U.S. patent application number 11/405362 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having an inspection apparatus for inspecting bottles.
Invention is credited to Carsten Buchwald, Ralph Pohl, Wolfgang Schorn, Martin Weisgerber.
Application Number | 20060283145 11/405362 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36570602 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060283145 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weisgerber; Martin ; et
al. |
December 21, 2006 |
Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage
material having an inspection apparatus for inspecting bottles
Abstract
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid
beverage material having an inspection apparatus for inspecting
bottles. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the
specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Inventors: |
Weisgerber; Martin;
(Stolberg, DE) ; Buchwald; Carsten; (Bad Breisig,
DE) ; Pohl; Ralph; (Rheinbrohl, DE) ; Schorn;
Wolfgang; (Honningen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NILS H. LJUNGMAN & ASSOCIATES
P. O. BOX 130
GREENSBURG
PA
15601-0130
US
|
Family ID: |
36570602 |
Appl. No.: |
11/405362 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/167 ;
53/281 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07C 5/3408 20130101;
B07C 5/3404 20130101; G01N 21/8806 20130101; G01N 21/9027 20130101;
G01N 2021/8812 20130101; G01N 2201/065 20130101; B67C 3/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/167 ;
053/281 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/00 20060101
B65B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 017 957.6 |
Claims
1. A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with
liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:
a plurality of machines comprising at least a rotary beverage
bottle filling machine, a rotary beverage bottle closing machine, a
bottle labeling machine, and a bottle inspection machine; a first
conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey
beverage bottles to be filled to said beverage bottle filling
machine; said beverage bottle filling machine being configured and
disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;
said beverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a
rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to
said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about
said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle
filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage
material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of
said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements comprising a
container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold
beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of beverage
bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense
liquid beverage material into beverage bottles to be filled; at
least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of
liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured
and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said
beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material
to said beverage bottle filling machine; a first filling machine
star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage
bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine; a second filling
machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move
beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine; a
second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey
filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle closing machine;
said beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed
to close tops of filled beverage bottles; said beverage bottle
closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine
column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column
to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine
column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the
periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices
being configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage
bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a
container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold
filled beverage bottles; a first closing machine star wheel
structure being configured and disposed to move filled beverage
bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; a second closing
machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move
filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing
machine; said bottle labeling machine comprising: a labeling
station being configured to label bottles; an input arrangement
being configured to transfer bottles to be labeled into said
labeling machine; an output arrangement being configured to
transfer labeled bottles out of said labeling machine; a conveyor
arrangement being configured and disposed to convey closed, filled,
labeled bottles to said bottle inspection machine; said bottle
inspection machine being configured to inspect bottles; said bottle
inspection machine comprising: a housing; a light source being
configured and disposed to illuminate the inner walls of said
housing; a conveyor apparatus being configured and disposed to move
bottles though said bottle inspection machine; at least one camera
being configured to sense at least the position of a label on a
bottle; a computer being configured to determine from a set of
stored values whether the label on the bottle is acceptable or
defective upon receiving signals representing the image of a bottle
from said at least one camera; said inner walls of said housing
being configured to have a substantial angle of half intensity,
substantial spectral reflection factors, and substantial scattered
reflection; the optical texture of said inner walls of said housing
being configured to provide an optically flat finish to provide a
substantially uniform and substantially glare-free light to
illuminate the bottles being inspected such that a substantial
portion of light impinging upon said inner walls of said housing is
reflected for use by said at least one camera to illuminate the
bottles being inspected within said housing; the optical texture of
said inner walls of said housing being configured to provide light
to the bottle and a bottle image to said at least one camera, with
substantial definition such that said at least one camera and said
computer can distinguish between at least labels on bottles which
are defective from at least labels on bottles that are acceptable
with substantial accuracy; the optical texture of said inner walls
of said housing being configured to minimize a false rejection rate
of acceptably labeled bottles; and an apparatus being connected to
said computer, and being configured and disposed to remove
defective bottles from acceptable bottles from said housing upon
receiving a signal from said computer that a bottle is
defective.
2. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 1, wherein said
inner walls of said housing are matte.
3. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 2, wherein said
inner walls of said housing are realized so that the light is
reflected diffusely.
4. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 3, wherein said
inner walls of said housing have a scattering power of at least
0.4.
5. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 4, wherein: said
inner walls of said housing have a field angle of at least 27
degrees measured with respect to a line perpendicular to the
surface; said inner walls of said housing have a reflectance or
reflectivity of at least 65%; and said at least one camera is
located inside said housing, whereby said at least one camera is
located so that it is concealed except for the inlet opening of its
lens.
6. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 5, wherein: said
inspection machine comprises a plurality of cameras, and wherein
said plurality of cameras are a the same distance from the bottle
at the time the container is photographed; and the floor surface of
said housing is realized at least partly in the form of a drawer
and/or in the form of shutters or flaps.
7. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 6, wherein: said
optical texture of said inner walls of said housing contains at
least one metal oxide; and said optical texture of said inner walls
of said housing is baked or enameled onto the surface.
