TEPZZ_489B_T

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(11)

EP 1 348 932 B1

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(12)

(45) Date of publication and mention

(51) Int Cl.:

B29C 49/06 (2006.01)

G01B 11/08 (2006.01)
B29C 49/78 (2006.01)

of the grant of the patent:

10.12.2014 Bulletin 2014/50

B29C 49/80 (2006.01)

G01N 21/90 (2006.01)
G01B 11/06 (2006.01)

(21) Application number: 03005947.1

(22) Date of filing: 17.03.2003
(54) Method and apparatus for monitoring wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers
Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur berwachung der Wanddicke von einem blasgeformten
Kunststoffbehlter
Procd et machine pour vrifier lpaisseur de la parois dun rcipient souffl en matire synthtique
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR
HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 26.03.2002 US 106263

Wolfe, George V.
Butler, Pennsylvania (US)
Puvak, Ronald A.
Butler, Pennsylvania 16002 (US)
Schmidt, William E.
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania 15044 (US)

(43) Date of publication of application:

(74) Representative: Barton, Matthew Thomas et al

01.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/40

(73) Proprietor: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Butler
Pennsylvania 16001 (US)

(72) Inventors:

EP 1 348 932 B1

Birckbichler, Craig Alan

Chicora, Pennsylvania 16025 (US)
Jebadurai, Sudha Christy
Poland, Ohio 44514 (US)

Forresters
Skygarden
Erika-Mann-Strasse 11
80636 Mnchen (DE)

(56) References cited:

WO-A-01/65204
US-A- 5 591 462

US-A- 4 490 612

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).
Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

EP 1 348 932 B1
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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1. Field of the Invention.

[0001] The present invention provides an automated on-line method and apparatus for inspecting wall thickness of
blow-molded plastic containers and, more specifically, it provides feedback regarding the thickness measurements such
that the particular container being inspected is associated with a specific mold and spindle.

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2. Description of the Prior Art.

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[0002] It has long been known that plastic containers such as bottles must be inspected in order to make sure that
the wall thickness is adequate for the desired purpose and that the use of excess material is minimized.
[0003] In general, it has been known to employ sampling inspection techniques wherein, at a periodic intervals, which
might be on the order of once per hour, a container was removed from the conveyance system after the container
emerged from the blow-molder and was destructively tested by cutting the same into multiple, horizontal sections which
were then weighed with the weight being correlated with the wall thickness.
[0004] An alternative inspection method involved measuring the wall thickness of such containers by nondestructively
testing sample plastic containers. A suitable system for effecting such testing is the AGR Top Wave Profiler Gauge PG
9800. A suitable laboratory instrument for this latter approach is that sold under the trademark AGR Top Wave Wall
Thickness Profiler. One of the problems with such an inspection approach is that it was time-consuming and labor
intensive. Also, the long interval between samplings resulted in a delay in process feedback which in turn could result
in reduced production efficiencies.
[0005] It has also been known to employ high-speed on-line wall thickness monitoring systems for blow-molded plastic
containers. These systems provide real-time monitoring of material distributions and rejection of defects. A suitable
system for such purpose is that sold under the trademark AGR Top Wave PET Wall System. While these systems
represent a substantial improvement in the completeness of sampling by inspecting each container and the timing of
same, they did not provide feedback coordinated with the operation of the blow-molding machine.
[0006] U.S. Patent 4, 304, 995 discloses a system for measuring wall thickness of plastic containers employing infrared
absorption. The containers are sampled off-line and the system requires the use of rotation. This publication discloses
the use of radiation sources and radiation detectors which are structured to rotate with respect to each other.
[0007] U.S. Patent 4,490,612 discloses a method of measuring the thickness of plastic film using relative absorptions
of two infrared wavelengths.
[0008] U.S. Patent 5,139,406 discloses the use of infrared absorption in measuring the wall thickness of plastic containers. On-line measurement is contemplated, but this system requires insertion of a probe into the container. Such an
approach is uneconomical and inefficient in respect of current blow-molder plastic container production speeds.
[0009] U.S. Patent 5, 591,462 discloses the use of machine vision technology in monitoring certain defects in blowmolded containers. Among the features being monitored by this system are seal surface, base and neck folds and finish
gauge inspection.
[0010] PCT publication WO01/65204 discloses a method and apparatus for measuring plastic containers on-line
employing infrared absorption. The apparatus is said to be employable on a conveyor or inside the blow-molder, and
makes use of laterally homogenous material distribution properties measured through both sides of the container.
[0011] In spite of the forgoing prior art disclosures, there remains a very real and substantial need for an improved
inspection system for blow molded plastic containers which will provide timely and accurate feedback regarding not only
whether a container falls within the wall thickness specifications, but also regarding the identity of the molds and associated
spindles which produced the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of inspecting blow-molded containers as
set out in Claim 1 herein.
[0013] A visual display of information, which may include an average container wall thickness over a period of time,
for each mold and spindle may be provided.
[0014] The method may involve providing a plurality of measuring systems so that container wall thickness may be
measured substantially simultaneously at a plurality of elevations.
[0015] Preferably, the method includes sensing a plurality of conditions in the blow-molder, including mold position,
mold identity and spindle identity such that the thickness determined can be synchronized with a particular mold and

