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
  • G01N21/8806—Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• • 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
  • G01N21/909—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents in opaque containers or opaque container parts, e.g. cans, tins, caps, labels
• • 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
  • G01N2021/845—Objects on a conveyor
• • 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
  • G01N21/8806—Specially adapted optical and illumination features
  • G01N2021/8822—Dark field detection
  • G01N2021/8825—Separate detection of dark field and bright field
• • 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
  • G01N21/89—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in moving material, e.g. running paper or textiles
  • G01N21/8901—Optical details; Scanning details
  • G01N2021/8905—Directional selective optics, e.g. slits, spatial filters
  • G01N2021/8907—Cylindrical optics
• • 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
  • G01N21/952—Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of the visual inspection of moving items, which are brought by conveying organs, in particular the invention relates to the devices allowing such inspection.
• monitoring stations In the industrial lines intended to the packaging of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals inside containers, for example vials and/or bottles, are generally provided monitoring stations in which there are devices intended to visually inspect each container concerning for example the cap, the information label, the bar code, the section in which the cap couples with the container.
• the information detected by such inspecting devices are stored on an electronic, analogue or digital medium and allow to check the readability, the integrity and the kind of the label applied on the side surface of the container, as well as the indications provided on the upper surface of the same cap.
• one or two cameras which are for example opposed, for inspecting the label applied on the side surface of each container; another one or two cameras, which are for example opposed, for inspecting the applying section of the closing cap on the neck of the corresponding container; another one camera for inspecting the upper surface of each closing cap.
• Another disadvantage related to the presence of a plurality of cameras is represented by their poor flexibility and/or adaptability at the size change of the containers, which usually requires the new positioning of the same cameras and the adjustment of the actuation sequence of the corresponding light sources.
• the conveying organ When the conveying organ is actuated at high speed, in determined conditions, at the monitoring station, the presence of a plurality of cameras can require an actuation with the same step of the conveying organ, consequently remarkably impairing the productivity of the industrial process.
• an object of the present invention is to solve said disadvantages providing a device for visual inspecting items brought by conveying organs, which guarantees extremely simple and rapid adjustment phases, which can be carried out by any operator, independently of the size of the items and the actuation speed of the same conveying organs.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for visual inspection made up of a limited number of components, able to guarantee high reliability and flexibility standards in every working condition, especially at the items size change, and able to cooperate with conveying organs actuated either stepwise or steplessly.
• the present invention is aimed at providing a device for visual inspection, which is extremely functional, reliable and relatively cheap such that it guarantees simple and rapid installation and maintenance steps.
• said objects are achieved by means of the inventive device for visual inspecting items brought by conveying organs, of the type comprising: a bell-like structure with a vertical axis of symmetry Y, the structure being positioned above the conveying organs, comprising an annular band having an high reflection index inner surface, the annular band being closed on the upper side by means of a head in which it is made a through hole, which is preferably coaxial with respect to the axis of symmetry; means for lighting the items provided near the lower edge of the bell-like structure; a substantially conically shaped element positioned by means of support means in the inner region of the bell-like structure, coaxially with respect to the bell-like structure, the conically shaped element being convergent in the direction of the through hole and having an high reflection index outside surface; processing means positioned near the through hole of the bell-like structure, aligned with respect to the axis of symmetry, intended to detect the light beams emitted by the surfaces of the items brought by the conveying organ
• FIG. 6 shows, on a enlarged scale, a partial side view of a particularly significant component of the inventive inspecting device
• FIG. 6A shows a schematic example of visual information provided by the inventive inspecting device.
• the general reference number 1 indicates the inventive device for visual inspecting items 2 brought by conveying organs 3, which are of the band or carrousel type.
• the inventive device 1 comprises a bell-like structure 4, with vertical axis of symmetry Y, the structure being positioned above the conveying organs 3, being defined by an annular band 40, whose inner surface 40a has an high reflection index, and being closed on the upper side by a head 41 in which it is made a through hole 42, which is preferably coaxial to the axis of symmetry Y; and a hollow, truncated conical sleeve 5, which is positioned, by means of support means 6, in the inner region of the bell 4, coaxially with respect to the same, convergent in the direction of the through hole 42 and having an high reflection index outside surface 5a.
• the inventive inspection device 1 comprises also means 7 for lighting the items 2 brought by the conveying organs 3, which move under the bell 4; and processing means 8 positioned near the through hole 42 of the bell 4, aligned with respect to the truncated conical sleeve 5, intended to detect the light beams (F1 , F2, F3) emitted by the surfaces (20, 21 , 22) of the items 2 brought by the conveying organs 3, such that images Z form in polar coordinates, the images containing visual information concerning at least the upper and the side surfaces 20 and 21 of the same items 2 moving under the bell 4.