8. A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid
material, said container filling plant comprising: a plurality of
machines comprising at least a rotary container filling machine, a
rotary container closing machine, a container labeling machine, and
a container inspection machine; a first conveyor arrangement being
configured and disposed to convey containers to be filled to said
container filling machine; said container filling machine being
configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid material;
said container filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable
vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said
vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said
vertical machine column; a plurality of container filling elements
for filling containers with liquid material being disposed on the
periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of container
filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured
and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; each of
said plurality of container filling elements being configured and
disposed to dispense liquid material into containers to be filled;
at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of
liquid material; at least one supply line being configured and
disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said
container filling machine to supply liquid material to said
container filling machine; a first filling machine star wheel
structure being configured and disposed to move containers into
said container filling machine; a second filling machine star wheel
structure being configured and disposed to move containers out of
said container filling machine; a second conveyor arrangement being
configured and disposed to convey filled containers to said
container closing machine; said container closing machine being
configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers; said
container closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical
machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine
column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine
column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the
periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices
being configured and disposed to place closures on filled
containers; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a
container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold
filled containers; a first closing machine star wheel structure
being configured and disposed to move filled containers into said
container closing machine; a second closing machine star wheel
structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed
containers out of said container closing machine; said container
labeling machine comprising: a labeling station being configured to
label containers; an input arrangement being configured to transfer
containers to be labeled into said labeling machine; an output
arrangement being configured to transfer labeled containers out of
said labeling machine; a conveyor arrangement being configured and
disposed to convey closed, filled, labeled containers to said
container inspection machine; said container inspection machine
being configured to inspect containers; said container inspection
machine comprising: a housing; a light source being configured and
disposed to illuminate the inner walls of said housing; a conveyor
apparatus being configured and disposed to move containers though
said container inspection machine; at least one optical sensor
being configured to sense at least the position of a label on a
container; a computer being configured to determine from a set of
stored values whether the label on the container is acceptable or
defective upon receiving signals representing the image of a
container from said at least one optical sensor; said inner walls
of said housing being configured to have a substantial angle of
half intensity, substantial spectral reflection factors, and
substantial scattered reflection; the optical texture of said inner
walls of said housing being configured to provide an optically flat
finish to provide a substantially uniform and substantially
glare-free light to illuminate the containers being inspected such
that a substantial portion of light impinging upon said inner walls
of said housing is reflected for use by said at least one optical
sensor to illuminate the containers being inspected within said
housing; the optical texture of said inner walls of said housing
being configured to provide light to the container and a container
image to said at least one optical sensor, with substantial
definition such that said at least one optical sensor and said
computer can distinguish between at least labels on containers
which are defective from at least labels on containers that are
acceptable with substantial accuracy; the optical texture of said
inner walls of said housing being configured to minimize a false
rejection rate of acceptably labeled containers; and an apparatus
being connected to said computer, and being configured and disposed
to remove defective containers from acceptable containers from said
housing upon receiving a signal from said computer that a container
is defective.
9. The container filling plant according to claim 8, wherein said
inner walls of said housing are matte.
10. The container filling plant according to claim 9, wherein said
inner walls of said housing are realized so that the light is
reflected diffusely.
11. The container filling plant according to claim 10, wherein said
inner walls of said housing have a scattering power of at least
0.4.
12. The container filling plant according to claim 11, wherein:
said inner walls of said housing have a field angle of at least 27
degrees measured with respect to a line perpendicular to the
surface; said inner walls of said housing have a reflectance or
reflectivity of at least 65%; and said at least one camera is
located inside said housing, whereby said at least one camera is
located so that it is concealed except for the inlet opening of its
lens.
13. The container filling plant according to claim 12, wherein:
said inspection machine comprises a plurality of cameras, and
wherein said plurality of cameras are a the same distance from the
bottle at the time the container is photographed; and the floor
surface of said housing is realized at least partly in the form of
a drawer and/or in the form of shutters or flaps.
14. The container filling plant according to claim 13, wherein:
said optical texture of said inner walls of said housing contains
at least one metal oxide; and said optical texture of said inner
walls of said housing is baked or enameled onto the surface.
15. An inspection device for the inspection of closed containers
such as bottles, jars or similar containers, realized in a linear
or rotary design, with at least one camera, at least one
illumination device and at least one system for image processing,
with a housing which encloses at least a portion of the container
conveyor line, at least one illumination device and at least one
camera, wherein the interior surfaces of the housing are
light-colored.
16. The inspection device according to claim 15, wherein the
interior surfaces of the housing are matte.
17. The inspection device according to claim 16, wherein: the
interior surfaces of the housing are realized so that the light is
reflected diffusely; and the interior surfaces of the housing have
a scattering power of at least 0.4.
18. The inspection device according to claim 17, wherein: the
interior surfaces of the housing have a field angle of at least 27
degrees measured with respect to a line perpendicular to the
surface; the interior surfaces of the housing have a reflectance or
reflectivity of at least 65%.
19. The inspection device according to claim 18, wherein: the at
least one camera is located inside the housing, whereby the camera
is located so that it is concealed except for the inlet opening of
its lens; and all of the cameras are a the same distance from the
container at the time the container is photographed.
20. The inspection device according to claim 19, wherein: the floor
surface of the housing is realized at least partly in the form of a
drawer and/or in the form of shutters or flaps; the coating of the
interior surfaces of the housing contains at least one metal oxide;
and the coating of the interior surfaces of the housing is baked or
enameled onto the surface.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present application relates to a beverage bottling plant
for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having an
inspection apparatus for inspecting bottles.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid
beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling
machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each
beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for
filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling
devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined
volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of
bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage
filling material. The apparatus designed to introduce a
predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further
comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of
the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material
reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be
provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles,
for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.
