MXPA99009193A - Inspection of recipient in li - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for the inspection of containers (22) traveling in series on a conveyor (24) including a feeding mechanism having a first endless conductive strip (30) with a portion (38) resting on the conveyor for the contact coupling by the series vessels traveling on the conveyor, and a first motor (32) that drives the belt at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor to divert the containers laterally, at least partially outside the conveyor. A butt joint assembly (66, 144) is disposed in opposition to the first band for contact coupling by the diverted vessels by the feeding mechanism, such that the vessels deflected from the conveyor and coupled between the first band and the Butt joint, be rotated during the longitudinal travel along the butt joint assembly. The apparatuses (210, 212) inspect the containers while they rotate during travel along the butt joint assembly. A mechanism that removes the feed (120) is disposed adjacent to the butt joint assembly to couple the containers in series, followed by the coupling with the butt joint assembly, and for the opposite deflection of the containers in the transport.

Description

INSPECTION OF ONLINE CONTAINERS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the electro-optical inspection of containers, and more particularly to the method and apparatus for the inspection of containers for commercial variations while the containers are transported along a linear conveyor.

Background and Objects of the Invention Up to now, it has been proposed to use electro-optical techniques to detect commercial variations in glass or plastic containers. The term "commercial variations" refers to variations in the nominal design that may affect the commercial acceptability of the containers. The commercial variations may include, for example, variations in the color or dimension desired by the manufacturer or customer, variations in the surface especially around the sealing surface of the container, or manufacturing anomalies in the side wall of the container such as inclusions or voltage ruptures.

REF .: 031518 US Patent 4,874,940 describes a method and apparatus for the electro-optical inspection of containers while the containers are transported along a linear conveyor. The apparatus includes an arm that is angular on the conveyor for laterally engaging and deflecting the containers while the containers are carried by the conveyor in contact with the arm. (Directional adjectives such as "lateral" and "longitudinal" are taken with respect to the direction of linear movement of the conveyor, unless indicated otherwise). The diverted vessels are brought into engagement with a conductive strip, which is laterally spaced from the conveyor and cooperates with a parallel section of the arm to propel the containers longitudinally onto a support plate while each container rotates about its central axis. A light source located below the support plate directs a linear beam of light through a slot in the support plate, and through the containers while they rotate and are transported along the support plate, in a camera arranged above the support plate. The camera is adapted to the appropriate electronics to detect commercial variations in the vessels as a function of the light energy incident on the camera. After being transported along the groove of the support plate, the containers are brought into engagement with a second conductor strip which is angular with respect to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor for diverting the containers in opposite sequence on the conveyor. Although the method and apparatus described in the problems related to the patent noted hitherto existing in the art, additional improvements remain desirable. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for in-line inspection of containers, of the general type described in the annotated patent, which reduces the instability of the containers to the feed ends and / or which removes the feeding of the apparatus, which may otherwise lead to hesitation, tripping and capsizing of the containers, which in turn will require the manual intervention of an operator to restore the inspection station for proper operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character described which are characterized by the ease of removing the container in case of jamming or for other reasons, and ending the operation of the inspection station in the case of a jammed container. Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character described, characterized by the reduced maintenance requirements and the increase of active life. A further object of the invention is to provide the method and apparatus of the character described, the power can easily be adapted to be used in conjunction with large containers, ie containers such as jars having a larger diameter compared to the axial length. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character described, which are characterized by the ease of adjustment, and which can be adjusted during operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that achieve one or more of the foregoing objectives, and that can be easily retrofitted in existing inspection facilities instead of the apparatus described in the annotated patent.

