APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE CONDITION OF COMPLETED ENDS

摘要

Shown is an apparatus for mounting an inductive transducer in position over an intermittently-moved belt carrying easy open ends for a beverage container and designed to detect whether or not the tabs for easy opening are provided on the ends. The apparatus is designed to resiliently bias the detection transducer towards the ends with a predetermined gap therebetween such that an electrical signal will result that can be used to evaluate whether a tab is in place. The apparatus includes a camming ramp designed to trigger a limit switch to turn off the system should there be multiple ends positioned below the detector. The detector mounting on a resilient support is designed to back away from any obstruction therebeneath to protect the apparatus during the detection operation. The transducer face is protected by about 1/16 inch of the plastic material. Also shown is a process of monitoring easy open ends in order to determine whether there are tabs on the ends, including the steps of positioning the ends below an inductive transducer at a preset position relative to the end, generating an output voltage which corresponds to the distance of the metal mass in the end relative to the inductive transducer and comparing the output of the transducer with a predetermined value to establish whether or not there is indeed a tab on the end.