Upon filling, a closing station closes the filled bottles. There
may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to
transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing
station. Bottles may be labeled in a labeling station, the labeling
station having a conveyer arrangement to receive bottles and to
output bottles. The closing station and the labeling station may be
connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement.
[0005] Containers and contoured containers, such as bottles and
cans etc., for example, that are used for packaging a wide variety
of products, for example for the packaging of beverages or other
liquids, bulk goods etc., have dimensional variations that result
from the tolerances of the manufacturing methods used, which
variations can be up to +/-2 mm in the diameter, for example, and
up to +/-1 mm in height, for example, depending on the type of
container, but also on the respective measurement point or
measurement location at which said dimensional tolerances are
determined.
[0006] When containers of this type are labeled, said dimensional
variations or tolerances can result in the respective label not
being in the desired position on the container in question, and in
particular when labels are to be applied in different areas of a
container, for example on the neck, shoulder or body of a bottle,
said labels may not be oriented in the desired relationship with
one another, i.e. the vertical axis of symmetry or center axis of
the neck, shoulder and body labels no longer lies on the desired
line, or the distances between the side edges of a shoulder label
and a body label are no longer equal. Variations in the position of
the labels caused by variations in the dimensions of the respective
container can thus have an adverse effect on the appearance or the
visual attractiveness of the respective labeled container, to the
point where the high quality requirements of a bottling plant or of
the retail consumer are no longer met.
[0007] Embodiments indicate a method and apparatus which makes it
possible, since there are tolerances or variations in the
dimensions of the contour of the container or of the container
itself, to sense the position of one or more labels in the correct
position on a given container, and thus to ensure an attractive
visual appearance of the individual labeled container in question
by removing the bottle with mispositioned labels.
[0008] The present application teaches a method for labeling
bottles or similar contoured containers with at least one label, in
which method the containers are located on container carriers of a
conveyor line and are moved past at least one labeling unit, and
thereby at least one label is transferred with one side of the
label on the outside surface of the respective container and then
fixed in position, starting from said side of the label, on the
outside surface of the container, characterized by the fact that by
means of at least one first sensor unit on the conveyor line, the
contour of the respective container and/or the dimensions of said
contour that are critical for the labeling and/or the position of
any labels that have previously been applied to the container are
detected to define the measured values, and that taking into
consideration the variance of the measured values from a specified
value, the process of applying the respective label to the
container to be labeled is controlled so that the respective label
is in the desired position after it has been applied to the
container.
[0009] Conventional practice is to produce beverages, e.g. beer,
fruit juices, mineral water and/or soft drink beverages on a large
scale, i.e. industrially. To be able to offer the consumer a
product of good and consistent quality, it has been found to be
particularly advantageous to subject the product to numerous tests
and inspections not only during the actual production process, but
to also subject the finished product to a final inspection.
[0010] An analogous procedure is followed for other products that
are bottled in jars or bottles, such as, for example, oils, sauces
etc., so that the scope of application of the present application
also includes the processing of those products, even if they are
not explicitly mentioned below. The scope of protection likewise
extends both to inspection machines that employ a linear
construction and those that employ a rotary construction.
[0011] The term "finished product" as used here means the finished,
closed and labeled container 1 filled with the substance being
bottled.
[0012] In the context of a final inspection of this type, the
object of the inspection can be, among other things, the fill
level, the correct seating of the labels, the surface lettering or
the surface quality of the finished product. To be able to carry
out these inspection tasks, numerous solutions have been proposed
in the past, whereby the machines in question were frequently what
are termed linear machines, because as a result of their design
they handle the finished product especially gently, and in
particular do not damage the container labeling.
[0013] Inspection machines of this type, but also those that employ
a rotary construction, are essentially constructed as follows: The
containers are transported standing upright on a transport
conveyor, e.g. on a conveyor chain. For the inspection of the
containers, an inspection station is realized that forms part of
the transport line or surrounds a portion of the transport line.
For this purpose, the prior art teaches the realization of a
housing which, as an integral component of the inspection station,
surrounds the transport line in the inspection area as completely
and light-proof as possible, so that as a rule only the inlet and
outlet for the containers are not closed by the wall of the housing
14. However, other inlets and outlets are possible which can
further decrease outside originating light.
[0014] The housing 14 and/or the inspection machine will generally
include at least one camera 15, at least one illumination device 16
and a system for the processing and evaluation of the image
information recorded.
[0015] On the basis of the evaluated image information and a
comparison with the desired values stored in the evaluation system,
one or more comparisons between the measured and desired values can
be performed to identify defective containers, i.e. containers that
do not meet the specified requirements, and are excluded from the
rest of the production process, in particular from the packing of
the containers 1 in a case or carton for further transport.
[0016] One characteristic that all the configurations of inspection
machines of the prior art for optical inspection have in common is
that the interior walls of the housing are realized or painted
black. The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the
surrounding black surfaces absorb any light that is reflected by
the surfaces of the container 1 being inspected completely or as
completely as possible and thus prevent additional errors and/or
problems that might occur during the imaging or its evaluation and
may be caused by additional reflections on the surface of the
container.
[0017] An additional objective of the black realization of the
interior walls of the housing 14 is to prevent problems and
disruptions that can be caused by diffused, stray or scattered
light that gets into the housing 14 through the container inlet
and/or outlet 19. The purpose of the black walls is to ensure that
this diffused or scattered light is absorbed to the maximum extent
possible by the interior walls of the housing.