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spindle to thereby provide meaningful feedback regarding the thickness determination.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for inspecting blow-molded containers
as set out in claim 23 herein.
[0017] The apparatus preferably includes an inspection station disposed inside of the blow-molder and having at least
one source of infrared radiation which impinges the radiation on the plastic container to be inspected and cooperating
photodetectors which may be photoconductive lead-sulfide infrared detectors, for example. These photodetectors receive
the infrared radiation passing through the container and convert the same into corresponding electrical signals which
are delivered to the microprocessor. The microprocessor contains stored information regarding the desired thickness
and is structured to effect a comparison and issue thickness information output signals which may go to a visual display
unit for presentation to an operator and may also, if the container is to be rejected, present such a signal to the reject
mechanism which will remove the container from the line. The blow-molder sensors preferably include sensors for
sensing the mold assembly position, as well as the identity of each mold and spindle so as to synchronize the same
with the container being inspected. These sensors too are preferably disposed within the blow-molder.
[0018] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved automated on-line rapid inspection
system for inspecting wall thickness of plastic containers, such as bottles, for example.
[0019] The preferred apparatus provides inspection of containers while providing meaningful feedback regarding the
specific mold and spindle which made a given container.
[0020] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system which is adapted for rapid on-line assembly of plastic bottles and other plastic containers made by blow-molding in such a manner as to identify the mold
and spindle which made a specific container, and which facilitates immediate communication of wall thickness information
for either manual or automated control of the blow-molding system.
[0021] Such a system enhances the efficiency of the manufacture of blow-molded plastic containers.
[0022] An embodiment of the present invention is described in the following with reference to the illustrations appended
hereto.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]
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Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing a blow-molder, container transporting mechanisms, an inspection area
and a reject area,
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a form of light source and associated photodetector employable in the
inspection station of the present invention,
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a form of apparatus usable in the present invention and the interaction of
the same.
Figure 4 is an algorithm flow chart illustrating the flow of information in an embodiment of the present invention,
Figures 5(a), (b) and (c) illustrate a timing diagram showing the relationship among machine step, mold sync and
spindle sync signals.
Figure 6 illustrates a screen of a visual display unit employable in the present invention.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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[0024] As employed herein, the term "containers" refers to plastic bottles, jars, vials and other plastic containers usable
for storage of liquid and other flowable materials. Examples of the size of containers for which the present invention is
particularly well suited are containers having a capacity of about 0.2 to 3 liters.
[0025] In a typical prior art plastic container, blow-molding process preforms entering the blow-molder are typically at
room temperature. The preforms are inverted and loaded, upside-down, onto spindles. The spindles carry the preforms
through the reheat oven which raises the temperature of the plastic in preparation for blow-molding. Uniform heating is
important so the spindles rotate as they traverse through the oven. There are typically 100 to 400 spindles, forming a
conveyor loop. After exiting the reheat oven, the preforms are removed from the spindles and transferred by a system
of transfer wheels into the molds on the mold wheel. Failure of the spindles to rotate correctly while traversing through
the oven will result in a poor thickness distribution in the blown container.
[0026] Employing one or more light sources of infrared radiation and cooperating associated photodetectors preferably
located within the blow-molder near the output portion of a blow-molder where the containers are extracted from the
molds, container wall thickness can readily and rapidly be determined. It is known that plastic materials such as PET
absorb infrared radiation of specific wavelengths. This facilitates determination of the thickness of the container wall
based on the amount of infrared radiation that has been absorbed. In a preferred practice of the present invention, the
thickness monitoring apparatus and method will employ two distinct infrared wavelengths in order to compensate for

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refractive and scattering effects that might otherwise have a deleterious effect on the measurement.
[0027] Referring to Figure 1, a preform oven 2 typically carries the plastic preforms on spindles through the oven
section so as to preheat the preforms prior to blow-molding of the containers. The preforms leaving the preform oven 2
enter the mold assembly 6 which contains a plurality of molds by means of conventional transfer apparatus 7 (shown
in phantom). The blow-molder 4, which may be of conventional type, has the array of molds which may be on the order
of ten to twenty-four arranged in a circle and rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow C. Containers emerging from
the mold assembly 6, such as container 8, will be suspended from a transfer arm, such as 10, on transfer assembly 12
which is rotating in the direction indicated by arrow D. Similarly, transfer arms 14 and 16 will, as the transfer assembly
12 rotates, pick up a container such as 8 and transport it through the inspection area 20 which will be described in greater
detail hereinafter. A reject area 24 has a reject mechanism 26 which will physically remove from the transfer assembly
12 any containers deemed to be rejects. Container 30 has passed beyond the reject area 24 and will be picked up in
star wheel 34 which is rotating in direction E and has a plurality of pockets, such as 36, 38, 40, for example. Container
46 is shown as being present in such a star wheel pocket. The containers will then be transferred in a manner known
to those skilled in the art to conveyer means according to the desired transport path and nature of the system.
[0028] Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a form of inspection station 20 which has a container 60 passing therethrough in the direction indicated by the arrow under the influence of a suitable conveyance device (not shown). In the
form shown, a plurality of light sources 64, 66, 68 are vertically spaced from each other in order to inspect the wall
thickness of the bottle at three zones at three different elevations. Cooperating with the light sources 64, 66, 68, respectively, are photodetectors 74, 76, 78. In operation, infrared radiation will be emitted by the light sources 64, 66 68, impinge
upon bottle 60, have a portion of the infrared radiation absorbed by the plastic container 60 and have the remaining
infrared radiation impinge upon the detectors 74, 76, 78 which will convert the received light into a corresponding electrical
signal which will be delivered to a microprocessor for further processing. Any suitable detector which will function efficiently
with the infrared radiation wavelengths employed may be used. A preferred detector is a photoconductive lead-sulfide
(PbS) infrared detector. A suitable PbS detector is that sold by CalSensors. In a preferred system, the detector assembly
consists of a prism-grating-prism spectrograph and two or more PbS detectors (such an assembly is manufactured by
Spectral Imaging, Ltd. Of Finland, using PbS detectors from CalSensors). The spectrograph disperses the infrared
radiation as a function of wavelength; the detectors are located so as to be sensitive to specific wavelengths of infrared
radiation. One wavelength is selected to correspond to an absorption band in the plastic container. A second wavelength
is selected to correspond to a transmission band in order to provide a reference. As an alternative to using the spectrograph, band-pass optical filters may be used in conjunction with the PbS detectors.
[0029] Referring still to Figure 2, further details regarding the creation of synchronized wall thickness determination
as related to specific molds and spindles will be considered. The light source preferably includes a halogen bulb that is
always on, a lens to collect and collimate the light into a beam, a spinning segmented disk that "chops" the light beam
and a remotely-controlled calibration disk. The light source is preferably always "on," emitting a pulsed beam (which
preferably pulses at about 600 Hz). The light source emits a pulsed beam of "white" light, containing all of the desired
infrared wavelengths.
[0030] Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a microprocessor 90 which, in the form shown, exercises control over the
calibration disks, which are preferably integral with light sources 92, 94, 96 and 98. A container which will pass through
the gap indicated generally as 100 will, in the form shown, receive light from sources 92, 94, 96 98, absorb a portion of
the same and then have the light not absorbed impinge on photodetector sensors 102, 104, 106 108, respectively, which
will convert the received light into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to the microprocessor 90.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, three key sensors which are within or operatively associated with
the blow molder, provide information to enable synchronization of the specific molds and spindles which made the
container being inspected and thereby provide valuable feedback information. One sensor, designated the blow-molder
machine step sensor 120, emits a signal which contains information regarding the counting of the molds and spindles
from their corresponding starting position. The total number of molds or spindles may vary depending upon the make
and model of blow-molder, but this information is known in advance. This information may be programmed into the system.
[0032] A second signal, which is from the blow-molder synchronization sensor 122, provides information regarding
start of a new cycle of rotating the mold assembly. The output of this sensor 122 is provided to microprocessor 90. The
blow-molder spindle synchronizing sensor 126 provides output regarding the new cycle of rotating the spindle assembly.
This output is provided to the microprocessor 90. The sensors employed for monitoring machine step mold sync and
spindle sync may be positioned at any suitable location within the blow-molder and may be of any suitable type, such
as inductive sensors which are well known to those skilled in the art.
[0033] The part-in-place sensor 130 provides a signal to the computer indicating that a container has arrived at the
inspection station and that the wall thickness inspection should be initiated. At that point, the container transects the
beams of white light containing all of the desired infrared wavelengths emitted by light sources 92, 94, 96, 98. The system
preferably employs an incandescent light bulb that is operated in a continuous mode. This continuous light is preferably
mechanically shuttered at the desired 600Hz by a rotating segmented disk contained in the light source assembly. The