• processing means 8 positioned near the through hole 42 of the bell 4, aligned with respect to the truncated conical sleeve 5, intended to detect the light beams (F1 , F2, F3) emitted by the surfaces (20, 21 , 22) of the items 2 brought by the conveying organs 3, such that images Z form in polar coordinates, the images containing visual information concerning at least the upper and the side surfaces 20 and 21 of the same items
• the information concerning the upper surfaces 20 are provided by the light beams F1 striking the inner region 50 of the truncated conical sleeve 5, and are reflected in the central area 11 of the images Z in polar coordinates (figures 2, 6A); while the information concerning the side surface 21 are provided by the light beams F2 striking the inner region of the bell-like structure 4, reflect firstly on the inner surface 40a of the annular band 40 and then on the outside surface 5a of the truncated conical sleeve 5, and are reflected in a first annular portion I2, which is concentric with respect to the central area 11 , of the images Z in polar coordinates (figures 1 , 6A).
• the processing means 8 comprise a camera, which cooperates with means storing the detected information, and with computing means provided with software able to convert the images Z from polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates, compensating possible distortions connected to the conversion.
• items 2 made up of containers, provided with a closing cap, defining a side surface 21 of the container, an upper surface 20 of the cap and a recess and/or projection 22 at the coupling section of the cap with the neck of the container 2.
• the containers 2 define longitudinal axes, preferably aligned with respect to the axis of symmetry Y of the bell-like structure 4 and of the truncated conical sleeve 5.
• a cylindrical jacket 80 interposed between the processing means 8 and the through hole 42 made in the head 41 of the bell 4, as to provide a sort of "dark room”.
• optical means 9 preferably of the lens type, working in the inner region 50 of the truncated conical sleeve 5.
• the bell-like structure 4 has a cylindrical shape, with the inner surface 40a of the annular band 40 angled with respect to the vertical axis of symmetry Y.
• annular band 40 which is parallel to the axis of symmetry Y, in order to define a straight cylindrical shape.
• the inner surface 40a of the annular band 40 inclined with respect to the axis of symmetry Y as to define,a conical shape and/or to provide said high reflection index surfaces (40a, 5a) concave or convex, preferably according to a spherical and/or hyperbolical and/or parabolic shape.
• the support means 6 of the sleeve 5 provide an high transparency index plate, which is able to removably couple with the annular band 40 of the bell 4, near the lower edges.
• the lighting means 7 provide a plurality of light sources, for example of the "led" type, which are pulsed actuated and in phase relation with the conveying organs 3 and positioned peripherally with respect to the bell 4, near the lower edge of the same.
• the inventive device 1 is also provided with an annular structure 10, which is able to removably couple with the bell 4, the structure being provided inside with a lower truncated conical portion 11 convergent toward the conveying organs 3, having an high reflection index surface 11a and peripherally provided with at least two opposed windows 12 able to allow the items 12 to strike the inner region 100 of the same structure 10.
• Such annular structure 10 which is preferably cylindrically shaped, allows to provide visual information concerning the coupling section of the cap with the neck of the container 2, thanks to the light beams F3 which emitted by such sections reflect on the surface 11a of the truncated conical portion 11 and strike the inner region 49 of the bell-like structure 4, without interfering with the truncated conical sleeve 5, so that they are detected by the processing means 8 (figure 5).
• the diameter of the smaller base of the truncated conical portion 11 of the annular structure 10, facing the conveying organs 3, is preferably greater than the corresponding diameter of the greater base of the truncated conical sleeve 5, facing the container 2.
• figure 4 shows the paths of the light beams F1 emitted by the closing caps of the containers 2 striking the inner region 50 of the truncated conical sleeve 5;
• figure 3 shows the paths of the light beams F2 emitted by the side surfaces 21 of the containers 2 striking the inner region of the bell-like structure 4, reflecting firstly on the inner surface 40a of the annular band 40 and then on the outside surface 5a of the truncated conical sleeve 5;
• figure 5 shows the paths of the light beams F3 emitted by the coupling sections of the caps with the containers 2, reflecting on the surface 11a of the truncated conical portion 11 and striking the inner region 49 of the bell-like structure 4, without interfering with the truncated conical sleeve 5.
• the lighting means 7 are interposed between the lower edge of the bell 4 and the truncated conical portion 11 of the annular structure 10, positioned in peripheral region.
• the surface 11a of the truncated conical surface 11 can be provided convex or concave, preferably according to a spherical and/o hyperbolic and/or parabolic shape.
• the type of the visual inspection described with the possibility of converting in Cartesian coordinates the images detected in polar coordinates, in case of transparent containers, allows also to advantageously to carry out an extreme precise control of the filling level of the same.
• the number of constituent components is extremely limited, to the advantage of the production costs, and their type guarantees high reliability and flexibility standards in every working condition, especially at the size change of the items.
• the inventive device is able to cooperate with conveying organs, actuated either stepwise or even steplessly, to the advantage of the plant productivity.
• the inventive device results extremely functioning and reliable and is able to guarantee particularly simple and rapid installation and maintenance steps.

Landscapes

• 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)
• Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40314531

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (5)

Citations (4)

• 2007
  • 2007-11-22 IT IT000773A patent/ITBO20070773A1/it unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-11-21 WO PCT/IB2008/003176 patent/WO2009066165A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events