[0018] One essential disadvantage of the realizations of the prior
art is that a uniform luminance cannot be achieved inside the
housing or on the surface of the container to be inspected.
Consequently, the surface of the container has different brightness
values. Because these different brightness values are caused only
by the type of illumination and/or the geometric "normal contour"
of the container being inspected, they make the analysis and the
interpretation of the recordings more difficult, because the
characteristics that are being looked for and inspected, such as
for example the label (edges), container closures or surface
defects in the container 1, also cause fluctuations in
brightness.
Object or Objects
[0019] The object is to create a device for the inspection of
containers that reliably eliminates or at least minimizes the above
mentioned disadvantages of the inspection devices of the prior art.
For this purpose, the present application teaches the realization
of an inspection device as described herein below. Developments of
the present application are also disclosed herein below.
[0020] The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention
will be described further hereinbelow. When the word "invention" or
"embodiment of the invention" is used in this specification, the
word "invention" or "embodiment of the invention" includes
"inventions" or "embodiments of the invention", that is the plural
of "invention" or "embodiment of the invention". By stating
"invention" or "embodiment of the invention", the Applicant does
not in any way admit that the present application does not include
more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and
maintains that this application may include more than one
patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant
hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include
more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than
one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and
non-obvious one with respect to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present application is explained in greater detail below
on the basis of an exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a container filling
plant in accordance with one possible embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 1B is a simplified illustration showing a side view of
a bottle on a turntable of a labeling machine, in which the
turntable acts as a container carrier or bottle carrier;
[0024] FIG. 1C is similar to FIG. 1B and shows further details
according to one possible embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 1D is a schematic illustration of a shoulder and body
label showing their relationship to each other, to explain the
embodiments and the control of a labeling machine;
[0026] FIG. 1E is a schematic partial illustration of different
bottle diameters to explain the embodiments;
[0027] FIG. 1F is a simplified illustration of an inspection
machine that employs a linear construction, whereby the housing is
shown in an elevated position;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a simplified sectional drawing in an overhead
view;
[0029] FIG. 2A shows a simplified overhead view of an inspection
machine according to one possible embodiment; and
[0030] FIG. 3 is another simplified section drawing in a side view
of an inspection machine that employs a linear construction.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Developments, advantages and potential applications of the
present application are explained in the following description of
exemplary embodiments and the drawing. All of the characteristics
described and/or illustrated are the object of the present
application, individually or in any possible combination,
regardless of their placement in the claims or the references
between claims. The text of the claims is simultaneously
incorporated by reference into the description.
[0032] FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one
possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers,
specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles B with
at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one
possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be
utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0033] FIG. 1A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,
to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction
of travel as indicated by the arrow A1, by a first conveyer
arrangement 103, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of
a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing
arrangement or rinsing station 101, in the direction of travel as
indicated by the arrow A1, the rinsed bottles B are transported to
a beverage filling machine 105 by a second conveyer arrangement 104
that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that
introduce bottles B into the beverage filling machine 105.
[0034] The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or
rotary design, with a rotor 105', which revolves around a central,
vertical machine axis. The rotor 105' is designed to receive and
hold the bottles B for filling at a plurality of filling positions
113 located about the periphery of the rotor 105'. At each of the
filling positions 103 is located a filling arrangement 114 having
at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve. The
filling arrangements 114 are designed to introduce a predetermined
volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the
bottles B to a predetermined or desired level.
[0035] The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage
material from a toroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply
of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas. The
toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the revolving
rotor 105'. The toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by means of a
rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation. The toroidal
vessel 117 is also connected to at least one external reservoir or
supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, there are two external supply
reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configured to store either
the same liquid beverage product or different products. These
reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel
117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121
and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the
form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage
product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment.
[0036] As well as the more typical filling machines having one
toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible
embodiment there could be a second toroidal or annular vessel which
contains a second product. In this case, each filling arrangement
114 could be connected by separate connections to each of the two
toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or
control valves, so that in each bottle B, the first product or the
second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of
the filling product or fluid valves.
[0037] Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the
direction of travel of the bottles B, there can be a beverage
bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 which closes or
caps the bottles B. The beverage bottle closing arrangement or
closing station 106 can be connected by a third conveyer
arrangement 107 to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or
labeling station 108. The third conveyor arrangement may be formed,
for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a
linear conveyor device.
[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling
arrangement or labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit,
device, or module, for applying labels to bottles B. In the
embodiment shown, the labeling arrangement 108 has three output
conveyer arrangement: a first output conveyer arrangement 109, a
second output conveyer arrangement 110, and a third output conveyer
arrangement 111, all of which convey filled, closed, and labeled
bottles B to a bottle inspecting apparatus 20.
[0039] The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment
shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a first
type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply
reservoir 123. The second output conveyer arrangement 110, in the
embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled
with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the
supply reservoir 124. The third output conveyer arrangement 111, in
the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled
bottles B. To further explain, the labeling arrangement 108 can
comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring
device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the
bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or
aligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111
removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as
determined by the inspecting device or devices 14.
[0040] The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central
control arrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized
control system that monitors and controls the operation of the
various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
[0041] The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment
shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a first
type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply
reservoir 123. The second output conveyer arrangement 110, in the
embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled
with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the
supply reservoir 124. The third output conveyer arrangement 111, in
the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled
bottles B. To further explain, the labeling arrangement 108 can
comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring
device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the
bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or
aligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111
removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as
determined by the inspecting device or devices 14.