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output of the light source is a pulsed beam of light. This pulsed radiation is designed to match the characteristics of the
detectors. The microprocessor 90 receives the electrical signal and effects a comparison of the thickness information
contained within the electrical signal with stored information regarding desired thickness. If the thickness is not within
the desired range, it emits a signal to the blow-molder reject 140 which in turn initiates a rejection signal to operate
rejection apparatus 24, 26 (Figure 1) and discard that container from the conveyer. The output thickness information
from the microprocessor 90 will be delivered to touchscreen display 150 which provides an operator with information
regarding specific containers produced by particular mold and spindle combinations. It is preferred that the values be
averaged over a period of time which may be on the order of 30 seconds to ten minutes. In addition or in lieu of time
measurement, the average may be obtained for a fixed number of containers which may be on the order of 2 to 2500.
The operator also obtains trend information for the blow-molder and individual molds and spindles through the visual
display unit 150. In the event of serious problems requiring immediate attention, visual and/or audio alarms may be
provided. As indicated by the dual arrows F and G, an operator may input certain information to the microprocessor 90
to alter calibrations in order to control operation of the microprocessor. The operator may input process limits and reject
limits into the microprocessor 90 for each of the thickness measurement zones. The reject limits are the upper and lower
thickness values that would trigger the rejection of a container. The process limits are the upper and lower values for
the time-averaged or number of container averaged thickness that would trigger a process alarm indicator. Also, if
desired, hard copy or other output of the microprocessor 90 results may be provided as by output 152 which may be a
conventional printer, for example.
[0034] The microprocessor 90 display highlights molds or spindles having undesirable thickness - either too thick or
too thin. For example, if one mold was producing containers that are too thick or too thin, the operator would adjust moldrelated parameters such as blow-pressure or blow-rate to correct the problem; or the operator might need to stop the
blow-molder to replace or repair an air valve for that mold. It will be appreciated that the mold/spindle-correlated feedback
provided by the microprocessor is used to localize the problem.
[0035] Referring to Figure 4, an algorithm flow chart showing the method of the inspection process, container tracking
and combining mold and spindle information of the present invention will be considered. As indicated in Figure 3, the
blow-molder machine step sensor 120 will provide an output identified in Figure 4 as 180 and the blow-molder mold
sync sensor 122 will provide an output signal 182 and the blow-molder spindle sync sensor 126 will provide a spindle
sync signal 186. As shown by block 190, the machine step signal 180 contains information regarding the incremental
movement of the mold module, the number of molds and the incremental spindle module and the number of spindles.
The mold sync signal 182 will verify that the mold is equal to the mold offset with resetting being accomplished if necessary.
[0036] In order to adjust for the fact that microprocessor 90 may start up in the middle of a blow-molding cycle, the
microprocessor 90 preferably employs an algorithm that allows the microprocessor to re-synchronize with the blowmolder 4 within one mold or spindle cycle. The microprocessor 90 then remains synchronized with the blow-molder 4.
The algorithm is:

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Machine-step event:

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Mold-sync event:
Spindle-sync event:

increment mold#, if mold# is greater than number of molds, reset to 1 increment spindle#, if
spindle# is greater than number-of-spindles, reset to 1
Set mold# to X (mold offset as pre-configured)
Set spindle# to Y (spindle offset as pre-configured)

[0037] Similarly, the spindle sync signal 186 will verify that the spindle equals the spindle offset with a reset being
achieved, if necessary. The collective output of blocks 190, 192 and 194 is detailed information with respect to the current
mold and spindle identity and position with respect to the container being inspected. The sensor 130 (Figure 3), when
a container has reached the inspection level will emit signal 210 which is combined in block 212 by associating the
specific mold and signal with this particular container and this container is tracked in synchrony with the specific mold
and spindle. In the next process block 214, the microprocessor will collect and process the infrared sensor data, calculate
the thickness and merge the results with the corresponding container in the tracking queue.
[0038] The output of block 214 proceeds to block 216 where, if the container is being rejected, it is tracked to the
rejection point and a decision regarding pass and reject has been made.
[0039] Finally, the microprocessor in block 218 updates the container thickness trend database and communicates
the thickness information to touchscreen display 150 (Figure 3). This ends the tracking of that container. It will be
appreciated that the net result is that the particular container being inspected is associated with a particular mold and
associated spindle with a reject or pass decision determining whether the particular container remains in the conveying
process or is excluded by the reject mechanism. The information also serves to update the thickness trend database
as displayed in unit 150 and printed or otherwise stored or processed in output unit 152 (Fig. 3).
[0040] Referring to Figure 5, there is shown in Figure 5(A) the machine step timing diagram with there being a onefor-one correspondence between the machine step pulses and containers produced by the blow-molder. The mold sync

