Encoder based speed compensated reject system and method

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor that monitors containers as said containers move along a production line;

a rejection device;

an encoder that outputs a predetermined number of pulses per length based on movement of said production line; and

a controller communicatively connected to the sensor and the rejection device, wherein said controller is programmed to

determine whether a container is associated with a match condition in response to a signal received from the sensor, said match condition reflecting that said container is associated with predetermined properties or characteristics,

in response to a match condition, determine a pass result, and otherwise determine a fail result,

determine a velocity of the production line based on pulses from said encoder,

dynamically determine a correction amount for a reject position,

track a position of said container on said production line by counting the pulses from the encoder,

in response to said fail result, output a signal to actuate the rejection device that removes said container from said production line based on the velocity of the production line, said dynamically determined correction amount, and said position of the container on the production line.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein

said controller determines a rejection device actuation pulse count, and

said controller actuates said rejection device in response to a number of said pulses that the controller uses to track said position of said container on said production line being equal said rejection device actuation pulse count.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein

said controller is programmed with a default rejection device actuation pulse count and determines the rejection device actuation pulse count by adding or subtracting pulses to or from the default rejection device actuation pulse count based on the velocity of said production line.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically determined correction amount compensates for a delay between the controller sending the signal to actuate the rejection device and the rejection device making contact with said container.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rejection device is an air cylinder.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an air accumulator that maintains a constant air pressure for the air cylinder.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

an air pressure sensor communicatively connected to the controller,

wherein the controller stops the production line in response to said air pressure sensor detecting that air pressure for said air cylinder has decreased to a level at or below a predetermined value.

8. A method, comprising:

monitoring, with a sensor, containers as said containers move along a production line;

determining, with a controller, whether a container is associated with a match condition in response to a signal received from the sensor, said match condition reflecting that said container is associated with predetermined properties or characteristics;

in response to a match condition, determining a pass result with said controller, and otherwise determining a fail result with said controller;

outputting, using an encoder, a predetermined number of pulses per length based on movement of said production line;

determining a velocity of the production line based on pulses from said encoder;

dynamically determining a correction amount for reject position;

tracking a position of said container on said production line, wherein said tracking includes using the controller to track said position of said container on said production line by counting the pulses from the encoder; and

in response to said fail result, actuating a rejection device to remove said container from said production line based on said velocity of the production line, said dynamically determined correction amount, and said position of the container on the production line.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining, with said controller, a rejection device actuation pulse count, and

actuating said rejection device in response to a number of said pulses that the controller uses to track said position of said container on said production line being equal said rejection device actuation pulse count.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein

said controller is programmed with a default rejection device actuation pulse count, and said method further comprises:

determining the rejection device actuation pulse count by adding or subtracting pulses to or from the default rejection device actuation pulse count based on the velocity of said production line.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dynamically determined correction amount compensates for a delay time between the controller sending the signal to actuate the rejection device and the rejection device making contact with said container.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the rejection device is an air cylinder.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using an air accumulator that maintains a constant air pressure for the air cylinder.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

using an air pressure sensor communicatively connected to the controller; and

stopping, with the controller, the production line in response to said air pressure sensor detecting that air pressure for said air cylinder has decreased to a level at or below a predetermined value.