[0042] The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central
control arrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized
control system that monitors and controls the operation of the
various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
[0043] The labeling machine of FIGS. 1B and 1C, which in the
figures is designated 1000 in general, is used to label bottles 1
that are filled with a liquid and are capped on their bottle mouth
with caps 3, and are each provided with labels 400 and 500, of
which the label 400 is a shoulder label and the label 500 is a body
label. For this purpose, the label 400 is applied to the shoulder
area 2.2 that is adjacent to the neck 2.1 of the bottle and becomes
wider toward the bottom of the bottle, and the label 500 is applied
to the body area 2.3 of the bottle 1, which in the illustrated
embodiment is slightly cinched in and is rotationally symmetrical
to its axis.
[0044] The bottles 1, because of the manufacturing methods by which
they are produced, have certain dimensional variations which,
depending on the type of container or bottle 1, and on the point at
which they are measured, can be up to +/-2.5 mm for the diameter
and up to +/-1 mm for the height.
[0045] The objective, after the labeling of each bottle 1, is for
the labels 400 and 500 to be in a defined relationship to the
contour of the bottle 1 and also in a defined relationship to each
other.
[0046] The manufacturing tolerances of the bottles 1 with reference
to the bottle diameter and/or the bottle height can cause the
labels 400 and 500 to be applied incorrectly in relation to the
contour of the bottle 1 and/or in an incorrect relationship
relative to each other. A situation of this type is illustrated
schematically and by way of example in FIG. 1B by the offset of the
axis of symmetry or center axis M4 of the label 400 and the axis of
symmetry or center axis M5 of the label 500 in the circumferential
direction of the bottle, and in FIG. 1D by the offset of the labels
400 and 500 in the direction of the axis of the bottle indicated by
the broken lines 4.1 and 5.1.
[0047] As a further explanation of the invention, FIG. 4 shows
Lines 2a-2c, which represent the path of the peripheral surface of
three bottles 2 with different diameters, whereby Line 2a
corresponds, for example, to the specified diameter and the Lines
2b and 2c correspond to bottle diameters that differ from said
specified diameter.
[0048] The transfer of the labels in the respective labeling units
15 and 16 occurs in the area identified by the line 18. 19 is the
desired position of the center of the label, center axis or axis of
symmetry M4 and M5, respectively, on the bottle 2.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 1E, it is apparent that in the event of
dimensional variations in the circumference of the bottle (Lines 2b
and 2c), without a rotational adjustment of the respective bottle 1
or of the bottle carrier or container carrier 600 and/or without an
adjustment of the dispensing time, the respective label transferred
on the line 18.0 with one side on the periphery of the bottle will
not be positioned with its center axis or axis of symmetry on the
point 19.0, but on the periphery of the bottles 2b on the point
19.1, and with the bottle diameter 2c will come to rest on the
point 19.2. To achieve the correct position of the label, with the
bottle diameter 2b, a rotational adjustment of the bottle 1 is
necessary as indicated by the arrow B', and with the bottle
diameter 2c, a rotational adjustment of the bottle 1 as indicated
by the arrow B'' in the opposite direction is necessary.
Accordingly, an earlier initiation of the dispensing process is
necessary in case 2c, and a delayed initiation of the dispensing
process in case 2b.
[0050] By means of an appropriate control system, which is
described in greater detail below, of the labeling machine 20 or of
the bottle carrier or container carrier 600 on the periphery of a
turntable or rotor 700 which is driven so that it rotates around a
vertical machine axis, this incorrect position of the labels 400
and 500, which is caused by the dimensional variations of the
bottles 1 and adversely affects the visual appearance of the
labeled bottles 1, can be minimized.
[0051] To label the bottles 1, the bottles are fed in the
conventional manner by means of a conveyor 8 and an inlet star
wheel 9.1 to the turntable or rotor 700, so that each individual
bottle is oriented with its axis in the vertical direction and the
bottom of the bottle on a bottle carrier or container carrier 600,
where it is secured against tipping in a suitable manner, for
example by means of a spring-mounted pad. The labeled bottles 1 are
then removed from the turntable or rotor 700 and the bottle
carriers or container carriers 600 by means of an outlet star wheel
9.2 and transported via the conveyor for further processing.
[0052] Downstream on the machine frame of the labeling machine 1000
there is at least one camera 15 of an image processing system, such
that by means of said system and/or with the computer 30 located
there, the dimensional tolerances and/or actual dimensions of each
bottle that moves past the camera 15 are determined, and
specifically in the form of variations from corresponding specified
values, i.e. the dimensional tolerances of the bottle diameter,
e.g. in the shoulder and body area, as well as the dimensional
tolerances in the vertical direction. The specified values or the
contour or of the diameter and the height for the respective type
of bottle or container are stored in the computer 30 of the image
processing system.
[0053] The differences between desired locations of the label or
labels are determined by comparing the actual dimensions and/or
contours and generating a signal indicative of the error between
the actual dimensions and/or contours and the specific dimensions
and/or contours. This error signal could be used to pick a signal
to be transmitted to at least the third output conveyor arrangement
111, which would remove the bottle.
[0054] Depending on the result of the measurement and/or analysis
of the individual bottle 1 by the image processing system, by means
of a control device that is actuated by the computer 30, there is
acceptance or rejection of the bottle 1.
[0055] FIG. 1C is similar to FIG. 1B and shows a bottle cap 300 on
the bottle 1.