Summary of the Invention The apparatus for the inspection of containers traveling in series on a linear conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a feeding mechanism having a first endless band with a portion resting on the conveyor for contact coupling by means of serial containers traveling on the conveyor, and a first motor that drives the belt for containers laterally deflected at least partially outside the conveyor. A butt joint assembly is arranged in opposition to the first band for contact coupling by the diverted vessels by the feed mechanism, such that the vessels are diverted from the conveyor and coupled between the first band and the butt joint assembly, they are rotated during the longitudinal travel along the butt joint assembly. The apparatus inspects the containers while they rotate during the trip along the butt joint assembly. A mechanism that removes the feed is disposed adjacent to the butt joint assembly to couple the containers in series followed by the coupling with the butt joint assembly, and for the opposite deflection of the containers on the conveyor. The first endless conductor band has an elongated section parallel to the conveyor, and an angular feed section extending laterally on the conveyor to intercept the containers on the conveyor. A second conductor band is preferably operatively coupled to the first conductor band and to the first motor, and is arranged in opposition to the mechanism that removes the power to capture the containers therebetween and divert the containers on the conveyor to the contrary, substantially to the conveyor speed. The second band is preferably coupled by an impeller arrangement to the first band to drive the second band at a speed less than and proportional to the speed of the first band. The first and second bands, the first motor and the drive gear mechanism, are mounted on a transport in the preferred embodiment of the invention that is adjustably positionable with respect to the conveyor. Thus, the containers are captured affirmatively during feeding, transport and delivery of the feed through the inspection station, which improves the handled stability of the container. According to another aspect of the present invention, which preferably, although not necessarily implemented in conjunction with other aspects of the invention, the mechanism that removes the feed includes a third endless band and a motor for driving the third band to couple the containers and directing them in opposite sequence on the conveyor while reducing the speed of the containers substantially equal to that of the conveyor. The third endless band and the associated motor are preferably mounted on a transport that is adjustably positionable with respect to the conveyor. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, which may again be used separately from or more preferably in combination with other aspects of the invention, the butt joint assembly includes at least one butt joint pull rail mounted for the lateral movement in opposition to the first conductive band. The drag rail is elastically driven towards the first band to capture the containers therebetween and accommodating minor dimensional variations in the containers. The drag rail is mounted on a pair of longitudinally spaced rotation supports. The supports are coupled by means of associated springs to predispose the abutting rail to the first conductive strip, and for the accommodating rotation movement of the pull rail away from the first conductor strip. The force of the spring on the drag rail is adjustable. A switch to the end is preferably disposed adjacent to each turn bracket to detect the excessive turning motion of the pull rail away from the conductive band, and with which a possible obstruction of the containers in the inspection apparatus is indicated. A controller is responsible for the switches to the end to deactivate all the driving motors. The inspection station is thus automatically turned off in the event of a jammed container or other situation resulting from excessive movement in the towing lane. Alternatively, an operator can stop the inspection station by manually moving the driving rail away from the driving band. An elastic layer is disposed on the drag rail to improve frictional engagement with the containers propelled through the inspection station. This helps ensure the uniform rotation of the containers as they pass through the inspection station. A single trailing lane or a pair of vertically spaced trailing lanes can be used depending on the size of the containers to be inspected. The drive rail preferably has an angular feed section that is opposite the angular feed portion of the first conductor strip for improved capture of the containers therebetween, and to help prevent container instability during lateral movement out of the transporter. The longitudinal position of the feeding section of the rails is adjustable for accommodating the containers of different diameter and to optimize the operation of the apparatus. This adjustment is made by means of a pair of plates coupled to the butt joint rails. One of the plates has the threaded surface, and the other plate has a cavity surface into which an adjusting screw is arranged. The rotation of the screw with respect to the cavity and of the coupling with the threads in the opposite plate, in this way longitudinally adjusts the plates with respect to each other, and by which the position of the feeding section of the driving rail is adjusted with respect to the feeding section of the first conductive band. A second screw or other suitable means is provided to fix the plates relative to one another when the desired adjusted position is obtained. The feed section of the drag rail (s) is slightly angular compared to the feed section of the conveyor belt to improve the channel of the containers to the inspection station. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the butt joint assembly may comprise a conductive strip and a motor for driving the strip in a direction opposite that of the first strip. In this way, the containers captured between the bands are transported longitudinally through the inspection station while rotating at an increased speed on their axes. This aspect of the invention is particularly useful in conjunction with containers of a larger diameter to ensure that the containers are rotated at least 180 °, and preferably at least 360 °, during passage through the station. The conductive strip and the associated motor are preferably mounted on a conveyor that is adjustably positionable with respect to the conveyor.The transport assembly can thus be mounted adjacent to the conveyor instead of the transport assembly of the pull rail to adapt the station. of inspection for use in conjunction with larger containers such as jars A method of inspecting containers traveling on a linear conveyor according to a further aspect of the present invention includes the step of locating a first motor conductive band which rests on the conveyor to deflect the conveyor containers laterally against an assembly of butt joint The containers are transported between the first conductor strip and the butt joint assembly at a higher speed than the conveyor while rotating each container through of at least a revolution and a half. The containers are inspected while being transported and rotated through the inspection station. The containers then deviate in opposite sequence between the second and third conductor strips on the conveyor at a speed substantially comparable to that of the conveyor. The butt joint mechanism can be provided either in the form of a rail assembly or a fourth conductor band as previously described. The various aspects of the invention provide improved handling of the containers during feeding and / or delivery of the linear conveyor feed. Specifically, and in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention in which various aspects are used in combination, the containers are captured from opposite sides during lateral deviation away from and against in the conveyor. This greatly improves the stability of the container as it reduces any tendency of the vessels to become unbalanced or tripped, and possibly to tip over to clog the apparatus. Either a predisposed spring guide rail or a conductive belt assembly with drive motor is arranged in opposition to the main conductor strip for capturing the containers during the transfer through the inspection station. The predisposed spring guide rail engages the switches to detect a jam and stop the operation of the inspection station. The motor drive band is used in conjunction with the larger containers, which have a lower tendency to tip over and jam, and which must be turned more quickly during the passage through the station.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention, together with the objects, features and additional advantages thereof, will be better understood by the following description, the appended amendments and the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus for inspection of containers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a high end view taken from the direction 2 in Figure 1; 1: Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken substantially along lines 4-4 and 5-5 in Figure 1; Figure 6 is an elevated side view taken substantially from the direction 6 in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a planar fragmentary top view taken substantially from the direction 7 in Figure 6 / Figure 8 is a planar fragmentary top view taken substantially from the direction 8 in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a high end view taken substantially from a direction 9 in Figure 8; Figures 10 and 10A are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of positions of the optical inspection with respect to the inspection conveyor; Figure 11 is a top plan view of the apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is an elevated end view taken substantially from the direction 12 in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a side elevational view taken substantially from the direction 13 in Figure 11; Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevated view taken substantially from a direction 14 in Figure 7; Figure 15 is a schematic elevated view of the adjustment mechanism of the driving rail illustrated in Figure 14; Figure 16 is a functional flow chart of electronics for operating the inspection apparatus according to the present invention; and Figures 17A, 17B and 17C are schematic diagrams illustrating the positions of the conductor strips with reference to exemplary containers of various sizes.