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Title: Method and apparatus for analyzing the fill characteristics of a packaging container

Abstract

A system for analyzing the fill characteristics of a container. A container having a filling material therein is positioned adjacent a sound generator. Sound waves from the generator are applied to the container, causing it to vibrate. A vibration detector is used to determine the amount of container vibration. A preferred vibration detector involves a laser vibrometer which applies a reference laser beam to the vibrating container. The reference beam is reflected off of the container to generate a reflected laser beam. The reflected beam experiences a Doppler frequency shift compared with the reference beam which is caused by container vibration. The Doppler shift of the reflected beam is then compared with standardized Doppler shift data from a control container. Repeated Doppler shift measurements may also be undertaken which are converted into a vibration profile that is compared with a standardized vibration profile from a control container.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Idaho Falls, ID
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
871899
Patent Number(s):
5821424
Assignee:
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01H - MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC07-94ID13223
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; analyzing; fill; characteristics; packaging; container; filling; material; therein; positioned; adjacent; sound; generator; waves; applied; causing; vibrate; vibration; detector; determine; amount; preferred; involves; laser; vibrometer; applies; reference; beam; vibrating; reflected; generate; experiences; doppler; frequency; shift; compared; caused; standardized; data; control; repeated; measurements; undertaken; converted; profile; reference laser; frequency shift; sound waves; reference beam; laser beam; positioned adjacent; reflected beam; reflected laser; doppler shift; filling material; doppler frequency; material therein; fill characteristics; shift measurement; sound wave; /73/

Citation Formats

Rodriguez, Julio G. Method and apparatus for analyzing the fill characteristics of a packaging container. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Rodriguez, Julio G. Method and apparatus for analyzing the fill characteristics of a packaging container. United States.
Rodriguez, Julio G. Thu . "Method and apparatus for analyzing the fill characteristics of a packaging container". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871899.
@article{osti_871899,
title = {Method and apparatus for analyzing the fill characteristics of a packaging container},
author = {Rodriguez, Julio G},
abstractNote = {A system for analyzing the fill characteristics of a container. A container having a filling material therein is positioned adjacent a sound generator. Sound waves from the generator are applied to the container, causing it to vibrate. A vibration detector is used to determine the amount of container vibration. A preferred vibration detector involves a laser vibrometer which applies a reference laser beam to the vibrating container. The reference beam is reflected off of the container to generate a reflected laser beam. The reflected beam experiences a Doppler frequency shift compared with the reference beam which is caused by container vibration. The Doppler shift of the reflected beam is then compared with standardized Doppler shift data from a control container. Repeated Doppler shift measurements may also be undertaken which are converted into a vibration profile that is compared with a standardized vibration profile from a control container.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {1}
}