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pulse shown in Figure 5(B) indicates the start of a new cycle of the mold wheel assembly and the spindle-sync pulse as
shown in Figure 5(C) shows the start of a new cycle of the spindle loop.
[0041] At the inspection station, there is a fixed phase relationship between the mold sync pulse and the machine step
pulse corresponding to the first mold. This phase information, which may be referred to as the "MoldOffset," is determined
when the system is installed into the blow-molder and then is entered into the processor. Similarly, the SpindleOffset is
determined during installation and entered into the process.
[0042] Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a visual display screen 240 which could be presented on the touchscreen
display unit 150 (Fig. 3) to provide prompt and concise feedback regarding the mold/spindle correlated thickness information for purposes of process control and blow-molder optimization. The process status is shown in Figure 6. The
representation on the left shows a container 250 which in the form shown is a bottle having an exteriorly threaded neck.
The wall thickness has been measured at vertically spaced levels 252, 254, 256. Each band 252, 254, 256 will contain
a numerical indication of the average wall thickness. These indicated numbers show the process-wide average thickness
at these measurement locations averaged over a certain selected period of time which may be on the order of 30 seconds
to 10 minutes or could be an average of a number of containers from about 2 to 2500.
[0043] Referring still to Figure 6, it is noted by way of example that band 252 is subdivided into a plurality of units 255,
257, 259, 260, 262, each of which may be presented in a distinctive color different from next adjacent subportions of
band 252 for ease of visual review. By way of example, the numbers underlying band 252 present a scale of thickness
in inches taken to four decimal points. Overlying the band 252 appears the number 0.2088 with an inverted triangle
pointing to a portion of band 252. This number represents an average wall thickness at that location of the bottle based
on, for example, a period of time or a number of containers measured. One seeing the computer screen 240, therefore,
can quickly ascertain not only quantitatively what the average thickness measurement has been, but also visually in
terms of the position on the scale. Similar numerical scales and reading information would preferably be contained on
bands 254, 256.
[0044] On the right in Figure 6 is a graphic representation of the mold wheel assembly 280 having each mold represented
by a circle and containing information regarding the related container thickness. In the center of the mold circle, there
is a grid 300 showing container thickness status for a number of spindles. As the number of spindles can be quite large,
the display shows a pareto-optimized list of problem spindles with the identity of the worst spindle problems being
identified by a spindle number or other identifier.
[0045] With respect to the molds, it is noted that some indication regarding thickness may be provided by the use of
different colors. For example, as shown, the number 290 points to a mold which has a white representation, as does
292. The remaining molds are shown in black. A suitable scale may be provided so that the white indicates a thickness
above or below control limits and the black indicates a thickness within limits . As these circles may contain numbers
(not shown) identifying a particular mold, this will enable an operator to obtain a visual indication regarding the average
thickness as related to control limits or reject limits for that mold. With regard to spindle representing grid 300, as there
are more spindles than shown in the grid, this embodiment would employ the worst of the spindles in respect of containers
which have been inspected and having the greatest departure from desired wall thickness. By way of example, the top
row of squares identified respectively by reference numbers 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314 are identified respectively and
related to spindles 1, 3, 12, 20, 21, 23. As is true with the molds, these grid representations would preferably have color
coding indicating as to each spindle in the grouping, the degree of departure from the control limits or reject limits or, in
the event that it is within limits, a color indicating that category. It will be appreciated that while the drawings show color
representations for the molds as being black or white, and no color distinctions are provided in the illustrated grid 300,
two or more colors may be employed in respective circles and blocks to indicate various thickness averages as related
to the desired limits.
[0046] If desired, additional information may be provided on the screen 240. For example, if the average is based
upon a time of 3 minutes, a legend to that effect may be provided. Similarly, if the average thickness is based upon the
last 250 bottles, a legend to this effect may be provided. Also, information regarding the total number of rejects and the
percentage of rejects may be provided. Numerical indications of the number of rejects coming from each of the molds
and spindles may also be provided. The color codes or symbols such as "+" or "-" may be employed to identify whether
the departure from desired control limits or reject limits are above or below such limits.
[0047] Where two distinct wavelengths of infrared radiation are used, a first will be at a wavelength which is readily
absorbed by the plastic material of the container and the other wavelength will be only slightly absorbed. A further
possibility is that the containers may be filled with condensed water vapor at the end of the blow-molding process. If that
is sufficiently dense, the internal fog formed in the container may scatter light away from the sensors and interfere with
measurement. If desired, a third infrared wavelength which is not at an absorption band with respect to the plastic material
can be used in order to calculate a correction factor to enhance the accuracy of the thickness measurement by correcting
for optical scattering caused by the fog.
[0048] It will be appreciated that the present invention has provided an improved automated system for wall thickness
determination in a plastic container which, as a result of sensors operatively associated with the blow-molder, provides

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detailed information so as to correlate wall thickness of a given container with the mold and spindle at which it is made.
The microprocessor processes data regarding the thickness measurement and outputs the same to a unit which may
visually display and/or to another unit which may provide hard copy of the average thickness readings which may also
be a thickness reading achieved over a period of time such as about 30 seconds to 10 minutes or a number of containers
which may be about 2 to 2500.
[0049] Whereas, particular embodiments of the invention have been described here for purposes of illustration, it will
be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without departing from the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims
1.
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A method of inspecting wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers (8) comprising

providing a plastic container blow-molder (4) having a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles,
inspecting a container (60) made by the blow-molder by impinging light on said container and detecting the portion
of said light that passes through said container,
converting said detected light into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor (90),
comparing in said microprocessor (90) said electrical signals with stored data regarding desired wall thickness
characterized in that:

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said light is infrared that includes two distinct infrared wavelengths, wherein a first infrared wavelength corresponds to an absorption band of said plastic of said container and a second infrared wavelength band which is
only slightly absorbed by said plastic and
comparing comprises:
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determining a wall thickness of said container; and

determining whether the wall thickness of said container is within the desired wall thickness limits;
the method including emitting output thickness information regarding said container wall thickness, and
delivering to said microprocessor (90) signals received from sensors (120, 122, 126) associated with said blowmolder (4) relating to said mold and said spindle involved in making the container being inspected.

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2.

The method of claim 1, includingsaid microprocessor output thickness information having identification of said mold
and said spindle employed in making said container.

3.

The method of claim 2, includingdelivering to said microprocessor (90) signals from a sensor associated with said
blow molder for determining the position of said molds and said spindles.

4.

The method of claim 1, includinginspecting a plurality of vertically spaced portions of said container simultaneously.

5.

The method of claim 4, including said microprocessor (90) providing output thickness information for each said
vertically disposed portion.

6.

The method of claim 5, including employing a plurality of detectors (74,76,78) in effecting said detecting, and employing a plurality of infrared light sources (64,66, 68) each operatively associated with a said detector.

7.

The method of claim 1, includingautomatically rejecting any container which does not pass said inspection by
separating the same from adjacent non-rejected containers.

8.

The method of claim 5, including visually displaying at least a portion of said microprocessor emitted output thickness
information.

9.

The method of claim 8, including in said output thickness information associating said container thickness information
with identification of the mold and the spindle involved in the manufacture of said container.

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10. The method of claim 9, including in said output thickness information a thickness averaged for a time period.
11. The method of claim 1, including providing a reject station (24, 26) for physically removing rejected containers, and

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effecting said inspection after said container emerges from said blow-molder (4) but prior to the containers reaching
said rejection station (24, 26).
12. The method of claim 10, including updating said output thickness information after each inspection of a said container.
5

13. The method of claim 1, including effecting said inspection on-line.

14. The method of claim 1, including prior to initiating an inspection cycle confirming the presence of a container at the
desired inspection position (20).
10

15. The method of claim 10, including in said output thickness information a thickness averaged for a number of containers.

15

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light energy is impinged on the plastic container by directing the infrared
light energy from an exterior of the plastic container toward the plastic container after the plastic container is formed
by said blow-molder.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of said blow-molder based on the
inspecting of the container.

20

18. The method of claims 16-17, wherein the infrared light energy is directed from an exterior of the plastic container
toward the plastic container while the plastic container is suspended by a transfer arm.
19. The method of claim 1, including sensing within said blow-molder the position of said molds.
25

20. The method of claim 19, including delivering said sensor obtained mold position information to said microprocessor
(90).

30

21. The method of claim 1, including said sensors (74,76,78) associated with said blow-molder (4) being disposed within
said blow-molder.
22. The method of claim 1, including employing said output thickness information to initiate an alarm when predetermined
conditions exist.

35

40

45

23. Apparatus for inspecting wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers (8) comprising
a blow-molder (4) having a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles,
at least one source (64, 66, 68) of light for impinging said light on a plastic container (60) made by the blow-molder,
at least one detector (74,76,78) for receiving light passing through said container and converting the same into
corresponding electrical signals,
a microprocessor (90) for receiving said electrical signals and comparing the same with stored data,
characterized in that
the or each said source is a source of infrared light that includes two distinct infrared wavelengths, wherein a first
infrared wavelength corresponds to an absorption band of said plastic of said container and a second infrared
wavelength band that is only slightly absorbed by said plastic, and
the or each said detector is an infrared detector, and in that the microprocessor is operable to determine the wall
thickness of said container and whether it is within desired limits and to emit output thickness information, and
the apparatus including blow-molder sensors (120, 122, 126) operatively associated with said blow-molder (4) to
identify said molds and spindles and provide input to said microprocessor from which it can associate said container
thickness information with the mold and spindle which made said container.

