BEVERAGE BOTTLE TRANSPORT DEVICE IN A BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT

Abstract

A beverage bottle transport device in a beverage bottling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Claims

1. Method for determining the state of a conveyor belt surface transporting beverage containers, such as bottles, in a beverage container filling plant on a moving conveyor belt and determining a need for at least one of: maintenance and repair, said method comprising the steps of: loading containers on a conveyor belt; moving containers on said conveyor belt; unloading containers from said conveyor belt; simultaneously detecting, with an optical system, light from at least two polarization planes of light which are reflected from the surface of the moving conveyor belt, and comparing the polarized light detected in the polarization planes; evaluating the need for intervention into the state of said conveyor belt by comparing at least one of: stored evaluated data of actual faulty surfaces of a moving conveyor belt surface or calculated faulty surface characteristics of at least one moving conveyor belt surface with present characteristics of the moving present belt surface; detecting presence of at least one of: spills, dirt, debris, wear, and impending failure of the moving conveyor belt; and taking action to correct the at least one of: spills, dirt, debris, wear, and impending failure of the moving conveyor belt.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein damage, surface tension stresses, and/or dirt contamination present on the moving conveyor belt surface is detected, and/or a particular degree of dirt contamination and/or a type of dirt contamination.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the optical system comprises an image sensor with polarization filter, which simultaneously detects at least two or more polarization planes.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the conveyor belt is irradiated with light, which can be changed in respect of the wavelength and/or polarization plane.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the speed of the conveyor belt at a point of detection of the polarization polarized light is at least one of: 2 m/s, at least 2.5 m/s, at least 3 m/s, and between 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the optical system is configured for the detecting of high-resolution images.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the surface state which is detected is then processed, and digitalized and stored.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein, for the identification of a change in the surface state, this is again detected and then compared with the surface state data which was first detected and stored.

9. Device for operating by the method of claim 1 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

10. Device for operating by the method of claim 2 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

11. Device for operating by the method of claim 3 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

12. Device for operating by the method of claim 4 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

13. Device for operating by the method of claim 5 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

14. Device for operating by the method of claim 6 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

15. Device for operating by the method of claim 7 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

16. Device for operating by the method of claim 8 for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

17. Method according to claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of comparing the polarized light immediately received images with stored images from originally stored or previous images of the moving conveyor belt.

18. Method according to claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises an image sensor with polarization filter, which simultaneously detects at least two or more polarization planes.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the surface of the conveyor belt is irradiated with light, which can be changed in respect of the wavelength and/or polarization plane.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the speed of the conveyor belt at a point of detection of the polarization polarized light is at least one of: 2 m/s, at least 2.5 m/s, at least 3 m/s, and between 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present application is described in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of an exemplary exemplification. FIG. 1 shows in a schematic representation, a beverage bottle transport device, specifically a conveyor belt.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFICATION OR EXEMPLIFICATIONS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows schematically a conveyor belt 1 for the transport of beverage containers, in this case for the transport of drinks or beverage bottles 2. The conveyor belt 1 is configured as a transport chain, wherein each chain link (not represented here) comprises a conveyor belt surface 3 made of plastic.

[0040] FIG. 1 further shows an optical system 4 with a polarization camera 5, which comprises an image sensor (not represented here) with a polarization filter (not represented here), which detects four polarization planes simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. The polarization camera 5 is connected to a data storage and evaluation unit 6, which is configured such as to receive the polarization planes detected by the polarization camera 5, process them, and then store them as data records. In addition, a lighting unit 7 is arranged such that the region of the belt surface 3 detected by the polarization camera 5 is uniformly irradiated by polarizing light, such that the polarization camera 5 detects the light 8 which is polarized by the lighting unit 7 and reflected from the conveyor belt surface 2. In this situation, generally dependent on the inspection task, a light (8) can be used for the irradiation which must be determined in each case in respect of the type and intensity of light, and, in one possible exemplification, is changeable. The essential and/or desired parameters are in this situation the wavelengths and/or polarization planes, which, if appropriate, are used in a time-changeable manner.

[0041] A deflection unit 9 is also arranged, which steers the drinks bottles 2, upstream of the conveyor belt pressure guide and upstream of the detection region 10 of the conveyor belt surface 3, through the optical system 4 onto a further second conveyor belt (not represented here).

[0042] During the performance of the method, drinks bottles 2 are conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction (indicated by arrows) of the conveyor belt 1. The speed of the conveyor belt 1 in this situation is two and one-half meters per second. On reaching the deflection unit 9, the drinks bottles 2 are steered from the conveyor belt 1 onto a further conveyor belt.