[0056] In an additional embodiment, there is at least one second
sensor device or camera 15. The task of this at least one second
camera 15, in connection with the image processing system that is
already present or with a second image processing system that may
also be provided, is to analyze the position of the labels that
have been previously applied by the labeling units and, taking into
consideration the dimensional tolerances of the bottle 2 that have
been measured, to check the labeling so that labels are applied in
the correct position. The subsequent labels must likewise be
applied not only in the correct orientation with respect to the
bottle 2, but also in the correct orientation with respect to the
labels already applied, so that, for example, the resulting
distances between the vertical side edges of the labels on the
shoulder and the back of the bottle are equal.
[0057] The embodiments have been explained above on the basis of
the labeling machine for bottles. It goes without saying that the
apparatus and/or the method taught are also suitable for other
containers or contoured containers of any type for liquids, bulk
goods etc., for example. The invention is also of course not
restricted to the labeling of containers with labels on the
shoulders and body, but can also be used in the same manner for
labeling containers with any type of label, e.g. including labels
on the neck and/or back of the container.
[0058] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, for example, the
rotational and/or vertical adjustment of each bottle carrier or
container carrier 600 that is necessary is done twice, and
specifically once before the bottle reaches the labeling station
15, and then once again before the bottle reaches the next labeling
station 16 in the direction of rotation A. After the labels 400 and
500 have been transferred to a bottle 1, the conventional pressing
and brushing of said labels is performed by pressing and brushing
elements that are not shown in the illustrations.
[0059] On the machine frame of the labeling machine 1000, upstream
of the bottle outlet formed by the outlet star wheel 9.2, there is
an additional camera 17, which is also a part of the
computer-assisted image processing system and with which an image
of the labeled bottles 1 is acquired on their side that is provided
with the labels 400 and 500, so that with the image signal supplied
by the camera 17 and the image processing, the result of the
labeling achieved can be analyzed, i.e. it can be verified, for
example, whether the labels 400 and 500 are in the desired
positions relative to each other and in the desired position on the
respective bottle 1. The result of this analysis can also be used
to optimize the orientation of bottles 1 that are being labeled for
the first time, i.e. to optimize the rotational and vertical
adjustment for said bottles 2 and/or to carry out a defined
presetting of the bottle carrier or container carrier 600 in the
direction of rotation A before the bottle reaches the camera
15.
[0060] In practice it has been found that the surface of a
defective container 1 has the most uniform brightness values when
the luminance in the housing 14 that surrounds the containers is as
uniform a possible. The phrase "uniform luminance" as used in this
context means that seen from any point inside the housing, and in
any possible direction of viewing or measurement, the same
intensity of the illumination or brightness is perceptible or
measurable.
[0061] To achieve a luminance that is as uniform as possible, the
present application teaches that the interior walls of the
surrounding housing are light-colored, often white. The present
application also teaches that the interior walls are realized so
that the walls reflect and/or radiate the light that strikes them
as completely as possible or optimally and as diffusely and simply
or undirectionally as possible.
[0062] Tests have been conducted that have shown that a
particularly advantageous imaging of the container can be achieved
when the parameters of the interior walls that are relevant for a
uniform illumination--namely the reflection and diffusion
characteristics--are optimally coordinated with each other.
[0063] The diffusion characteristic of a surface is determined by
the parameters scattering power sigma and field angle or angle of
half intensity, whereby a scattering power sigma of greater than
0.4 and a field angle of greater than 27 degrees, measured with
respect to a line perpendicular to the surface, have been
determined to be particularly advantageous. Scattering power sigma
is defined in DIN Standard 5036. Scattering power sigma may also be
referred to as spectral reflection factors or as scattered
reflection.
[0064] For the reflection characteristic it has been found that a
value of greater than 65% is particularly advantageous.
[0065] To reliably achieve the values defined above for these
parameters, it is necessary to coat the interior walls of the
housing with a suitable material. This material can be, for
example, a paint or another coating that contains pigments produced
from the oxides of a metal, e.g. titanium.
[0066] The oxides can be a monoxide and/or a dioxide etc. To
improve the durability of the above mentioned coating, the coating
can be bonded to the interior walls by baking or enameling.
[0067] The angle of half intensity is defined as the angle where
the intensity of the light from a surface is half the intensity
which is measured directly at 90 degrees to the surface.
[0068] The phrase "interior walls" as used in connection with this
application means all surfaces that are inside the housing. These
surfaces include, in addition to the side walls, the floor and the
ceiling, as well as the surfaces of the of the container conveyor,
also including in particular the surface of the conveyor chain. In
another possible embodiment all the interior walls may not be
completely covered with the reflective coating.
[0069] With regard to all the interior walls and the surfaces
facing them, e.g. of the conveyor chain, the present application
teaches that their surfaces are also coated in a suitable manner to
achieve the desired characteristics.
[0070] During the operation of inspection devices, contamination
frequently occurs as the result exploding or falling containers. If
such contamination occurs inside the housing, it undesirably
distorts the result of the inspection, which means that the
contamination must be removed immediately. In this regard, the
present application teaches that the floor of the housing 14 is
realized at least in parts in the form of a drawer 17 or shutter or
flap, so that contamination can be removed quickly and without long
shutdowns of the machine.
