Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
  • G01N21/9036—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents using arrays of emitters or receivers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
  • G01N21/9009—Non-optical constructional details affecting optical inspection, e.g. cleaning mechanisms for optical parts, vibration reduction
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/95—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined
  • G01N21/958—Inspecting transparent materials or objects, e.g. windscreens
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
  • G01N2021/9063—Hot-end container inspection
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
  • G01N2201/04—Batch operation; multisample devices
  • G01N2201/0438—Linear motion, sequential

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of optical inspection of translucent or transparent hollow containers or objects having a high temperature.
• the object of the invention is more specifically to high-speed optical inspection of objects such as glass bottles or flasks coming out of a manufacturing or forming machine.
• the object of the invention is the inspection of objects in the hot sector of a manufacturing facility.
• a forming machine consists of different cavities each equipped with at least one mold in which the container takes its final form at high temperature.
• the containers still at high temperature are supported at their ring to be routed to form a queue on a transport conveyor.
• the spacing between the containers is variable and imposed by the forming machine according to its own spacing and the diameters of the containers.
• the transport conveyor causes the containers to scroll successively in various processing stations such as spraying and annealing. It should be noted that this forming machine generates vibrations especially on the transport conveyor, because of the rapid movements of heavy parts at high speed.
• a non-contact optical inspection system for inspecting containers still hot, that is to say at a temperature of between 300 ° C. C and 600 ° C.
• Such an inspection system optical generally comprises at least one camera sensitive to visible radiation or infrared radiation emitted by the containers as described for example in EP 1 477 797.
• EP 0 177 004 proposes a system for non-contact inspection of still hot glass containers immediately after forming.
• This system includes a light source and a linear camera that is mounted in a chamber called "protective body" attached to the ground.
• This enclosure is installed above the plane of the conveyor so that the line of sight of the camera is centered on the top of the neck in a horizontal radius.
• At the front of the camera lens is mounted an anti-heat filter so that the radiation produced by the receptacles in the near micron wavelength zone does not disturb the reception of the visible light emitted by the lighting source.
• a dust collection chamber At the front of the enclosure is also a dust collection chamber, which is closed by a wall having a slot for observation of the containers by the linear camera.
• This enclosure is surrounded remotely by a sleeve to define a circulation space for cooling air opening into the dust collection chamber which is thus put under overpressure.
• patent EP 0 540 419 proposes a device designed to automatically control, without contact, containers having a high temperature.
• This device comprises a mounting frame for at least one light source and a camera.
• This frame is in the form of an indeformable structure spanning the conveyor, without being linked to the frame of the conveyor.
• This frame is bound to the ground being supported by jacks.
• the displacement of the cylinders is controlled to position the frame relative to the self, according to the adjustable inclination in a vertical plane of the conveyor.
• the light source and the camera are mounted on a frame independent of the frame of the transport conveyor because as indicated in the description, the mounting of the control members directly on the frame of the conveyor belt can not be considered because of the strong vibrations to which the frame is subject.
• such a device has a high cost and a large footprint limiting its possibilities of implantation at the output of the forming machines.
• H In the field of the inspection of containers in the cold sector, H is known from document DE 199 20 007, to inspect the neck of containers transported by a conveyor, using an optical system of vision mounted on the frame of the conveyor.
• a vision system located in the cold sector can be mounted on the conveyor frame in contrast to a conveyor located at the outlet of the hot forming machine of the containers which is subjected to strong vibrations.
• patent application FR 2 712 089 describes an optical quality control device for transparent articles moved by a conveyor.
• This device comprises a light source and a camera whose linear measuring bar is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles.
• An optical system adapted to produce light rays parallel to each other in the line of sight of the measuring bar is interposed in the path of the light transmitted or reflected by the article.
• the camera can be placed in various positions relative to the conveyor to receive the light beams.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an installation for the optical inspection of high temperature glass containers, designed to protect the camera from the external environment and to be easily implantable. output of the forming machine while providing the ability to easily adjust the field and the direction of sight of the camera according to the size of the containers.