50

24. The apparatus of claim 23, including a machine sensor (120, 122, 126) associated with said blow-molder (4) for
providing information regarding the positions of said mold and delivering a machine position signal to said microprocessor (90).
55

25. The apparatus of claim 24, including a container position sensor (130) for confirming that a container is present at
the desired inspection position and emitting a signal to said microprocessor (90).
26. The apparatus of claim 24, including said microprocessor thickness information including average container wall

EP 1 348 932 B1
thickness over a predetermined time period.
27. The apparatus of claim 23, including a plurality of said infrared light sensors (74,76,78) and infrared detectors to
permit inspection of said wall thickness at a plurality of vertically spaced locations (252, 254, 256).
5

28. The apparatus of claim 25, including a visual display unit (240) for receiving output thickness information from said
microprocessor and displaying the same.

10

29. The apparatus of claim 28, including said visual display unit (240) providing separate information for each said mold
and each said spindle.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, including said visual display unit (240) displaying information regarding average wall
thickness over a period of time.

15

31. The apparatus of claim 29, including reject apparatus (24, 26) for removing a container if said microprocessor
determines that the wall thickness is not within a desired range.
32. The apparatus of claim 30 including said microprocessor (90) being structured to update said thickness information
after each inspection of a said container.

20

33. The apparatus of claim 23, including said apparatus being positioned for on-line inspection of said containers.
34. The apparatus of claim 23, including said microprocessor thickness information including average container wall
thickness for a number of containers.
25

35. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

30

the at least one light source is exterior to the container such that the infrared light from the at least one light
source is directed from an exterior of the container toward the container; and
the at least one detector is exterior to the container and detects infrared light that passes through the container.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one source directs the infrared light toward the container from the
exterior of the container while the container is suspended in an inspection area of the apparatus.

35

37. The apparatus of claim 28, including said microprocessor thickness information being an average thickness, and
said visual display unit (240) displaying said average thickness as related to specific said molds and spindles.
38. The apparatus of claim 37, including said microprocessor average thickness information being for a specific period
of time.

40

39. The apparatus of claim 37, including said microprocessor average thickness information being for a specific number
of containers.

45

40. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said blow-molder sensors include a blow-molder step sensor structured to emit
a signal which contains information regarding the counting of the molds and spindles from a corresponding starting
position.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

50

said molds of said blow-molder are part of a mold assembly (6); and
said blow-molder sensors include a blow-molder synchronisation sensor structured to provide information regarding the start of a new cycle of rotating the mold assembly.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein:

55

said spindles of said blow-molder are part of a rotating spindle assembly; and
said blow molder sensors include a blow molder spindle sychronisation sensor structured to provide output
regarding a new cycle of rotating the spindle assembly.

EP 1 348 932 B1
43. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a rotating transfer assembly (12) comprising a plurality of transfer
arms (10), wherein the at least one source directs the infrared light toward the container from the exterior of the
container while the container is suspended by one of the plurality of transfer arms of the transfer assembly in the
inspection area.
5

44. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the microprocessor determines the wall thickness of the container based on an
amount of the light energy for each of the two infrared wavelengths absorbed by the plastic container.

10

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor determines the wall thickness of the container based on an
amount of the light energy for each of the two infrared wavelengths absorbed by the plastic container.

Patentansprche
15

1.

Verfahren zur Inspektion der Wanddicke von blasgeformten Kunststoffbehltern (8), umfassend:
Bereitstellen einer Blasmaschine (4), die eine Vielzahl Formen und eine Vielzahl von Spindeln aufweist,
Inspizieren eines von der Blasmaschine hergestellten Behlters (60) durch Fallen von Licht auf den Behlter
und Detektieren des Teils des Lichts, der durch den Behlter hindurch geht,
Umwandeln des detektierten Lichts in elektrische Signale, die einem Mikroprozessor (90) zugefhrt werden,
Vergleichen im Mikroprozessor (90) der elektrischen Signale mit gespeicherten Daten hinsichtlich erwnschter
Wanddicke
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:

20

25

das Licht Infrarot ist, welches zwei unterschiedliche Infrarotwellenlngen einschliet, wobei eine erste
Infrarotwellenlnge einem Absorptionsband des Kunststoffs des Behlters und einem zweiten Infrarotwellenlngenband entspricht, das vom Kunststoff nur geringfgig absorbiert wird, und
das Vergleichen umfasst:

30

Ermitteln einer Wanddicke des Behlters; und

Ermitteln, ob die Wanddicke des Behlters innerhalb der erwnschten Wanddickengrenzen liegt;
wobei das Verfahren Information fr Abgabedicke hinsichtlich der Behlterwanddicke emittiert, und
Liefern von Signalen an den Mikroprozessor (90), die von, mit der Blasmaschine (4) assoziierten,
Sensoren (120, 122, 126) empfangen wurden, die sich auf die Form und Spindeln beziehen, die bei
der Herstellung des zu inspizierenden Behlters involviert sind.

35

40

2.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, einschlielich Information des Mikroprozessors ber Ausstodicke mit Identifizierung
der Form und der Spindel, die bei der Herstellung des Behlters verwendet wurden.

3.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, einschlielich Lieferung von Signalen an den Mikroprozessor (90) ab einem Sensor,
der mit der Blasmaschine assoziiert ist, um die Position der Formen und Spindeln zu ermitteln.

4.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, einschlielich simultanem Inspizieren einer Vielzahl vertikal beabstandeter Teile des
Behlters.

5.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, welches einschliet, dass der Mikroprozessor (90) Information fr die Ausstodicke
jedes vertikal angeordneten Teils bereitstellt.

6.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, einschlielich Verwenden einer Vielzahl von Detektoren (74,76,78) beim Ausfhren
des Detektierens und Verwenden einer Vielzahl infraroter Lichtquellen (64,66, 68), die jeweils betriebsfhig mit
einem Detektor assoziiert sind.

7.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, einschlielich automatischer Zurckweisung irgendeines Behlters, der die Inspektion
nicht besteht, durch Trennen desselben von angrenzenden nicht zurckgewiesenen Behltern.

8.

Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, einschlielich visueller Anzeige wenigstens eines Teils der emittierten Information des
Mikroprozessors fr die Ausstodicke.

45

50

55

10

EP 1 348 932 B1
9.

10

Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, welches in die Information fr die Ausstodicke das Assoziieren der Information fr
die Behlterdicke mit der Identifizierung der Form in der Spindel einschliet, die bei der Herstellung des Behlters
involviert sind.

