IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0284196
(2002-10-31)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lehmann, Martin
- Steck, Jü
- rgen
- Riemer, Karsten
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A method of manufacturing filled containers includes providing at least a first and a second part of the container, providing a product within at least one of the first and second parts, and assembling the first and second parts by bonding a portion of the first part to a portion of the second part,
A method of manufacturing filled containers includes providing at least a first and a second part of the container, providing a product within at least one of the first and second parts, and assembling the first and second parts by bonding a portion of the first part to a portion of the second part, thereby generating a bond area. Scanning along the bond area is performed with a transmitted beam of a pulse train of ultrasonic energy. A reflected pulse train of ultrasonic energy from the bond area is sensed and a time derivative of at least one of time lag and of amplitude of the sensed pulse train is determined. A signal indicative of the quality of the bond along the bond area is generated by comparing at least one of the time derivatives with a predetermined threshold valve. If the indicative signal indicates a bond along the bond area is inaccurate, the container is separated. An apparatus for testing filled containers is also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of manufacturing filled containers comprising the steps of:providing at least a first and a second part of the container;providing a product within at least one of said first and said second parts;assembling said first and said second parts by bonding a portion of said first part to a po
1. A method of manufacturing filled containers comprising the steps of:providing at least a first and a second part of the container;providing a product within at least one of said first and said second parts;assembling said first and said second parts by bonding a portion of said first part to a portion of said second part, thereby generating a bond area;scanning along said bond area with a transmitted beam of a pulse train of ultrasonic energy;sensing a reflected pulse train of ultrasonic energy from said bond area;determining time derivative of at least one of time lag and of amplitude of said sensed pulse train;generating a signal indicative of the quality of said bond along said bond area by comparing at least one of said time derivatives with a predetermined threshold value;separating said container if said indicative signal indicates a bond along said bond area being inaccurate. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of leading said beam of a pulse train towards and onto said bond area and leading said reflected pulse train from said bond area at least to a predominant part exclusively through a liquid. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of directing said beam of a pulse train in a direction towards and onto said bond area, which is different from perpendicularly thereto considered in a plane defined by a perpendicular line on said area and scanning direction of said beam along said bond area. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said bond area at said container forms a loop. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said loop is at least substantially planar. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said loop is at least substantially circular. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said bond area defines for at least three materials stacked one upon the other, whereby respectively two of said materials concomitantly form a material interface, said sensing comprising sensing a reflected pulse train of ultrasonic energy from at least one of said material interfaces. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the scanned path of said pulse train of ultrasonic energy along said bond area and identifying the location along said bond area at which said indicative signal generated indicates an inaccurate bond. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said beam is generated substantially coaxially to an axis of highest sensitivity of ultrasonic energy sensing. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting duty cycle and pulse repetition frequency of said pulse train so that said pulse train transmitted does not overlap said at least one reflected pulse train as sensed. 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting said direction to define with said perpendicular direction an angle α for which there is valid:preferablyand even more preferred 12. The method of claim 2, said liquid being water. 13. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of immersing at least said bond area of said container and the output of an electrical to mechanical converter for generating said beam of a pulse train as well as the input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected pulse train into said liquid. 14. The method of claim 2, further comprising establishing a local bridge of said liquid from an output of an electrical to mechanical converter for generating said beam of a pulse train to said bond area and to an input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said pulse train. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of establishing said bridge by applying said liquid locally on said bond area and suctioning said liquid from said bond area after having been subjected to said scanning. 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing said scanning by moving said beam along said bonding area, thereby keeping said container stationary. 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of scanning said bond area by moving said beam along said bond area keeping said beam stationary. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing said scanning by moving said container as well as said beam. 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing said scanning along a predetermined trajectory. 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the seep of performing said scanning by tracing the course of said bond area and controlling the relative movement of said container and of said beam by a result of said tracing. 21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning said container for said scanning by suctioning. 22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of feeding a stream of said first and second parts to said providing said product within at least one of said parts, said assembling, said scanning, sensing, determining and generating, thereby separating containers for which the respective indicative signal indicates an inadequate bond from the other containers and conveying the other containers to leak testing, thereby separating from said other containers containers being found leaky. 23. A method of manufacturing filled containers comprising the steps ofproviding at least a first and a second part of the container;providing a product within at least one of said first and said second parts;assembling said first and said second part by bonding a portion of said first part to a portion of said second part, thereby generating a bond area;scanning said bond area with a transmitted beam of ultrasonic energy;sensing reflected ultrasonic energy from said bond area;generating from said sensed ultrasonic energy a signal indicative of quality of said bond along said bond area, therebyleading said ultrasonic energy from a mechanical output of an electric to mechanical converter to generate said transmitted beam and onto said bond area and said reflected ultrasonic energy from said bond area towards and onto a mechanical input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected ultrasonic energy in a liquid. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising performing time differentiation of at least one characteristic value of said reflected ultrasonic energy and generating from the result of said time differentiation said indicative signal. 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of directing said scanning ultrasonic energy as a beam of a pulse train towards and onto said bond area. 26. The method of claim 23, thereby directing said beam of ultrasonic energy in a direction towards and onto said bond area, which is different from perpendicularly considered in a plane defined by a perpendicular line on said area and scanning direction of said beam along said bond area. 27. The method of claim 23, wherein said bond area forms a loop. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said loop is at least substantially planar. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein said loop is at least substantially circular. 30. The method of claim 23, wherein said bond area defines for at least three materials stacked one upon the other, whereby respectively two of said materials concomitantly form a material interface, said sensing comprising sensing reflected ultrasonic energy from at least one of said material interfaces. 31. The method of claim 23, further comprising monitoring the scanned path of said transmitted beam along said bond area and identifying a location along said bond area at which said indicative signal generated indicates an inaccurate bond. 32. The method of claim 23, wherein said beam is generated substantially coaxially to an axis of highest sensitivity of ultrasonic energy sensing. 33. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of selecting duty cycle and pulse repetition frequency of said pulse train so that a pulse train transmitted does not overlap a reflected pulse train of ultrasonic energy. 34. The method of claim 26, further comprising selecting said direction to define wit h said perpendicular direction an angle α for which there is valid:preferablyand even more preferred 35. The method of claim 23, wherein said liquid is water. 36. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of immersing at least said bond area of said container and an output of an electrical to mechanical converter for generating said beam as well as the input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected energy into said liquid. 37. The method of claim 23, further comprising establishing a local bridge of said liquid from an output of an electrical to mechanical converter for generating said beam to said bond area and to an input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected ultrasonic energy. 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of establishing said bridge by applying said liquid locally on said bond area and suctioning said liquid from said bond area after having been subjected to said scanning. 39. The method of claim 23, further comprising establishing said scanning by moving said beam along said bonding area, thereby keeping said container stationary. 40. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of scanning said bond area by moving said beam along said bond area, keeping said beam stationary. 41. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of performing said scanning by moving said container as well as said beam. 42. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of performing said scanning along a predetermined trajectory. 43. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of performing said scanning by tracing the course of said bond area and controlling the relative movement of said container and of said beam by a result of said tracing. 44. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of positioning said container for said scanning by suctioning. 45. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of feeding a stream of said containers to said providing of said first and said second part, said providing said product within at least one of said parts, said assembling, said scanning, sensing, generating, leading, thereby separating container for which the respective indicative signal indicates an inadequate bond from the other containers and conveying the other containers to a leak testing, thereby separating from said other containers containers being found leaky. 46. A method of manufacturing filled containers comprising the steps ofproviding at least a first and a second part of the container;providing a product within at least one of said first and said second part;assembling said first and said second part by bonding a portion of said first part to a portion of said second part, thereby generating a bond area;scanning said bond area with a transmitted beam of ultrasonic energy;sensing reflected ultrasonic energy from said bond area;generating from said sensed ultrasonic energy a signal indicative of quality of said bond along said bond area, therebydirecting said beam of ultrasonic energy in a direction towards and onto said bond area which is different from perpendicularly thereto considered in a plane defined by a perpendicular line on said area and scanning direction of said beam along said bond area. 47. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing time differentiation of at least one characteristic value of said reflected ultrasonic energy and generating from the result of said time differentiation said indicative signal. 48. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of directing said scanning ultrasonic energy as a beam of a pulse train towards and onto said bond area. 49. The method of claim 46, wherein said bond area forms a loop. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said loop is at least substantially planar. 51. The method of claim 49, wherein said loop is at least substantially circular. 52. The method of claim 46, wherein said bond area defines for at least three material s stacked one upon the other, whereby respectively two of said materials concomitantly form a material interface, said sensing comprising sensing reflected ultrasonic energy from at least one of said material interfaces. 53. The method of claim 46, further comprising monitoring the scanned path of said transmitted beam along said bond area and identifying a location along said bond area at which said indicative signal generated indicates an inaccurate bond. 54. The method of claim 46, wherein said beam is generated substantially coaxially to an axis of highest sensitivity of ultrasonic energy sensing. 55. The method of claim 48, further comprising selecting duty cycle and pulse repetition frequency of said pulse train so that said pulse train transmitted does not overlap at least one pulse train reflected and as sensed. 56. The method of claim 46, wherein said direction is selected to define with said perpendicular direction an angle α for which there is valid:preferablyand even more preferred 57. The method of claim 46, further comprising leading said ultrasonic energy from a mechanical output of an electric to mechanical converter to generate said transmitted beam onto said bond area and said reflected ultrasonic energy from said bond area towards and onto a mechanical input of a mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected ultrasonic energy in a liquid. 58. The method of claim 57, said liquid being water. 59. The method of claim 57, further comprising the step of immersing at least said bond area of said container and the output of said electrical to mechanical converter for generating said beam as well as the input of said mechanical to electrical converter for sensing said reflected energy into said liquid. 60. The method of claim 57, further comprising establishing a local bridge of said liquid from said output of said electric to mechanical converter for generating said beam to said bond area and to said input of said mechanical to electrical converter for said sensing. 61. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of establishing said bridge by applying said liquid locally on said bond area and suctioning said liquid from said bond area after having been subjected to said scanning. 62. The method of claim 46, further comprising establishing said scanning by moving said beam along said bonding area, thereby keeping said container stationary. 63. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of scanning said bond area by moving said beam along said bond area, keeping said beam stationary. 64. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of performing said scanning by moving said container as well as said beam. 65. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of performing said scanning along a predetermined trajectory. 66. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of performing said scanning by tracing the course of said bond area and controlling the relative movement of said container and of said beam by a result of said tracing. 67. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of positioning said container for said scanning by suctioning. 68. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of feeding a stream of said first and second parts to said providing said product within at least one of said parts, said assembling, said scanning, sensing, generating and leading, thereby separating containers for which the respective indicative signal indicates an inadequate bond from the other containers and conveying the other containers to leak testing, thereby separating from said other containers containers being found leaky.
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