• the installation according to the invention allows the optical inspection of high temperature glass containers manufactured by a forming machine at the output of which the containers scroll at high speed in a transfer direction in front of at least one first inspection device, being placed successively on the conveying plane of a variable height or inclination conveyor, this first inspection device comprising at least one camera mounted inside a support chamber.
• the installation comprises a fastening system on the conveyor, the support chamber of the first inspection device so that this support chamber is positioned on one side of the conveyor by presenting below the conveying plane, a low section in which the camera is mounted so as not to be exposed directly to radiation from the containers, the support chamber having above the conveying plane, an upper section provided with a viewing port and in which is mounted a return optical system so that the field of view of the camera is directed through the viewing window to inspect the containers in scrolling.
• the installation according to the invention may further comprise in combination at least one and / or the following additional characteristics:
• a second inspection device comprising at least one camera mounted inside a support chamber fixed on the conveyor on the side where the first inspection device is positioned, the support chamber of this second device presenting the below the plan of conveying, a low section in which the camera is mounted so as not to be exposed directly to radiation from the containers, the support chamber having above the conveying plane, an upper section provided with an observation window and in which a return optical system is mounted so that the field of view of the camera is directed through the viewing window to inspect the scrolling containers;
• the inspection devices are positioned so that the viewing directions of the cameras define between them an angle of between 20 and 90 °;
• the inspection devices are positioned so that the direction of sight of a camera defines with the plane orthogonal to the direction of transfer is an angle between 10 ° and 45 °;
• each inspection device comprises, as a return optical system, a reflecting mirror and in that the camera is provided with its objective;
• the fixing system of the support chamber on the conveyor comprises a clamp carried by the conveyor and enclosing a cylindrical section of the support chamber for adjusting the direction of sight of the camera;
• the system for fixing a support chamber on the conveyor comprises a device for adjusting the spacing between said chamber and the conveyor and / or the position along the conveyor of said chamber;
• each support chamber comprises in its lower section, an air cooling system generating a flow of cold air directly on the camera;
• the air cooling system is a vortex tube fed with compressed air and delivering, on the one hand, a cold air flow towards the camera and, on the other hand, a hot air flow in the high section for create an overpressure; a light source fixed on the conveyor on the side opposite to that where the inspection device or devices are positioned so that each camera observes the backlit containers.
• Figure 1 is a schematic top view showing an inspection installation according to the invention positioned at the outlet of a container forming machine.
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the inspection facility according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view showing the inspection facility according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.
• Figure 4 is a partially cut away view similar to FIG. 2, showing the inspection installation according to the invention.
• Figure 5 is a schematic top view showing another alternative embodiment of an inspection installation according to the invention.
• the object of the invention relates to an installation 1 for inspecting hot transparent or translucent containers 2 such as for example bottles or glass bottles.
• the installation 1 is placed so as to make it possible to inspect the containers 2 leaving a manufacturing or forming machine 3 of all types known per se.
• the containers 2 At the output of the forming machine, the containers 2 have a high temperature typically between 300 ° C and 600 ° C.
• the forming machine 3 conventionally comprises a series of cavities 4 each providing the forming of a container 2.
• the containers 2 which have just been formed by the machine 3 are placed successively on an output conveyor 5 to form a line of containers.
• the containers 2 are transported in a row by the conveyor 5 in a transfer direction F so as to route them successively to different processing stations.
• this conveyor 5 comprises a fixed frame 5a resting on the ground S and supporting a moving belt 5b defining a conveying plane P on which the containers 2 rest.
• This conveyor 5 is at variable height, that is to say that the distance between the conveying plane P and the soil S may vary by being parallel to the ground or with an angle of inclination between the ground and the transfer direction F.
• the moving belt 5b moves on the fixed frame 5a comprising two side walls 5c, 5d which extend substantially parallel to each other, below the conveying plane P.