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Modalities Figures 1-10 and 14-16 illustrate an apparatus 20 for inspecting containers 22 traveling on a linear conveyor 24 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The conveyor 24 may comprise a segmented conveyor or an endless conveyor belt, for example, slidably carried on a support conveyor 26, in which the apparatus 20 is fitted snugly and removably. The conveyor 24 transports the containers 22 in sequence in a longitudinal direction 28 to a first speed associated with the conveyor. The apparatus 20, (1) deflects the containers 22 in series from the conveyor 24, (2) transports the containers at the increased speed along the side of the conveyor to increase the space between the containers while rotating the containers on their axes, (3) inspects the containers for commercial variations during such transfer and rotation, and (4) contrarily deflects the containers on the conveyor 24 while the turn is completed and the velocity is substantially the same as that of the conveyor. The apparatus 20 includes a first endless conductive band 30 coupled to the driving motor 32 by a gear tooth 31 (Figure 3). The motor 32 is mounted on a support conveyor 44 by a bracket 33. From the gear tooth 31, the band 30 extends along the transport 44, around a support plate and a pulley 36, and returns to the tooth of gear 31. An entry section 38 of the conductive strip 30 is arranged on the conveyor 24 and is angular with respect thereto at an acute angle to the direction 28 of the movement of the conveyor, so that the containers 22 in series contact the section of band 38 in sequence while they are transported by the conveyor. Transport 44 has bracket brackets 46 (Figures 1 and 2), by means of which the entire transport assembly 45 is mounted on the brackets 48 fixed to the support of the conveyor 26 (see Figure 2). The handles 50 of the transport bracket arms 46 freely mounted on the brackets 48. The brackets 48 are vertically positionable with respect to the support of the conveyor 26 by means of a vertical screw jack 51 illustrated in Figure 1. The grooves 49 in FIG. the bracket arms 46 are provided for a lateral adjustment of the transport assembly 45 with respect to the conveyor 24. Thus, the transport assembly 45 is vertically adjustable by means of the screw jack 51 and laterally adjustable by means of the handles 50 and the slots 49. The tension in the band 30 is adjustable by means of the slots 40 in the engine bracket 42. A support plate is provided at each site along the transport 44 to where the band 30 changes direction.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3-5, the first band 30 couples to the pulley 36, which is fixed to the shaft 52 rotatable on the transport assembly 45. A pair of pulleys 54, 56 are fixed to the shaft 52 on the sides opposite of the pulley 36. A pair of endlessly spaced feed lines vertically spaced 58, 60 respectively engage the pulleys 56, 54, - and extend around the tension pulleys 62, 64, 35 in the assembly of the transport 45. Thus, the motor 32 drives the belt 30, which in turn drives the belts 58, 60 through the pulleys 36, 54 and 56. The proportions of the pulley are preferably such that the belts 58, 60 travel approximately at the speed of the conveyor 24, while the band 30 traveled at slightly more than twice the speed of the conveyor. The band assembly that removes the feed is carried, together with the motor 32 and the band 30, on the conveyor 44, and thus forms part of the transport assembly 45. The shaft 52 is coupled to an encoder 61, which at the it is connected to the electronic control (Figure 16) to provide an indication of the speed and operation of the band. The pulleys 35, 64 are mounted coaxially on an axis 59 (Figure 4) by associated supports. The shaft 59 is mounted on the transport assembly 45.

The opposite side to the conductive band 30, including a supply section 38, in the embodiment of Figures 1-10, is a mounting of the abutment rail 66. With reference in particular to Figures 1 and 6 9, the assembly of the abutting drive rail 66 comprises a pair of elongated drive rails 68, 70 mounted in vertically spaced relation to each other on a pair of carriers 72, 74 mounted on the longitudinally spaced drive rail. Each drag rail 68, 70 has an angular feed section 76 that is approximately parallel in the assembly for the feed section 38 of the web 30 (Figure 1). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the feed section 76 of each feed rail 68, 70 is approximately one angular degree next to the opposite feed section 38 of the belt 30 to improve the catch channel of the recipients fed therein. . The elongated body of each driving rail 68, 70 is linear and parallel to the opposite elongated section of the band 30. Each rail 68, 70 has a coating layer 78, 80 of elastomeric material, such as foamed rubber, for the opposite coupling. by the containers 22. The supports 72, 74 are screwed in, and the rails 68, 70 are vertically adjustably mounted therein, as best seen in Figure 9. The lower end of each support 72, 74 is fixed to the block 82 rotating on a horizontal pin 84 carried by a block 85 disposed under the transport 86. A cross member 87 extends horizontally from each block 85 through the associated block 82, and a spiral spring 88 is captured in compression between a washer 90 lining each block 82, and a washer 92 and a pair of nuts 94 carried on each cross member 87. The spring 88 thus drives the blocks 82, the supports 72, 74 and the drive rails 68, 70 to the right at the Figure 9, yh to the band 30 in Figure 1. The drag rails 68, 70 and the supports 72, 74 are rotated on the bolts 84 next to the band 30 against the force of the springs 88. The force of the springs 88, resisting such turning movement can be adjusted by means of the nuts 94. An end switch 96 is carried by each block 85 adjacent to each support post 72, 74 of the drive rail. Each end switch 96 is coupled to the adjacent rotation block 82 by means of a transverse arm 98. The transverse arms 98 normally contact and press the actuator of each switch 96. In the event that the drag rails and the mounted supports are rotated followed by the conductive band 30 against the forces of the springs 88 by a sufficient distance, the actuators of the switches 96 are released and the switches consequently change state. The assembly of the entire drive rail 66 is mounted on the transport 86. A support plate 104 is also mounted on the transport 