Method and apparatus for detecting metal particles present in a wall of a glass container
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11460426-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for detecting metal particles (21) present in a wall (20) of a glass container (2) intended to contain food or pharmaceutical products, said method comprising the steps of: —heating the metal particles (21) present in the wall (20); —inspecting the container (2) during or after said step of heating the metal particles (21) present in the wall (20). The step of heating the metal particles (21) envisages increasing the temperature of the metal particles (21) to a greater extent than the remaining glass parts (22) of the wall (20). The method comprises the step of inspecting the container (2) using means (71) for detecting the metal particles (21) which are hotter than the glass parts (22) of the wall (20).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for detecting metal particles present in a wall of a glass container intended to contain food or pharmaceutical products. The method includes heating the metal particles so that the temperature of the metal particles is increased to a greater extent than the remaining glass parts of the wall, thereby forming hotter hot points in the glass wall.
The container is inspected during or after the heating step to detect the metal particles that are hotter than the glass parts. The inspection is performed through means for detecting the metal particles, and in one aspect uses at least one polarising filter. In another aspect, the inspecting step envisages isolating predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by the metal particles that are hotter than the glass parts.
The invention also includes an apparatus comprising means for heating the metal particles present in the wall of the container and means for inspecting the container. The heating means comprises induction heating means or heating means through microwaves, and the inspecting means comprises means for detecting hot points of the wall which identify the metal particles.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims, covering both methods and an apparatus. Across the independent claims, the inventive focus is on differential heating of metal particles relative to surrounding glass to create hotter hot points, followed by inspection based on hot-particle or hot-point detection using polarising filtering or predetermined electromagnetic frequency isolation and detection, with heating implemented by induction or microwaves.
Differential heating of metal particles relative to glass
Heating the metal particles present in the wall, where the step of heating the metal particles envisages increasing the temperature of the metal particles to a greater extent than the remaining glass parts of the wall.
Inspecting hotter metal particles and hot points
Inspecting the container during or after said step of heating the metal particles, where inspecting envisages detecting the metal particles which are hotter than the glass parts of the wall and means for detecting hot points of the wall which identify said metal particles.
Induction heating or microwave heating for generating hot points
Heating said container through induction heating means or through microwave heating means.
Polarising filter for detecting hotter metal particles
Detecting the metal particles that are hotter than the glass parts using at least one polarising filter.
Isolating predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by hotter metal particles
Isolating predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by the metal particles that are hotter than the glass parts.
Filter detecting predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by hot points
Inspecting comprising at least one filter, operatively connected to said detection means, for detecting predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by the hot points.
The independent claims collectively define differential heating of embedded metal particles to create hotter hot points in a glass container wall, then inspection through detection means that identify hotter metal particles via hot-particle or hot-point detection. The claims further specify inspection by polarising filter and/or by isolating and detecting predetermined electromagnetic frequencies emitted by the hotter metal particles or the hot points, with heating carried out using induction heating means or microwave heating means.
Stated Advantages
Highlighting or identifying non-visible metal particles to reject contaminated containers and avoid product, recall, or efficacy issues.
Documented Applications
Detecting metal particles present in a wall of a glass container intended to contain food or pharmaceutical products, for inspection during or after heating.
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