Cap analysis technique
First Claim
1. A method useful in a filling and capping system for analyzing caps fitted to containers having support rings by a capping machine, the caps and support rings having fiducials, marks or orientation patterns consistently oriented with respect to a start of their respective thread elements, the method comprising:
- capturing a first image of a cap fitted to a container;
capturing a second image of at least a portion of a support ring of the container, wherein the capturing of the first image and the second image occurs non-simultaneously; and
,analyzing the first image and the second image to determine a removal torque required to remove the cap from the container based on the fiducials, marks or orientation patterns.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A technique to assess or analyze cap removal or opening torque or rotational position is provided. In at least one form, a high speed, on-line machine vision system measures or determines the rotational position of a cap on a bottle, measures or determines the rotational position of the finish or neck of the same bottle, and then optionally uses such positional information to predict the opening or removal torque that will be required for a consumer to remove the bottle cap from the bottle.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method useful in a filling and capping system for analyzing caps fitted to containers having support rings by a capping machine, the caps and support rings having fiducials, marks or orientation patterns consistently oriented with respect to a start of their respective thread elements, the method comprising:
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capturing a first image of a cap fitted to a container; capturing a second image of at least a portion of a support ring of the container, wherein the capturing of the first image and the second image occurs non-simultaneously; and
,analyzing the first image and the second image to determine a removal torque required to remove the cap from the container based on the fiducials, marks or orientation patterns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 33, 37, 38)
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10. A method useful in a filling and capping system for analyzing caps fitted to containers having support rings by a capping machine, the caps and support rings having fiducials, marks or orientation patterns consistently oriented with respect to a start of their respective thread elements, the method comprising:
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capturing a first image of a cap fitted to a container using a first camera; capturing a second image of at least a portion of a support ring of the container using a second camera; and
,analyzing the first image and the second image to determine a removal torque required to remove the cap from the container based on the fiducials, marks or orientation patterns. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 34, 39, 40)
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18. A system useful in a filling and capping system for analyzing caps fitted to containers having support rings by a capping machine, the caps and support rings having fiducials, marks or orientation patterns consistently oriented with respect to a start of their respective thread elements, the system comprising:
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an imaging system including at least one camera and a lensing system, the imaging system being configured to capture a first image of a cap fitted to a container, capture a second image of at least a portion of a support ring of the container, wherein the capturing of the first image and the second image occurs non-simultaneously; and
,a processing system configured to analyze the first image and the second image to determine a removal torque required to remove the cap from the container based on the fiducials, marks or orientation patterns. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 35, 41)
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26. A system useful in a filling and capping system for analyzing caps fitted to containers having support rings by a capping machine, the caps and support rings having fiducials, marks or orientation patterns consistently oriented with respect to a start of their respective thread elements, the system comprising:
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an imaging system including at least a first camera, a second camera and a lensing system, the imaging system being configured to capture a first image of a cap fitted to a container by the first camera, capture a second image of at least a portion of a support ring of the container by a second camera; and
,a processing system configured to analyze the first image and the second image to determine a removal torque required to remove the cap from the container based on the fiducials, marks or orientation patterns. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 42)
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Specification