10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, welches in die Information fr die Ausstodicke eine fr einen Zeitraum gemittelte
Dicke einschliet.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, welches das Bereitstellen einer Ausschussstation (24, 26) zum krperlichen Entfernen
zurckgewiesener Behlter und Ausfhren der Inspektion nach dem der Behlter aus der Blasmaschine (4) auftaucht,
aber bevor der Behlter die Ausschussstation (24, 26) erreicht, einschliet.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, welches das Aktualisieren der Information fr die Ausstodicke nach jeder Inspektion
eines besagten Behlters einschliet.

15

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, welches das Ausfhren der Inspektion Online einschliet.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, das vor dem Initiieren eines Inspektionszyklus, das Besttigen der Anwesenheit eines
Behlters in der erwnschten Inspektionsposition (20) einschliet.

20

25

15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, das in der Information fr Produktdicke eine Dicke einschliet, die eine Reihe von
Behltern gemittelt ist.
16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Infrarotlichtenergie auf den Kunststoffbehlter fllt, indem die Infrarotlichtenergie von einem Auenbereich des Kunststoffbehlters in Richtung des Kunststoffbehlters gelenkt wird, nach
dem der Kunststoffbehlter von der Blasmaschine geformt worden ist.
17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, das ferner das Einstellen eines Betriebsparameters der Blasmaschine, auf der Inspektion des Behlters beruhend, umfasst.

30

18. Verfahren nach Ansprchen 16-17, wobei die Infrarotlichtenergie von einem Auenbereich des Kunststoffbehlters
in Richtung des Kunststoffbehlters gelenkt wird, whrend der Kunststoffbehlter von einem Transferarm herabhngt.
19. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, welches das Abtasten der Position der Formen innerhalb der Blasmaschine einschliet.

35

20. Verfahren nach Anspruch 19, welches das Liefern der vom Sensor erlangten Information fr Position der Form an
den Mikroprozessor (90) einschliet.

40

21. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, welches einschliet, dass die mit der Blasmaschine (4) assoziierten Sensoren (74,76,78)
innerhalb der Blasmaschine angeordnet sind.
22. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, welches die Verwendung der Information fr die Ausstodicke zum Initiieren eines
Alarms einschliet, wenn vorgegebenen Bedingungen existieren.

45

50

55

23. Vorrichtung zur Inspektion der Wanddicke von blasgeformten Kunststoffbehltern (8), umfassend:
Eine Blasmaschine (4) mit einer Vielzahl von Formen und einer Vielzahl von Spindeln,
wenigstens eine Lichtquelle (64, 66, 68), um Licht auf eine von der Blasmaschine hergestellten Kunststoffbehlter (60) fallen zu lassen, wenigstens einen Detektor (74,76,78) zum Empfangen von Licht, das den Behlter
durchluft und
Umwandeln desselben in entsprechende elektrische Signale, einen Mikroprozessor (90) zum Empfangen der
elektrischen Signale und Vergleichen derselben mit gespeicherten Daten,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die oder jede Quelle eine Quelle von Infrarotlicht ist, das zwei unterschiedliche Infrarotwellenlngen einschliet,
wobei eine erste Infrarotwellenlnge einem Absorptionsband des Kunststoffs des Behlters und einem zweiten
Infrarotwellenlngenband entspricht, das nur geringfgig vom Kunststoff absorbiert wird, und
der oder jeder Detektor ein Infrarotdetektor ist und dadurch, dass der Mikroprozessor betriebsfhig ist, die
Wanddicke des Behlters zu ermitteln und, ob sie innerhalb der erwnschten Grenzen liegt und Information fr

11

EP 1 348 932 B1
die Ausstodicke zu emittieren und die Vorrichtung Blasmaschinensensoren (120, 122, 126) einschliet, die
betriebsfhig mit der Blasmaschine (4) assoziiert sind, um die Formen und Spindeln zu identifizieren und dem
Mikroprozessor Eingabe bereitzustellen anhand, derer er die Information fr Behlterdicke mit der Form und
Spindel assoziieren kann, die den Behlter hergestellt haben.
5

24. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, die einen Maschinensensor (120, 122, 126) einschliet, der mit der Blasmaschine
(4) assoziiert ist, um Information hinsichtlich der Positionen der Form bereitzustellen und ein Maschinenpositionssignal an den Mikroprozessor (90) zu liefern.
10

15

25. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 24, die einen Behlterpositionssensor (130) zum Besttigen, dass ein Behlter in der
erwnschten Inspektionsposition zugegen ist und das Emittieren eines Signals an den Mikroprozessor (90) einschliet.
26. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 24, welche die Information des Mikroprozessors hinsichtlich Dicke einschlielich der
durchschnittlichen Behlterwanddicke ber einen vorgegebenen Zeitraum einschliet.
27. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, die eine Vielzahl der Infrarotlichtsensoren (74,76,78) und Infrarotdetektoren einschliet, um die Inspektion der Wanddicke an einer Vielzahl von vertikal beabstandeten Stellen (252, 254, 256)
zuzulassen.

20

28. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 25, die eine visuelle Anzeigeeinheit (240) zum Empfangen der Information fr die Ausstodicke seitens des Mikroprozessors und Anzeigen derselben einschliet.

25

29. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 28, welche die visuelle Anzeigeeinheit (240) einschliet, um separate Information fr
jede Form und jede Spindel bereitzustellen.
30. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 29, welche die visuelle Anzeigeeinheit (240) einschliet, die Information hinsichtlich der
durchschnittlichen Wanddicke ber einen Zeitraum anzeigt.

30

31. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 29, welche die Ausschussvorrichtung (24, 26) zum Entfernen eines Behlters einschliet,
wenn der Mikroprozessor ermittelt, dass die Wanddicke nicht innerhalb eines erwnschten Bereichs liegt.
32. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 30, die einschliet, dass der Mikroprozessor (90) strukturiert ist, die Information fr
Dicke nach jeder Inspektion eines Behlters zu aktualisieren.

35

33. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, die einschliet, dass die Vorrichtung fr Online-Inspektion der Behlter positioniert
wird.

40

34. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, welche die Information des Mikroprozessors hinsichtlich der Dicke einschlielich
der durchschnittlichen Behlterwanddicke fr eine Reihe von Behltern einschliet.
35. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, wobei:

45

50

sich die wenigstens eine Lichtquelle auerhalb des Behlters befindet, derartig, dass das Infrarotlicht von der
wenigstens einen Lichtquelle von einem Auenbereich des Behlters in Richtung des Behlters gelenkt wird; und
sich der wenigstens eine Detektor auerhalb des Behlters befindet und Infrarotlicht detektiert, das den Behlter
durchluft.
36. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 35, wobei wenigstens eine Quelle das Infrarotlicht vom Auenbereich des Behlters in
Richtung des Behlters lenkt, whrend der Behlter in einem Inspektionsbereich der Vorrichtung herabhngt.
37. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 28, welche die Information des Mikroprozessors hinsichtlich Dicke einschliet, die eine
durchschnittliche Dicke ist, und die visuelle Anzeigeeinheit (240) die durchschnittliche Dicke in Bezug auf spezielle
Formen und Spindeln anzeigt.