[0043] After the beverage containers have been guided away, the conveyor belt 1 runs into the detection region 10 of the optical system 4. The detection region 10 comprises the entire width of the conveyor belt 1, and is uniformly illuminated by a lighting unit 7, in the present exemplification version, for example, by a polarized light 8. In this situation, the choice of the light or the wavelengths is dependent on the respective inspection task. The polarized light 8 impinges on the conveyor belt surface 3 made of plastic. The plastic in the conveyor belt surface 3 has the effect that, with the reflection of the light 8 on its surface, it changes the polarization plane of the light. The light rays reflected from the conveyor belt surface 3 are then detected by the polarization camera 5 in four different polarization planes. In this situation, the polarization plane of the light rays reflected at the areas of dirt contamination, reflected opposite the light rays which are reflected directly from the conveyor belt surface 3, undergoes another change of the polarization plane, such that the regions of the conveyor belt 1 in which dirt contamination is present are visible contrasted in the polarization planes detected by the polarization camera 5.

[0044] The four polarization planes detected by the polarization camera 5 are forwarded to the data storage and evaluation unit 6, and are stored as data. In this situation the data storage and evaluation unit 6 detects, for example, in which regions of the conveyor belt surface 3 what types of stresses are present, and, if appropriate, in what intensity (dirt contaminations, etc.), i.e. it detects what the state of the surface is. Due to the fact that the conveyor belt is continuously or substantially continuously monitored by the optical system 4, at every pass of the conveyor belt 1 through the detection region 10 a detection takes place of the dirty/stressed regions of the conveyor belt surface 3. By means of a data comparison, which is carried out, for example, by the data storage and evaluation unit 6, the change in the conveyor belt surface 3 can be determined, i.e. a change in the state of the surface. As soon as the conveyor belt surface 3 exceeds a reference value deposited in the data storage and evaluation unit 6, for example, or a maximum change which has been prearranged is reached, a maintenance and upkeep or repair interval for the conveyor belt 1 can be started.

[0045] After the rectification of the stress on the conveyor belt surface 3, or, if appropriate, also after each machine start, the conveyor belt 1 is again guided through the detection region 10 of the optical system 4, and the state of the belt surface 3 is detected in the cleaned, repaired state/start state, and stored as a data record. In the further course of the method, the assessment of the surface state of the conveyor belt surface 3 can be carried out on the basis of the recording of the surface state made after the maintenance and repair interval or, respectively, in the start state.

[0046] In this way it is possible, easily, for repair, upkeep, and maintenance intervals to be adjusted as required and/or desired so as to accord with the real state of the conveyor belt 1.

[0047] The present application relates to a method for determining the state of a conveyor belt surface. An optical system is provided in order to determine the state of the surface on a moving conveyor belt such that at least two polarization planes are simultaneously or substantially simultaneously detected by light, which is reflected by the surface of the conveyor belt, and the state of the surface is determined by taking into account the detected polarization planes.

[0048] One feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for determining the state of a conveyor belt surface on a moving conveyor belt 1, wherein an optical system 4 at least simultaneously or substantially simultaneously detects two polarization planes of light 8 which is reflected from the surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

[0049] Another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein damage, surface tension stresses, and/or dirt contamination present on the conveyor belt surface 3 is detected, in particular a degree of dirt contamination and/or a type of dirt contamination.

[0050] Yet another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the optical system 4 comprises an image sensor with polarization filter, which simultaneously or substantially simultaneously detects at least two or more polarization planes.

[0051] Still another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the surface 3 of the conveyor belt 1 is irradiated with a light 8, which can be changed in respect of the wavelength and/or polarization plane.

[0052] A further feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the speed of the conveyor belt 1 at the detection of the polarization plane is at least two meters per second, in one possible exemplification at least two and one half meters per second, in another possible exemplification at least three meters per second, and in yet another possible exemplification between two meters per second to five meters per second.

[0053] Another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the optical system 4 is configured for the detecting of high-resolution images.

[0054] Yet another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the surface state which is detected is then processed, in one possible exemplification digitalized and stored.

[0055] Still another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein, for the identification of a change in the surface state, this is again detected and then compared with the surface state data which was first detected and stored.