[0071] Practical tests have also shown that the surfaces of the
cameras conventionally used have neither the required
characteristics regarding reflection, diffusion or scattering, nor
can they be treated so that the desired characteristics can be
achieved. Therefore the present application teaches, in the context
of an additional realization, that the at least one camera 15 is
located inside the housing behind a disc 18 or another suitable
element. This arrangement is designed so that the disc is treated
over its entire surface as described above except for one location
that matches the inlet opening of the camera lens, and that the
camera is completely concealed behind said disc except for the
inlet opening, as a result of which the uniform luminance in the
interior of the housing is influenced or distorted as little as
possible.
[0072] Because the time that is available for the inspection of a
container is short, in particular in high-capacity inspection
machines with capacities of more than 50,000 containers per hour,
and time-consuming computer operations for the elimination of
optical imaging errors or distortions must be avoided or minimized
to the maximum extent possible. The present application teaches in
an embodiment that for a further improvement of the potential
applicability of the present application, if more than one camera
is used, these cameras are located and oriented so that at the time
of the photographing of the container 1, these cameras are at the
same distance from the container. The cameras 15 can then be
located, for example, at the corners of a square or also on a
circular curve, whereby in both cases (square and circular curve),
the container is located exactly at its midpoint at the time the
image is taken.
[0073] In FIG. 2A the cameras or other sensors 15 feed data into a
computer 30 which analyzes the image or images of the bottles 1 and
determines whether the condition of the bottles 1 meets standards
within tolerance. If the bottles 1 meet the standards, the
rejection and acceptance apparatus 40 of apparatus 111 permits the
bottles 1 to exit through the conveyor 42 or rejects the defective
bottles to conveyor 44.
[0074] In the event of a stoppage of bottles traveling through the
housing 14, the computer 30 sends a signal to the emergency
stopping device 32 which is able to send a signal to the controller
112 to stop the bottling plant. The computer 30 and the stopping
device 32 may be part of the controller 112.
[0075] The present application relates to an inspection device for
the inspection of closed containers such as bottles, jars or
similar containers, realized in a linear or rotary design, with at
least one camera, at least one illumination device and at least one
system for image processing, with a housing which encloses at least
a portion of the container conveyor line, at least one illumination
device and at least one camera, whereby the present application
teaches that the interior surfaces of the housing are
light-colored.
[0076] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in an inspection device for the inspection of closed
containers such as bottles, jars or similar containers, realized in
a linear or rotary design, with at least one camera, at least one
illumination device and at least one system for image processing,
with a housing which encloses at least a portion of the container
conveydr line, at least one illumination device and at least one
camera, characterized in that the interior surfaces of the housing
are light-colored.
[0077] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
interior surfaces of the housing are matte.
[0078] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
interior surfaces of the housing are realized so that the light is
reflected diffusely.
[0079] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
interior surfaces of the housing have a scattering power of at
least 0.4.
[0080] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
interior surfaces of the housing have a field angle of at least 27
degrees measured with respect to a line perpendicular to the
surface.
[0081] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
interior surfaces of the housing have a reflectance or reflectivity
of at least 65%.
[0082] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
at least one camera is located inside the housing, whereby the
camera is located so that it is concealed except for the inlet
opening of its lens.
[0083] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that all
of the cameras are a the same distance from the container at the
time the container is photographed.
[0084] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
floor surface of the housing is realized at least partly in the
form of a drawer and/or in the form of shutters or flaps.
[0085] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
coating of the interior surfaces of the housing contains at least
one metal oxide.
[0086] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an inspection device, characterized in that the
coating of the interior surfaces of the housing is baked or
enameled onto the surface.
[0087] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage
bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant
comprising: a plurality of machines comprising at least a rotary
beverage bottle filling machine, a rotary beverage bottle closing
machine, a bottle labeling machine, and a bottle inspection
machine; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed
to convey beverage bottles to be filled to said beverage bottle
filling machine; said beverage bottle filling machine being
configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid
beverage material; said beverage bottle filling machine comprising:
a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being
connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of
said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of
beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with
liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said
rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements
comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to
receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said
plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and
disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles
to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to
hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line
being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid
reservoir to said beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid
beverage material to said beverage bottle filling machine; a first
filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed
to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine;
a second filling machine star wheel structure being configured and
disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle
filling machine; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and
disposed to convey filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle
closing machine; said beverage bottle closing machine being
configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles;
said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a
rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to
said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about
said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being
disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of
closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on
filled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices
comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to
receive and hold filled beverage bottles; a first closing machine
star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled
beverage bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; a
second closing machine star wheel structure being configured and
disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out of said
beverage bottle closing machine; said bottle labeling machine
comprising: a labeling station being configured to label bottles;
an input arrangement being configured to transfer bottles to be
labeled into said labeling machine; an output arrangement being
configured, to transfer labeled bottles out of said labeling
machine; a conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to
convey closed, filled, labeled bottles to said bottle inspection
machine; said bottle inspection machine being configured to inspect
bottles; said bottle inspection machine comprising: a housing; a
light source being configured and disposed to illuminate the inner
walls of said housing; a conveyor apparatus being configured and
disposed to move bottles though said bottle inspection machine; at
least one camera being configured to sense at least the position of
a label on a bottle; a computer being configured to determine from
a set of stored values whether the label on the bottle is
acceptable or defective upon receiving signals representing the
image of a bottle from said at least one camera; said inner walls
of said housing being configured to have a substantial angle of
half intensity, substantial spectral reflection factors, and
substantial scattered reflection; the optical texture of said inner
walls of said housing being configured to provide an optically flat
finish to provide a substantially uniform and substantially
glare-free light to illuminate the bottles being inspected such
that a substantial portion of light impinging upon said inner walls
of said housing is reflected for use by said at least one camera to
illuminate the bottles being inspected within said housing; the
optical texture of said inner walls of said housing being
configured to provide light to the bottle and a bottle image to
said at least one camera, with substantial definition such that
said at least one camera and said computer can distinguish between
at least labels on bottles which are defective from at least labels
on bottles that are acceptable with substantial accuracy; the
optical texture of said inner walls of said housing being
configured to minimize a false rejection rate of acceptably labeled
bottles; and an apparatus being connected to said computer, and
being configured and disposed to remove defective bottles from
acceptable bottles from said housing upon receiving a signal from
said computer that a bottle is defective.