55

38. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 37, welche einschliet, dass die Information des Mikroprozessors hinsichtlich durchschnittlicher Dicke fr einen speziellen Zeitraum ist.

12

EP 1 348 932 B1
39. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 37, welche einschliet, dass die Information des Mikroprozessors hinsichtlich durchschnittlicher Dicke fr eine spezielle Zahl von Behltern ist.

40. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, wobei die Blasmaschinensensoren einen Blasmaschinen-Schrittsensor einschlieen, der strukturiert ist, ein Signal zu emittieren, das Information hinsichtlich der Zhlung der Formen und Spindeln
ab einer entsprechenden Startposition enthlt.
41. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 40, wobei:
die Formen der Blasmaschine Teil einer Formbaugruppe (6) sind; und die Blasmaschinensensoren einen Blasmaschinen-Synchronisationssensor einschlieen, der strukturiert ist, Information hinsichtlich des Starts eines
neuen Zyklus der Rotation der Formbaugruppe bereitzustellen.

10

42. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 41, wobei:

15

die Spindeln der Blasmaschine Teil einer rotierenden Spindelbaugruppe sind; und die Blasmaschinensensoren
einen Blasmaschinenspindel-Synchronisationssensor einschlieen, der strukturiert ist, Ausgabe (Output) hinsichtlich eines neuen Rotationszyklus der Spindelbaugruppe bereitzustellen.
20

43. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 36, die ferner eine rotierende Transferbaugruppe (12) umfasst, die eine Vielzahl von
Transferarmen (10) umfasst, wobei die wenigstens eine Quelle das Infrarotlicht vom Auenbereich des Behlters
in Richtung des Behlters lenkt, whrend der Behlter von einem der Vielzahl von Transferarmen der Transferbaugruppe im Inspektionsbereich herabhngt.

25

44. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 23, wobei der Mikroprozessor die Wanddicke des Behlters beruhend auf einer Menge
der Lichtenergie fr jede der zwei Infrarotwellenlngen ermittelt, die vom Kunststoffbehlter absorbiert wird.
45. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Mikroprozessor die Wanddicke des Behlters beruhend auf einer Menge
der Lichtenergie fr jede der zwei Infrarotwellenlngen ermittelt, die vom Kunststoffbehlter absorbiert wird.

30

Revendications
1.

Procd dinspection de lpaisseur de paroi de sacs en plastique mouls par soufflage (8) consistant :

35

fournir une mouleuse par soufflage de sacs en plastique (4) comportant une pluralit de moules et une pluralit
de broches ;
inspecter un sac (60) fabriqu par la mouleuse par soufflage en projetant de la lumire sur ledit sac et en
dtectant la partie de ladite lumire qui traverse ledit sac ;
convertir ladite lumire dtecte en des signaux lectriques correspondants remis un microprocesseur (90) ;
comparer dans ledit microprocesseur (90) lesdits signaux lectriques des donnes stockes relatives lpaisseur de paroi souhaite ;
caractris en ce que :

40

45

ladite lumire est infrarouge et consiste en deux longueurs donde infrarouges distinctes, une premire
longueur donde infrarouge correspondant une bande dabsorption dudit plastique dudit sac, et une deuxime bande de longueur donde infrarouge seulement lgrement absorbe par ledit plastique ; et
la comparaison consiste :

50

dterminer une paisseur de paroi dudit sac ; et

dterminer si lpaisseur de paroi dudit sac est dans les limites souhaites dpaisseur de paroi ;
le procd comprenant ltape consistant mettre des informations dpaisseur de sortie relatives lpaisseur
de paroi de sac ; et
fournir audit microprocesseur (90) des signaux reus de capteurs (120, 122, 126) associs ladite mouleuse
par soufflage (4) relatifs audit moule et ladite broche intervenant dans la fabrication du sac inspecter.

55

2.

Procd selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit microprocesseur fournit des informations dpaisseur de sortie

13

EP 1 348 932 B1
comprenant une identification dudit moule et de ladite broche employs pendant la fabrication dudit sac.
3.

Procd selon la revendication 2, consistant fournir audit microprocesseur (90) des signaux dun capteur associ
ladite mouleuse par soufflage afin de dterminer la position desdits moules et desdites broches.

4.

Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant inspecter simultanment une pluralit de parties espaces verticalement dudit sac.

5.

Procd selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ledit microprocesseur (90) fournit des informations dpaisseur de
sortie pour chacune desdites parties disposes verticalement.

6.

Procd selon la revendication 5, consistant employer une pluralit de dtecteurs (74, 76, 78) pour effectuer ladite
dtection, et employer une pluralit de sources de lumire infrarouge (64, 66, 68), chacune tant associe de
manire fonctionnelle avec un desdits dtecteurs.

7.

Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant rejeter automatiquement tout sac qui ne russit pas ladite inspection
en sparant ledit sac des sacs adjacents non rejets.

8.

Procd selon la revendication 5, consistant afficher visuellement au moins une partie desdites informations
dpaisseur de sortie mises par ledit microprocesseur.

9.

Procd selon la revendication 8, consistant associer lesdites informations dpaisseur de sortie lidentification
du moule et de la broche intervenant dans la fabrication dudit sac.

10

15

20

25

30

10. Procd selon la revendication 9, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur de sortie comprennent une paisseur
moyenne pour une priode de temps.
11. Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant fournir une station de rejet (24, 26) pour liminer physiquement les
sacs rejets, et effectuer ladite inspection aprs que ledit sac merge de ladite mouleuse par soufflage (4), mais
avant que le sac natteigne ladite station de rejet (24, 26).
12. Procd selon la revendication 10, consistant mettre jour lesdites informations dpaisseur de sortie aprs
chaque inspection dundit sac.

35

13. Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant effectuer ladite inspection en ligne.

14. Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant, avant le dbut dun cycle dinspection, confirmer la prsence dun
sac la position dinspection souhaite (20).

40

45

15. Procd selon la revendication 10, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur de sortie comprennent une paisseur moyenne pour un certain nombre de sacs.
16. Procd selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lnergie lumineuse infrarouge est projete sur le sac en plastique
en dirigeant lnergie lumineuse infrarouge de lextrieur du sac en plastique vers le sac en plastique aprs la
formation du sac en plastique par ladite mouleuse par soufflage.
17. Procd selon la revendication 16, consistant en outre rgler un paramtre de fonctionnement de ladite mouleuse
par soufflage sur la base de linspection du sac.

50

18. Procd selon les revendications 16 et 17, dans lequel lnergie lumineuse infrarouge est dirige de lextrieur du
sac en plastique vers le sac en plastique pendant que le sac en plastique est suspendu par un bras de transfert.
19. Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant dtecter dans ladite mouleuse par soufflage la position desdits moules.