• These two fixed walls 5c, 5d define the two opposite sides of the fixed frame 5a namely with respect to the area of intervention for a person, respectively the front side and the rear side of the conveyor.
• the walls 5c, 5d are thus respectively called front wall and rear wall of the conveyor.
• These walls 5c, 5d are of any shape, giving the fixed frame 5a a rectangle, X, H, inverted U, omega, etc. section.
• the installation 1 according to the invention is placed closer to the forming machine 3 so that the output conveyor 5 ensures the successive movement of the containers 2 at high temperature in front of this inspection facility 1 which thus makes it possible to control in line the defective state or not of the receptacles 2.
• the installation 1 is positioned between the outlet of the forming machine 3 and the annealing arch 6, and preferably before a treatment hood surface 7 generally constituting the first of the treatment stations after forming.
• the installation 1 comprises, according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a first inspection device I and in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a first inspection device I and a second inspection device II similar to the first inspection device I.
• Each inspection device I, II comprises at least one camera 10 mounted inside a chamber, enclosure or support case 11.
• Each inspection system I, II comprises at least one camera 10 provided with its objective.
• the camera 10 includes a sensor electronic image, delivering an electronic image, digital or analog, to a system for analyzing and or storing and / or displaying images.
• Said image sensor is linear or matrix. It is sensitive to any type of light, but for hot container control applications, it is known to use sensors that are sensitive to either the visible light emitted by a light source illuminating the containers or the infrared radiation emitted by the lamps. containers.
• An objective mounted on the camera focuses an optical image of the containers, or a portion of the containers, on the image sensor. In other words, the lens achieves an optical image that the image sensor converts into an electronic image.
• the installation 1 comprises, for each inspection device I, II, a fastening system 13 on the conveyor 5, of the support chamber 11 so that this support chamber 11 is is located on one side of the conveyor 5.
• the support chamber 11 is fixed on the front side that is to say on the front wall 5c of the conveyor 5.
• the support chambers 11 of the first inspection device and the second inspection device are fixed on the same side of the conveyor 5, namely on the front side. ie on the front wall 5c.
• the installation 1 also comprises a light source 14 fixed on the conveyor 5 on the side opposite to that where the inspection device or devices are positioned, so that each camera 10 observes the backlit containers.
• This light source 14 of all types known per se is thus located in the example shown, on the rear side of the conveyor being fixed on the rear wall 5d.
• the light source 14 is mounted integral with the conveyor by a fastening system 13i of all types, associated or not with a vibration damping system.
• Each support chamber 11 is fixed on the conveyor 5 by presenting below the conveying plane P, a portion or a low section 11b in which the camera 10 is mounted so as not to be exposed directly to the radiation coming from the containers 2. Same, every support chamber 11 is fixed on the conveyor 5 by having above the conveyor plane P, a portion or a high section 11h provided with an observation window 15. It should be understood that each support chamber 11 comprises a high section llh rising above the conveying plane P and a lower section 11b extending below the conveying plane P.
• the two sections, high llh and low 11b, of the support chamber 11 are not separated so that this support chamber internally delimits a single volume, which allows the hot air of the lower section to climb into the high section.
• each support chamber 11 can be made in various ways.
• each support chamber 11 is made in the form of a cylindrical case closed at each of its ends and mounted to extend vertically.
• each inspection device I, II comprises, as a reflection optical system 16, a reflecting mirror 16.
• the camera is positioned substantially vertically with its mirror. observation field directed to the high section llh to be folded by the reflecting mirror.
• the field of view of the camera is such that it allows the observation of the containers over their entire height. It is considered that the folded observation field of the camera has a viewing direction Dv defined as the direction of the optical axis in vertical projection on the conveying plane P, as shown in FIG. 5.
• the inspection devices I, II are positioned so that the aiming direction of each camera 10 defines with the orthogonal plane T at the transfer direction F is an angle A of between 10 ° and 45 °.
• the inspection devices are positioned so that the viewing directions Dv of the optical sensors 10 define between them an angle B between 20 ° and 90 °.