86 in a position disposed under the rails 68, 70. An elongated slot 105 (Figures 1 and 10) is formed by the edges of the support plate 104 and the conveyor 24 as illustrated in Figure 1. The drag rails 68, 70 are individually vertically adjustable on the supports 72, 74, and are adjustably mounted, individually horizontally. on the transport 86 by means of the mechanism 107 illustrated in Figures 1, 6, 1, 14 and 15. Adjacent to the feed section of each tow rail 68, 70, a bottom plate 106 is secured to each tow rail and is extends laterally next to the conveyor 24. Each lower plate 106 slidably carries an upper plate 108, which extends longitudinally from the lower plate 106 to the mounting bracket 72. The opposite nuts adjust The upper plates 108 are located on the mounting bracket 72. Each lower plate 106 has a cavity 110, and each upper plate 108 has a cylindrical perforated portion with threads 112 formed therein. An indicated screw 114 is disposed in a cavity 110 of each plate 106 in the threaded engagement with threads 112 on the associated plate 108. Thus, a wrench 116 (Figure 14) or other suitable tool that can be engaged with the screw 114 for adjusting the position of the plate 106, and the drag rail carried therewith, with respect to the plate 108 and the mounting bracket 72. A pair of screws 117 extend through the plate 108 in the plate 106 for Fix the plates and drag rails in the adjusted position. The downstream ends of the drag rails 68, 70 are adjustably mounted longitudinally with respect to the support 74 by means of the plates 113, 115 and the screw 119 (Figures 1 and 8). Thus, the angular feed sections 76 of the rails 68, 70 can be longitudinally adjusted with respect to the feed section 38 of the belt 30, while the main portions of the belt 30 and the rails 68, 70 remain parallel to one another the conveyor 24 and the supporting plate 104. This adjustment of the driving rails accommodates the containers of different diameter, and the frictional coupling between the feeding section 38 of the belt 30 and the opposite elastomeric surfaces of the driving rails differs. The lateral position of the driving rails can be adjusted by means of the grooves in the surrounding plates 108, 115 of the supports 72, 74, and the vertical position of the driving rails can be adjusted by means of the threaded supports 72, 74 as described above (see Figure 9). Figure 10 illustrates the arrangement of a light source for inspection 210 and an inspection chamber 212 with respect to each other and with respect to the support plate 104 and conveyor 24. As the containers 22 are diverted by the band section. of feed 38 and the sections 76 of the feed drive rail, laterally outside the conveyor 24 to be supported by the conveyor 24 and the support plate 104, the speed of the longitudinal movement of the container is increased. Preferably, the speed of the band 30 is approximately 2.2 times the speed of the conveyor 24, which increases the speed of the containers passing through the inspection station at approximately 1.1 times the speed of the conveyor. This slight increase in the speed of the container ensures that there is a slight separation between the containers, preferably in the order of an inch and a half, even when the conveyors are tightly packed at the entrance to the inspection station. At the same time, the rotary coupling between the containers 22 and the driving rails 68, 70, coupled with the driving movement of the band 30, rotate the containers on their axes as the containers are propelled in sequence on the slot 105. The source of Light 210 is angled to project a light beam in a linear fashion through the slot 105 in the bottoms of the sequential containers 22 as the containers pass over the slot. The chamber 212 is mounted up and to the side of the conveyor 24 and the support plate 104, and has a field of view extending along the slot 105 between the support plate and the conveyor. In this way, the light energy is refracted and / or reflected from each container 22 in sequence in the chamber 212. The light source 210 is connected to an electrical power source. The camera 212 contains an information processor 214 (Figure 16) for analyzing the light energy received by the camera 212 and obtaining the appropriate information indicative of the commercial variations in the containers. In this regard, the operation of the light source 210, the camera 212 and the information processor 214 are preferably described in the aforementioned US Patent 4,874,940, assigned to the assignee thereof, the description of which is incorporated by reference in the present. Figure 10A illustrates an alternative inspection configuration for chamber 212 and light source 210. In Figure 10A, light source 210 is mounted on a bracket 216 above carrier support 26, and angled dowd to the energy luminous directed in the finishing of the containers 22 while they pass through the inspection station. The reflective light energy is incident on the camera 212 for the detection of commercial variations. Numerous other configurations and orientations of light sources / camera can be implemented to inspect containers for different types of commercial variations while the containers are directed through the inspection station by the apparatus according to the present invention. A driver assembly that removes power 120 (Figures 1, 2 and 6) is mounted adjacent the downstream end of the driver rail 68, 70 (with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor 24). The driver assembly that pulls the feed 120 includes an impeller motor 122 coupled to an endless conducting band 124. The conductive band 124 is guided around the spaced pulleys mounted on a conveyor 126 such that a section along the