55

20. Procd selon la revendication 19, consistant fournir lesdites informations de position de moule obtenues par
capteur audit microprocesseur (90).
21. Procd selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits capteurs (74, 76, 78) associes ladite mouleuse par soufflage

14

EP 1 348 932 B1
(4) sont disposs dans ladite mouleuse par soufflage.
22. Procd selon la revendication 1, consistant employer lesdites informations dpaisseur de sortie afin de dclencher
une alarme quand des conditions prdtermines existent.
5

23. Appareil pour linspection de lpaisseur de paroi de sacs en plastique mouls par soufflage (8) comprenant :

10

une mouleuse par soufflage (4) comportant une pluralit de moules et une pluralit de broches ;
au moins une source (64, 66, 68) de lumire pour la projection de ladite lumire sur un sac en plastique (60)
fabriqu par la mouleuse par soufflage ;
au moins un dtecteur (74, 76, 78) pour recevoir la lumire traversant ledit sac et convertir ladite lumire en
signaux lectriques correspondants ;
un microprocesseur (90) pour recevoir lesdits signaux lectriques et les comparer aux donnes stockes ;
caractris en ce que :

15

20

25

ladite ou chacune desdites sources de lumire est une source de lumire infrarouge qui consiste en deux
longueurs donde infrarouges distinctes, une premire longueur donde infrarouge correspondant une
bande dabsorption dudit plastique dudit sac, et une deuxime bande de longueur donde infrarouge seulement lgrement absorbe par ledit plastique ; et
le ou chacun desdits dtecteurs est un dtecteur infrarouge, et en ce que le microprocesseur sert dterminer lpaisseur de paroi dudit sac et si ladite paisseur est dans les limites souhaite, et mettre
des informations dpaisseur de sorte, lappareil comportant des capteurs de mouleuse par soufflage (120,
122, 126) associs de manire fonctionnelle ladite mouleuse par soufflage (4) pour identifier lesdits
moules et lesdites broches et fournir une entre audit microprocesseur partir de laquelle il peut associer
lesdites informations dpaisseur de sac au moule et la broche utiliss pour fabriquer ledit sac.
24. Appareil selon la revendication 23, comprenant un capteur de machine (120, 122, 126) associ ladite mouleuse
par soufflage (4) pour fournir des informations relatives aux positions dudit moule et fournir un signal de position
de machine audit microprocesseur (90).

30

25. Appareil selon la revendication 24, comprenant un capteur de position de sac (130) pour confirmer quun sac est
prsent la position dinspection souhaite et mettre un signal audit microprocesseur (90).

35

26. Appareil selon la revendication 24, dans lequel ledit microprocesseur comprend des informations dpaisseur, notamment lpaisseur de paroi de sac moyenne sur une priode prdtermine.
27. Appareil selon la revendication 23, comprenant une pluralit desdits capteurs de lumire infrarouge (74, 76, 78) et
des dtecteurs infrarouge pour permettre linspection de ladite paisseur de paroi une pluralit demplacements
espacs verticalement (252, 254, 256).

40

28. Appareil selon la revendication 25, comprenant une unit daffichage visuel (240) servant recevoir des informations
dpaisseur de sortie dudit microprocesseur, et afficher lesdites informations.

45

29. Appareil selon la revendication 28, dans lequel ladite unit daffichage visuel (240) fournit des informations spares
pour chacun desdits moules et chacune desdites broches.
30. Appareil selon la revendication 29, dans lequel ladite unit daffichage visuel (240) affiche des informations relatives
lpaisseur de paroi moyenne sur une priode de temps.

50

31. Appareil selon la revendication 29, comprenant un appareil de rejet (24, 26) pour liminer un sac si ledit microprocesseur dtermine que lpaisseur de paroi nest pas dans un intervalle souhait.
32. Appareil selon la revendication 30, dans lequel ledit microprocesseur (90) est conu pour mettre jour lesdites
informations dpaisseur aprs chaque inspection dundit sac.

55

33. Appareil selon la revendication 23, ledit appareil tant positionn pour une inspection en ligne desdits sacs.
34. Appareil selon la revendication 23, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur du microprocesseur comprennent

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une paisseur de paroi de sac moyenne pour un certain nombre de sacs.
35. Appareil selon la revendication 23, dans lequel :
5

10

ladite source de lumire est extrieure au sac de telle sorte que la lumire infrarouge de ladite source de lumire
soit dirige de lextrieur du sac vers le sac ; et
ledit dtecteur est extrieur au sac et dtecte la lumire infrarouge qui traverse le sac.
36. Appareil selon la revendication 35, dans lequel ladite source dirige la lumire infrarouge vers le sac de lextrieur
du sac pendant que le sac est suspendu dans une zone dinspection de lappareil.
37. Appareil selon la revendication 28, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur du microprocesseur sont une
paisseur moyenne, et ladite unit daffichage visuel (240) affiche ladite paisseur moyenne en relation avec des
moules et des broches spcifiques.

15

38. Appareil selon la revendication 37, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur moyenne du microprocesseur sont
pour une priode de temps spcifique.

20

39. Appareil selon la revendication 37, dans lequel lesdites informations dpaisseur moyenne du microprocesseur sont
pour un nombre spcifique de sacs.
40. Appareil selon la revendication 23, dans lequel lesdits capteurs de mouleuse par soufflage comprennent un capteur
de pas de mouleuse par soufflage conu afin dmettre un signal contenant des informations sur le dcompte des
moules et des broches partir dune position de dpart correspondante.

25

41. Appareil selon la revendication 40, dans lequel :

30

lesdits moules de ladite mouleuse par soufflage font partie dun ensemble de moules (6) ; et lesdits capteurs
de mouleuse par soufflage comprennent un capteur de synchronisation de mouleuse par soufflage conu pour
fournir des informations sur le dbut dun nouveau cycle de rotation de lensemble de moules.
42. Appareil selon la revendication 41, dans lequel :

35

40

45

lesdites broches de ladite mouleuse par soufflage font partie dun ensemble de broches de rotation ; et lesdits
capteurs de mouleuse par soufflage comprennent un capteur de synchronisation de broche de mouleuse par
soufflage conu pour fournir une sortie relative un nouveau cycle de rotation de lensemble de broches.
43. Appareil selon la revendication 36, comprenant en outre un ensemble de transfert de rotation (12) comprenant une
pluralit de bras de transfert (10), ladite source dirigeant la lumire infrarouge vers le sac de lextrieur du sac
pendant que le sac est suspendu par un bras de la pluralit de bras de transfert de lensemble de transfert dans la
zone dinspection.
44. Appareil selon la revendication 23, dans lequel le microprocesseur dtermine lpaisseur de paroi du sac sur la
base dune quantit dnergie lumineuse pour chacune des deux longueurs donde infrarouge absorbes par le sac
en plastique.
45. Procd selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le microprocesseur dtermine lpaisseur de paroi du sac sur la base
dune quantit dnergie lumineuse pour chacune des deux longueurs donde infrarouge absorbes par le sac en
plastique.

50

55

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the readers convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

US 4304995 A [0006]
US 4490612 A [0007]
US 5139406 A [0008]

23

US 5591462 A [0009]
WO 0165204 A [0010]