• the integral assembly of the inspection devices I, II, with the conveyor 5 by means of the fastening systems 13, 13i makes it possible to follow and adapt to the changes in position of the conveyor as well as to the variations in the slope of the conveyor. conveyor, without the need for adjustment, unlike prior systems not secured integrally to the conveyor.
• the solution allows, surprisingly, to follow and adapt to vibration or torsion of the conveyor under the effect of expansion, without impacting the inspection devices. This adaptation thus makes it possible to permanently preserve the field and the direction of observation of the camera, fixed with respect to the plane P of the conveyor.
• Each fastening system 13, 13i can be made in any appropriate manner to obtain a rigid connection, associated or not with a vibration damping system.
• the fastening system 13 of a support chamber 11 on the conveyor 5 comprises a device 23 for adjusting the spacing between said chamber 11 and the conveyor 5 and / or the position along the conveyor of said chamber.
• the adjustment device 23 makes it possible to laterally move each chamber parallel to the transfer direction F but also perpendicularly to the transfer direction F.
• the chamber 11 is supported by a support block 23a slidably mounted in a first slide 23b to allow the displacement of the chamber in the plane T perpendicular to the direction of transfer.
• This first slide 23b is slidably mounted on a second slide 23c extending perpendicular to the first, that is to say parallel to the transfer direction F.
• the fastening system 13 of the support chamber 11 on the conveyor 5 comprises a clamping collar 27 carried by the conveyor and enclosing a cylindrical section of the support chamber 11 for adjusting the aiming direction Dv of the camera.
• the fixing system 13 comprises a device for adjusting the angle A as well as the viewing direction Dv of a camera defined with the plane T orthogonal to the transfer direction F.
• this clamp 27 is carried by the support block 23a which is provided with a system for loosening or tightening the support chamber 11 relative to the support block 23a so as to be able to turn on itself the chamber 11 around the vertical axis or to block in a fixed angular position this chamber 11.
• the adjustment device 27 of the angle and the direction of the camera is combined with the adjustment device 23 of the spacing between said chamber 11 and the conveyor 5 and / or the position along the conveyor of said chamber.
• the installation according to the invention makes it possible, by means of adjustment devices 23, 27, to easily modify the angle of sight as a function of the spacing between the containers.
• the spacing of the containers circulating on the conveyor belt depends on the spacing of the manufacturing machine, the number of sections and the number of cavities per section, the rate of manufacture, the diameter of the body of the containers and the speed of the conveyor.
• each camera can be easily adjusted to observe under optimized conditions, individually each of the containers brought to scroll in front of the camera.
• each support chamber 11 comprises in its low section 11b, an air cooling system 30 generating a flow of cold air directly on the camera 10.
• the air cooling system 30 is a vortex tube, or Ranque-Hilsh tube, connected to a compressed air supply pipe 31 and delivering on the one hand, by a nozzle 32 a cold air flow directed towards the camera 10 and secondly , through a tube 33, a hot air flow opening into the high section llh to create an overpressure.
• the flow of hot air is directed to the high section 11h so as to heat the reflecting mirror and the window 15 to prevent the occurrence of condensation.
• the high end 11h of the chamber 11 is provided with openings for the evacuation of air.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57286707

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (20)

• 2016
  • 2016-09-19 FR FR1658752A patent/FR3056296B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-09-19 US US16/333,310 patent/US11092556B2/en active Active
  • 2017-09-19 RU RU2019111679A patent/RU2747835C2/ru active
  • 2017-09-19 JP JP2019515365A patent/JP2019529915A/ja active Pending
  • 2017-09-19 CN CN201780057592.2A patent/CN109964112A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-09-19 EP EP17780828.4A patent/EP3516377A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-09-19 MX MX2019003147A patent/MX2019003147A/es unknown
  • 2017-09-19 WO PCT/FR2017/052496 patent/WO2018051046A1/fr unknown

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