belt 124 is parallel to the angled sections of the drive belt that pulls the feed 58, 60. The transport 126 is removably mounted on a bracket 130 and positioned laterally relative to the drive by means of the adjustment handles 131. The vertical post of the bracket 130 has vertically oriented grooved openings by means of which the brackets are mounted vertically adjusted by the handles 132 on the support of the conveyor 26. Thus, the conductor that pulls the feed 120 is vertically and laterally adjustable with respect to the support conveyor, and also longitudinally adjustable by means of slotted openings in the transport assembly. The motor 122 has a speed such that the speed of the band 124 is equal to that of the bands 58, 60, and substantially equal to the conveyor 24. The motors 32, 122 are operated by an engine controller 134 (Figure 16), which is controlled by switches at the end of the driving rail 96. That is, in the case that the switches at the end of the driving rail 96 indicate the turning motion of the driving rail immediately after the driving band 30, the driver of engine 134 of active engines 32, 122, essentially stop the inspection station. The inspection station thus stops in the case of the rotation of the driving rails due to the jamming of the containers between the driving rail and the driving band, or if the driving rails are rotated out of the manual position by an operator for the inspection or other purposes. In operation, the containers 22 are placed in sequence by the conveyor 24, and are brought by the conveyor 24 in contact with the supply section 38 of the conductive band 30. The conductive band slightly increases the longitudinal velocity of the container, while at the At the same time, the containers are diverted in series laterally partially out of the conveyor. The containers are elastically captured between the conductive strip 30 and the drag rails 68, 70 before the containers partially exit the conveyor 24, due to the angular section 76 of each drag rail 68, 70. The carrier transport 44 prevents the deviation of the band 30 immediately after the drag lanes 68, 70. With the containers thus captured while still in the conveyor, the instability of the containers due to hesitation, stumbling or falling, is greatly reduced. The containers captured between the band 30 and the trailing rails 68, 70 are propelled longitudinally at the increased speed through the inspection station, while at the same time rotating on their axes during the passage through the transverse inspection slot 105. The transport assembly 45 and the driver rail assembly 66 are adjusted laterally with respect to the conveyor 24 such that the containers 22 are centrally disposed on the slot 105. After the containers can be transported over the inspection slot, they are brought in the position between the bands that take out the feed 58, 60 on the assembly 45, and the band 124 on the conductor that pulls the feed 120. These bands are preferably driven at a substantially identical speed, which is substantially the same to the longitudinal speed of the conveyor 24, so that the containers do not turn on their axes, but are diverted in secu On the conveyor 24. Once again, this capture of the containers between the conductive bands that draw the opposite feed, minimizes the instability of the containers during the opposite transfer on the conveyor 24.

Figure 17A illustrates the positions adjusted for the pull rail 68, 70, the bands that pull the feed 58, 60, 124 and the conductive band 30 with respect to the body of a normal container 22a, such as a long jar or bottle of long neck, which has an axially elongated body. The drag rails 68, 70 are adjusted to engage the vertically spaced portions of the container body, while the conductive band 30 engages a central portion of the container body. The forces are balanced so as not to tend to tip the container. The band that pulls the feed 124 is positioned to couple the central portion of the body, while the opposing feeding strip 58, 60 engages the upper and lower portions of the container body, again to prevent tilting of the container. In this way, the forces exerted on the container 22a during feeding, the longitudinal movement for inspection, and the output of the feed, are balanced with respect to the body of the container. Figure 17B illustrates the band and the position of the driving rail for a shorter container 22b. A single drag rail 70 is employed in the lateral opposition for the conductive band 30, and the band that pull the feed 124 is laterally opposite the band 60. Figure 17C illustrates a structure for use in conjunction with a food container. for child 22c, for example. Again, the bands that pull out the feed 124, 60 are opposed to each other in the lower portion of the container. The pull rail 70 engages the finish of the container 22c, as does the strip that pulls the feed 30a. The conductive band 30a has a pad layer 30b to improve the coupling with the container finish. By way of example, the lead assembly that pulls the feed 122 is illustrated in Figure 2 in a position corresponding to Figures 17B and 17C, and in Figure 6 in a position corresponding to Figure 17A. Figures 11-13 illustrate a modified apparatus 140 according to an embodiment of the invention that is particularly useful in conjunction with large containers such as jars. Reference numbers identical to those used in Figures 1-10 indicate identical parts or components. The transport assembly 45, includes a conveyor belt 30 and the motor 32 on the conveyor 44, is the same as in the previous embodiment, but is positioned adaptively with respect to the conveyor 24 furthest from the inspection slot 105, as shown in Figure 11. Again, the purpose