[0056] A further feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a device for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt 1 with an optical system 4, which simultaneously or substantially simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light 8 reflected from the surface 3, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

[0057] One feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for determining the state of a conveyor belt surface transporting beverage containers, such as bottles, in a beverage container filling plant on a moving conveyor belt and determining a need for at least one of: maintenance and repair, said method comprising the steps of: loading containers on a conveyor belt; moving containers on said conveyor belt; unloading containers from said conveyor belt; simultaneously detecting, with an optical system, light from at least two polarization planes of light which are reflected from the surface of the moving conveyor belt, and comparing the polarized light detected in the polarization planes; evaluating the need for intervention into the state of said conveyor belt by comparing at least one of: stored evaluated data of actual faulty surfaces of a moving conveyor belt surface or calculated faulty surface characteristics of at least one moving conveyor belt surface with present characteristics of the moving present belt surface; detecting presence of at least one of: spills, dirt, debris, wear, and impending failure of the moving conveyor belt; and taking action to correct the at least one of: spills, dirt, debris, wear, and impending failure of the moving conveyor belt.

[0058] Another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein damage, surface tension stresses, and/or dirt contamination present on the moving conveyor belt surface is detected, and/or a particular degree of dirt contamination and/or a type of dirt contamination.

[0059] Yet another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the optical system comprises an image sensor with polarization filter, which simultaneously detects at least two or more polarization planes.

[0060] Still another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the surface of the conveyor belt is irradiated with light, which can be changed in respect of the wavelength and/or polarization plane.

[0061] A further feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the speed of the conveyor belt at a point of detection of the polarization polarized light is at least one of: 2 m/s, at least 2.5 m/s, at least 3 m/s, and between 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

[0062] Another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the optical system is configured for the detecting of high-resolution images.

[0063] Yet another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the surface state which is detected is then processed, and digitalized and stored.

[0064] Still another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method wherein, for the identification of a change in the surface state, this is again detected and then compared with the surface state data which was first detected and stored.

[0065] A further feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a device for operating by the method for detecting a surface state on a moving conveyor belt with an optical system, which simultaneously detects at least two polarization planes of the light reflected from the surface, and by taking account of the detected polarization planes, determines the state of the surface.

[0066] Another feature or aspect of an exemplification is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method wherein said method further comprises the step of comparing the polarized light immediately received images with stored images from originally stored or previous images of the moving conveyor belt.

[0067] The components disclosed in the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible exemplifications of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof.

[0068] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0069] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one exemplification of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.

[0070] The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0071] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various exemplifications may be used with at least one exemplification or all of the exemplifications, if more than one exemplification is described herein.

[0072] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0073] All of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein.

[0074] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0075] It will be understood that the examples of patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible exemplification of the present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more exemplifications of the application.

[0076] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents either incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference.

[0077] The following patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein: DE 10 2008 014 334 A1, having the title “INTEGRATED POLARIZATION SENSOR”, published on Sep. 4, 2009; and DE 20 2012 010 977 U1, having the title “Messung einer Faserrichtung eines Kohlefaserwerkstoffes und Herstellung eines Objekts in Kohlefaserverbundbauweise”, published on Nov. 27, 2012.

[0078] All of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents, except for the exceptions indicated herein, which were cited in the German Office Action dated May 20, 2015, and/or cited elsewhere, as well as the German Office Action document itself, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein, as follows: DE 10 2010 046 438 A1, having the title “Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur optischen Charakterisierung von Materialien”, published on Mar. 29, 2012; GB 2 183 332 A, having the title “Cinefilm fault detector”, published on Jun. 3, 1987; US 2007/096044, having the title “System and method of imaging the characteristics of an object”, published May 3, 2007; DE 10 2007 062 052 A1, having the title “Schichtdickenmessung an transparenten Schichten”, published on Jun. 25, 2009; and US 2012/194668, having the title “APPARATUS FOR DETECTING PARTICLES IN FLAT GLASS AND DETECTING METHOD USING SAME”, published on Aug. 2, 2012.

