to form a sample cloud at a region outside of the container;

evacuating a sample of said portion of each container contents so displaced by applying suction to the sample cloud in said region;

simultaneously analyzing the samples evacuated from both of said at least two containers to determine the presence or absence of the certain substances therein;

moving the at least two containers downstream of the at least two test stations with the steps of injecting and evacuating being terminated; and

repeating said steps, of injecting, evacuating and analyzing when a next successive upstream group of at least two containers on said conveyor moves into alignment with said at least two test stations.

2. A method of sampling and determining the presence of certain substances in a plurality of articles moving seriatim on a conveyor past at least two test stations comprising the steps of:

simultaneously directing fluid at an article at each of said two test stations to displace at least a portion of the contents of each article to form a sample cloud at regions spaced from each article;

evacuating a sample of said portion of each article contents so displaced by applying suction to said sample cloud;

simultaneously analyzing the samples evacuated from both of said at least two articles to determine the presence or absence of the certain substances therein;

moving the at least two articles downstream of the at least two test stations with the steps of injecting and evacuating being terminated; and

repeating said steps, of injecting, evacuating and analyzing when a next successive upstream group of at least two articles on the conveyor moves into alignment with said at least two test stations.