of this adjustment is to put the diameter of the container 142 over the slot 105. An opposed butt attachment assembly 144 includes a conveyor belt 146 that is guided around a pair of spaced pulleys' 145, one of which is coupled to the drive motor 148 (Figures 11-13 and 16). The band 146 has a longitudinal section opposite the longitudinal length of the band 30 and spaced thereon on an opposite side of the inspection slot 105. The band 146 is driven by the engine 148 in a direction opposite that of the band 30. An angular drive rail 150 extends upstream from the web 146 at an angle opposite that of the feed section 38 of the web 30. At the downstream end of the butt attachment assembly 144, there is a conductive assembly that The power supply 120 is identical to that described above.The complete butt joint assembly 144 includes the conductive band 146 with the associated motor 148, the angular drive rail 150 and the impeller that pull out the power 120. It is mounted on a transport 152 which is mounted on the support of the conveyor 26 by means of brackets 154 and handles 100. The large containers 142, due to their axial length versus the increased diameter, tend to show a lower instability. during the feeding and removal of the feed with respect to the conveyor 24. However,, due to the larger diameters, the speed of rotation must increase during the passage through the inspection slot 105 so that the container rotates at least 360 ° during the inspection. The speeds of bands 30 and 146 are adjusted to increase the rotational speed of the redplants and slightly increase the speed of longitudinal movement to ensure that they are spaced (preferably at least one and a half inches) between the containers as they cross. the inspection station. Thus, two modifications of the present invention have been described that fully satisfy the objects and purposes indicated above. The feed and the container feed outlet are both driven by motor to and from the linear conveyor while the containers are captured between the opposing elements, in which the instability decreases most of the containers during the transition to and from the conveyor, which the time decreases the probability that a container was overturned on the conveyor or in the inspection apparatus. In the embodiment of Figs. 1-10, the loading spring trailing rails with the end switches provide a quick means for selectively removing the items from the inspection apparatus in case of obstruction or for any other reason, and automatically finishing the operation of the inspection apparatus in case of a container in poor condition. The trailing rails are adjustable over the longitudinal passage of the conveyor to accommodate different size containers and different operating conditions. A double conveyor belt arrangement is provided for use in conjunction with larger diameter articles, without sacrificing any stability or other advantages of the invention. The transport of various containers and the butt joint mechanism are mounted on associated transports for ease of assembly, and can be easily retrofitted on existing conveyor systems. It is stated that in relation to this date, the best method known by the. Applicant for carrying out said invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus for the inspection of series vessels traveling on a linear conveyor characterized in that it comprises: a feeding means including a first endless conductive band having a portion resting on the conveyor for the contact coupling by the containers in series traveling on the conveyor and a first motor driving said web to divert the containers laterally at least partially out of the conveyor, the butt-joining means arranged opposite the first web for contact coupling by the diverted containers by the means of feeding, such that the containers are diverted from the conveyor and are engaged between the first band, and the butt-joining means are rotated during travel along the butt-joining means, the means for optically inspecting the containers while they are turned during the trip along the means of union to eg, and the means that removes the feed disposed adjacent to the abutment means for coupling the containers in series followed by the coupling with the abutment means and diverting the containers on the conveyor on the contrary.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first endless driving belt has an elongated section parallel to the conveyor and an angular section extending over the conveyor to intercept the containers on the conveyor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it additionally comprises a second conductor strip, operatively coupled to the first conductor strip and the first motor, and opposite the means that removes the supply, for the opposite deflection of the containers in the conveyor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said means that removes the feed includes a third endless band, and the means that drives the third band to couple the containers between the second and third bands and diverting in sequence counter the containers in the conveyor while reducing the speed of the containers substantially the same as that of the conveyor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it additionally comprises means that couple the second band to the first band to drive the second band at a speed lower than that of said first band.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the means driving the third band comprises a second motor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and third bands, the first motor and the means that couple the second band to the first band, are mounted on a transport that is adjustably positionable with respect to the conveyor.