[0079] All of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents, except for the exceptions indicated herein, which were cited in the International Search Report dated Oct. 5, 2015, and/or cited elsewhere, as well as the International Search Report document itself, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein, as follows: WO 2008/031648 A1, having the title “DEVICE FOR MONITORING A CONVEYING SYSTEM”, published on Mar. 20, 2008; JP H09 166552 A, having the title “SURFACE INSPECTION DEVICE”, published on Jun. 24, 1997; EP 1 507 137 A1, having the title “Method and apparatus for polarization dependent and spatially resolved inspection of a surface or layer”, published on Feb. 16, 2005; JP 2008 026060 A, having the title “FLAW INSPECTION DEVICE OF INSULATING FILM COVERED BELT-LIKE BODY”, published on Feb. 7, 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,610 B2, having the title “Conveyor belt inspection system and method”, published on Jan. 24, 2006; DE 31 06 568 A1, having the title “Arrangement for early fire detection on a belt conveyor”, published on Sep. 9, 1982; US 2006/114452 A1, having the title “Control device for a conveyor”, published on Jun. 1, 2006; DE 10 2005 055 655 A1, having the title “Conveyor belt condition determining device for e.g. mining industry, has evaluating device designed such that it compares two-dimensional images of belt sections detected by detection device with reference images assigned to sections”, published on May 31, 2007; US 2003/000808 A1, having the title “Device for monitoring a conveyor facility”, published on Jan. 2, 2003; US 2005/243310 A1, having the title “Method for inspecting insulating film for film carrier tape for mounting electronic components thereon, inspection apparatus for inspecting the insulating film, punching apparatus for punching the insulating film, and method for controlling the punching apparatus”, published on Nov. 3, 2005; EP 0 304 805 A2, having the title “Optical scanning apparatus for a transparent web of material”, published on Mar. 1, 1989; EP 0 052 813 A2, having the title “Method for the examination of a moving reflecting or transparent sheet, and device for carrying out said method”, published on Jun. 2, 1982; and DE 10 2008 014 334 A1, having the title “INTEGRATED POLARIZATION SENSOR”, published on Sep. 24, 2009.

[0080] The corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2014 112 886, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, having inventors Carsten BUCHWALD, Jürgen-Peter HERRMANN, Marius Michael HERRMANN, Wolfgang SCHORN, and Xiang ZHANG, and DE-OS 10 2014 112 886 and DE-PS 10 2014 112 886, and International Application No. PCT/EP2015/066030, filed on Jul. 14, 2015, having WIPO Publication No. WO 2016/037735, and inventors Carsten BUCHWALD, Jürgen-Peter HERRMANN, Marius Michael HERRMANN, Wolfgang SCHORN, and Xiang ZHANG, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein, for the purpose of correcting and explaining any possible misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents, except for the exceptions indicated herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein.

[0081] The purpose of incorporating the corresponding foreign equivalent patent application(s), that is, PCT/EP2015/066030 and German Patent Application 10 2014 112 886, is solely for the purposes of providing a basis of correction of any wording in the pages of the present application, which may have been mistranslated or misinterpreted by the translator, and to provide additional information relating to technical features of one or more exemplifications, which information may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this application.

[0082] Statements made in the original foreign patent applications PCT/EP2015/066030 and DE 10 2014 112 886 from which this patent application claims priority which do not have to do with the correction of the translation in this patent application are not to be included in patent application in the incorporation by reference.

[0083] Any statements about admissions of prior art in the original foreign patent applications PCT/EP2015/066030 and DE 10 2014 112 886 are not to be included in this patent application in the incorporation by reference, since the laws relating to prior art in non-U.S. Patent Offices and courts may be substantially different from the Patent Laws of the United States.

[0084] All of the references and documents cited in any of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein, except for the exceptions indicated herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for the exceptions indicated herein. All of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited anywhere in the present application.

[0085] Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the author of all patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein and not directly relating to the technical details of the description of the exemplifications therein are not incorporated by reference.

[0086] The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently, ideal, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned words in this sentence, when not used to describe technical features of one or more exemplifications of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents, are not considered to be incorporated by reference herein for any of the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein.

[0087] The description of the exemplification or exemplifications is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the exemplification or exemplifications of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the exemplification or exemplifications may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the exemplification or exemplifications are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0088] The details in the patents, patent applications, patent publications, and other documents cited herein may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.

[0089] The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the exemplification or exemplifications, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0090] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): [0091] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

[0092] The exemplifications of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred exemplifications are not to be taken as limiting the exemplifications of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplifications of the invention.

AT LEAST PARTIAL NOMENCLATURE

[0093] 1 Conveyor belt [0094] 2 Drinks bottles [0095] 3 Conveyor belt surface [0096] 4 Optical system [0097] 5 Polarization camera [0098] 6 Data storage and evaluation unit [0099] 7 Lighting unit [0100] 8 Light ray [0101] 9 Deflection unit [0102] 10 Detection region [0103] 11 Dirt contamination areas