Bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance

{
  "publication_number": "US11209409B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance",
  "abstract": "A bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance is disclosed. According to one embodiment a bottle, comprises an outer layer and a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle. The bottle has a battery inside the outer layer and one or more sensors powered by the battery.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A bottle, comprising: an outer layer; a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle; a battery inside the outer layer; and one or more sensors powered by the battery for collecting data from a bottling line process, wherein the reservoir tube is configured to receive at least one of a rinse solution or a beverage during the bottling line process.",
    "2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes an internal temperature sensor located in the reservoir tube that measures a temperature of fluid in the bottle.",
    "3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes an external bottle top temperature sensor that measures a temperature distribution on top of the bottle.",
    "4. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes an internal pressure sensor that measures internal pressures created in the bottle by at least one of a rinser, a filler, and a closure application.",
    "5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a force sensor on a bottom of the bottle that measures a top load force applied on the bottle, the top load force applied by a filler or a capper head.",
    "6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a chemical sensor in the reservoir tube that measures one or more of acidity, sugars, alcohol, oxygen, or carbon dioxide concentrations of fluid in the bottle.",
    "7. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a chemical sensor that measures levels of gasses in a headspace, the gasses including one or more of oxygen or carbon dioxide.",
    "8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a 3-axis accelerometer that measures and detects movement of the bottle, and also detects shocks due to impact with bottling line components that are improperly set, wearing, or defective.",
    "9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a vacuum/pressure sensor that detects faults including one or more of inadequate vacuum, high headspace pressure, or leaks that may occur in bottling line systems.",
    "10. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition and signal conditioner to measure conditions including one or more of temperature, humidity, light, pressure, force, gas chemistry, liquid chemistry, or acceleration.",
    "11. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a force sensing resistor, a voltage divider, a load cell, a pressure transducer, a chemical sensor, a proximity sensor, a location sensor, or a temperature sensor.",
    "12. The bottle of claim 10, wherein the data acquisition and signal conditioner communicates with a wireless transmission device to send data including one or more of temperature, humidity, light, pressure, force, chemical, or acceleration along with digital data including one or more of addresses, locations, or names.",
    "13. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle sends data to a data collection server and analytics server.",
    "14. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising an output module that has indicator lights and a display.",
    "15. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the battery can charge wirelessly when placed on a charging base.",
    "16. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for reading one or more RFID tags on components in the bottling line process.",
    "17. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising grooves on the neck used to configure one or more capper head rollers.",
    "18. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising top bearings around a top of the neck of the bottle.",
    "19. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising bottom bearings at a bottom edge of the bottle.",
    "20. A method comprising: providing a bottle comprising: an outer layer; a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle; a battery inside the outer layer; and one or more sensors powered by the battery; inserting the bottle into a bottling line process; collecting data from the bottling line process using the one or more sensors; and receiving at least one of a rinse solution or a beverage in the reservoir tube during the bottling line process.",
    "21. A system comprising: a bottle comprising: an outer layer; a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle; a battery inside the outer layer; and one or more sensors powered by the battery; and equipment for performing a bottling line process, wherein the bottle is inserted into the bottling line process and data is collected from the bottling line process using the one or more sensors, and wherein at least one of a rinse solution or a beverage is received in the reservoir tube during the bottling line process."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates in general to the field of industrial systems, and in particular, to a bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance.\n\nSystems exist for filling and capping or corking of bottles to contain any variety of juices, beers, wines, ciders or other carbonated or non-carbonated liquids. However, these systems are often expensive, and often require a great number of components and have a high degree of complexity. Due to these factors, these complex and costly systems are generally purchased by companies or individuals looking to fill a large number of bottles and are generally only cost effective when these machines fill and bottle with minimal downtime and finished package defects.\n\nIn-line inspection and control systems for bottling lines can start with empty container checks and proceed through container rinsing, filling, fill-level inspection, in-line weight checking, closure application inspection, label application inspection, and final packaging. Inspections systems are typically stand-alone that operate with either push rejection devices or progressive diverters for a more gentle removal of bad product from the process. Inspection systems typically use cameras and sensors along the bottling and packaging line to assess the bottling process and packages being produced.\n\nA bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance is disclosed. According to one embodiment a bottle, comprises an outer layer and a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01N 33/146",
    "B65C 9/40",
    "B65D 1/02",
    "B65D 2201/00",
    "B65D 23/00",
    "B65D 25/02",
    "B65D 51/245",
    "B65D 81/02",
    "B67B 3/26",
    "B67C 3/007",
    "G01K 1/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65D 1/02",
    "B65D 23/00",
    "B65D 25/02",
    "B65D 51/24",
    "B65D 81/02",
    "G01K 1/14",
    "G01N 33/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "G3 Enterprises Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Cunningham"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-03-29",
  "publication_date": "2021-12-28",
  "grant_date": "2021-12-28",
  "priority_date": "2018-03-30",
  "application_number": "US-201916370425-A",
  "family_id": "68054944",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
  "citations": [
    "US20060026971A1",
    "US20140138276A1",
    "US20150122688A1",
    "US20150301521A1",
    "US20150307245A1",
    "US20170156540A1"
  ]
}