8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutment means comprises a rail mounted for lateral movement in opposition to the first band and, the means that elastically urges the rail towards the first band.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the abutment means comprises the means that mount the rail for the rotational movement next to the first band.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the swiveling mounting means comprises a pair of supports longitudinally spaced from each other of said rail, and wherein the elastically urging means comprises a spring in engagement with each support.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that it additionally comprises means for adjusting the force of the spring that drives the rail towards the first band.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that it additionally comprises a means that responds by the movement of the rail next to the first band to indicate the potential obstruction of the containers in said apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the means responsible for the movement comprises end switch means.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that it additionally comprises means that operatively couple the end switch means to the first motor to complete the operation of the first motor on the operation of the end switch means.

15. The apparatus according to any of claims 8-14, characterized in that it comprises the first and second lanes vertically spaced from each other.

16. The apparatus according to any of claims 8-15, characterized in that it additionally comprises elastomeric means on the rail for flexible coupling with the containers.

17. The apparatus according to any of claims 8-16, characterized in that the first conductor strip has an angular feed section extending over the conveyor to intercept the containers in the conveyor, and wherein the rail has an angular feed section opposite to the angular feeding section of said first band.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the rail further includes means for adjusting the position of the feed section of the rail with respect to the feed section of the first web in the direction of movement of the conveyor for accommodating the containers of different diameters.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the adjustment means comprise a first and second plates for operative coupling in fixed position and the rail respectively, one of the plates has a screwed surface and another of the plates has a surface of cavity opposite said threads, and the threaded adjustment means disposed in the cavity with threads in engagement with the threaded surface.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the adjusting means further comprises means for fixing the plates in the adjusted position.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said adjustment means is arranged adjacent to the feed end of the rail, and additionally comprises the means for slidably supporting an end that pulls the feed from the rail for the adjustment of the longitudinal adjustment of said rail .

22. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the butt joint means comprises a second conductor strip and a second motor for driving the second strip in a direction opposite to the first strip to increase the rotational speed of the second strip. the containers while they pass through the means of inspection.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the second conductor strip and the second motor are mounted on a transport that is adjustably positionable with respect to the conveyor.

24. An inspection method for containers traveling on a linear conveyor at a first speed, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) locating a first motorized conveyor belt resting on the conveyor to divert the containers from the conveyor laterally against a medium butt joint, (b) transporting the containers between the first band and the butt joint means at a second speed greater than the first speed while rotating the containers, (c) optically inspecting the containers during stage (b) and then (d) diverting the containers in opposite sequence between the second and third motor conductor strips on the conveyor at a speed substantially equal to the first speed.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises the additional steps of: (e) providing a rail as a butt joining means, (f) elastically driving the rail towards the first band, and (g) detecting the binding potential of the containers between the butt joint rail and the first rail as a function of the rail movement next to the first rail.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises the additional step of: (h) finishing the operation of the first band in response to step (g).

27. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises the additional step of: (e) providing as a butt joint means, a fourth conductor strip with motor traveling in a direction opposite to the first band to increase the speed of turn of containers in stage (b). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for the inspection of containers (22) traveling in series on a linear conveyor (24) including a feeding mechanism having a first endless conductive strip (30) with a portion (38) resting on the conveyor for the contact coupling by the series containers traveling on the conveyor, and a first motor (32) that drives the belt at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyor to divert the containers laterally, at least partially outside the conveyor. A butt joint assembly (66 or 144) is arranged in opposition to the first band for contact coupling by the diverted vessels by the feeding mechanism, such that the vessels diverted from the conveyor and coupled between the first band and the Butt joint assembly, be rotated during the longitudinal travel along the butt joint assembly. The apparatuses (210, 212) inspect the containers while they rotate during travel along the butt joint assembly. A mechanism that pulls the feed (120) is disposed adjacent to the butt joint assembly for coupling the containers in series, followed by the coupling with the butt joint assembly, and for the opposite deflection of the containers on the conveyor.