Empty crate inspection by detection of excited oscillations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784719-B2
Application number	US-201214350127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2012
Priority date	Oct 7, 2011
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for inspecting an empty crate that is transported on a transport device includes an inspection device having a pulse generator, a processor, a sensor, and an uncoupling device. Prior to inspection, the uncoupling device uncouples the empty crate from the transport device. The pulse generator then excites vibrations in the empty crate, which the sensor receives and passes to a processor for analysis.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by letters patent is:

1. An apparatus for inspecting empty crates that are transported on a transport device, said apparatus comprising an inspection device, said inspection device comprising a pulse generator, a processor, a sensor, and an uncoupling device, wherein said pulse generator is configured to excite vibrations in an empty crate from said empty crates, wherein said sensor is configured for receiving said vibrations, wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor, and wherein said uncoupling device is configured to uncouple said empty crate from said transport device for inspection of said empty crate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said pulse generator comprises a clapper, and wherein said sensor comprises a vibrometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stop element, wherein said stop element is movable between a rest position and a stop position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said uncoupling device further comprises a support element, and wherein, during inspection thereof, said empty crate stands on said support element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said uncoupling device and said support element are disposed in a clearance between conveyor belts of said transport device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said uncoupling element comprises a lifting device, wherein said lifting device lifts said empty crate into an inspection position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said sensor comprises a laser vibrometer.

8. A method for inspecting an empty crate that is transported on a transport device, said method comprising transferring said empty crate to an inspection position, and inspecting said empty crate only when said empty crate is in said inspection position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein inspecting said empty crate comprises causing said empty crate to vibrate, recording data representative of said vibrations, and analyzing said data.

10. the method of claim 9 , wherein recording data representative of said vibrations comprises using a vibrometer, and wherein causing said empty crate to vibrate includes using a clapper to cause said vibrations.

Assignees

• Herrmann Jurgen
• Herrmann Marius Michael
• Zhang Xiang
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Herrmann Jurgen
• Herrmann Marius Michael
• Zhang Xiang

Classifications

• G01N29/045

  by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks (measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00) · CPC title

• G01M7/027

  Specimen mounting arrangements, e.g. table head adapters · CPC title

• G01N29/32

  Arrangements for suppressing undesired influences, e.g. temperature or pressure variations {, compensating for signal noise} · CPC title

• G01N2291/2695

  Bottles, containers · CPC title

• G01N29/27 Primary

  by moving the material relative to a stationary sensor · CPC title