[0088] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in an container filling plant for filling containers
with liquid material, said container filling plant comprising: a
plurality of machines comprising at least a rotary container
filling machine, a rotary container closing machine, a container
labeling machine, and a container inspection machine; a first
conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey
containers to be filled to said container filling machine; said
container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill
containers with liquid material; said container filling machine
comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said
rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit
rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a
plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with
liquid material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each
of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a
container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold
containers to be filled; each of said plurality of container
filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid
material into containers to be filled; at least one liquid
reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid material; at
least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said
at least one liquid reservoir to said container filling machine to
supply liquid material to said container filling machine; a first
filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed
to move containers into said container filling machine; a second
filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed
to move containers out of said container filling machine; a second
conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled
containers to said container closing machine; said container
closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of
filled containers; said container closing machine comprising: a
rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being
connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of
said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of
closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each
of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed
to place closures on filled containers; each of said plurality of
closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and
disposed to receive and hold filled containers; a first closing
machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move
filled containers into said container closing machine; a second
closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed
to move filled, closed containers out of said container closing
machine; said container labeling machine comprising: a labeling
station being configured to label containers; an input arrangement
being configured to transfer containers to be labeled into said
labeling machine; an output arrangement being configured to
transfer labeled containers out of said labeling machine; a
conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey
closed, filled, labeled containers to said container inspection
machine; said container inspection machine being configured to
inspect containers; said container inspection machine comprising: a
housing; a light source being configured and disposed to illuminate
the inner walls of said housing; a conveyor apparatus being
configured and disposed to move containers though said container
inspection machine; at least one optical sensor being configured to
sense at least the position of a label on a container; a computer
being configured to determine from a set of stored values whether
the label on the container is acceptable or defective upon
receiving signals representing the image of a container from said
at least one optical sensor; said inner walls of said housing being
configured to have a substantial angle of half intensity,
substantial spectral reflection factors, and substantial scattered
reflection; the optical texture of said inner walls of said housing
being configured to provide an optically flat finish to provide a
substantially uniform and substantially glare-free light to
illuminate the containers being inspected such that a substantial
portion of light impinging upon said inner walls of said housing is
reflected for use by said at least one optical sensor to illuminate
the containers being inspected within said housing; the optical
texture of said inner walls of said housing being configured to
provide light to the container and a container image to said at
least one optical sensor, with substantial definition such that
said at least one optical sensor and said computer can distinguish
between at least labels on containers which are defective from at
least labels on containers that are acceptable with substantial
accuracy; the optical texture of said inner walls of said housing
being configured to minimize a false rejection rate of acceptably
labeled containers; and an apparatus being connected to said
computer, and being configured and disposed to remove defective
containers from acceptable containers from said housing upon
receiving a signal from said computer that a container is
defective.
[0089] U.S. Patent Application, filed by Applicant on Aug. 20,
2005, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-119, and German
Application No. 10 2004 040 634.0, filed on Aug. 21, 2004, are both
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
[0090] The components disclosed in the various publications,
disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used
in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as
equivalents thereof.
[0091] Some examples of bottling systems, which may be used or
adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present
may be found in the following U.S. Patents assigned to the Assignee
herein, namely: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,285; 4,944,830; 4,950,350;
4,976,803; 4,981,547; 5,004,518; 5,017,261; 5,062,917; 5,062,918;
5,075,123; 5,078,826; 5,087,317; 5,110,402; 5,129,984; 5,167,755;
5,174,851; 5,185,053; 5,217,538; 5,227,005; 5,413,153; 5,558,138;
5,634,500; 5,713,403; 6,276,113; 6,213,169; 6,189,578; 6,192,946;
6,374,575; 6,365,054; 6,619,016; 6,474,368; 6,494,238; 6,470,922;
and 6,463,964.
[0092] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the technical field is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the technical field of this patent application.
However, the description of the technical field may not be
completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this
patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to
the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any
manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any
manner.
[0093] Some examples of optical scanners which may possibly be
utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may
possibly be found in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No.
6,719,204, entitled "Mathieu-Gaussian beam for optical scanners;"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,603,108, entitled "Image sensing modules for
portable optical scanners;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,788, entitled
"Optical scanners;", and U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,540, entitled "Optical
scanners."
[0094] An example of an optical fiber conductor using an image
scope which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least
one possible embodiment may possibly be found in U.S. Pat. No.
4,783,135, entitled "Optical fiber conductor and image scope using
same."
[0095] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference
into this specification.
[0096] Some examples of cameras or the like optical monitoring
apparatus that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use
in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may
possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No.
5,233,186 issued to Ringlien on Aug. 3, 1993; U.S. Pat. No.
5,243,400 issued to Ringlien on Sep. 7, 1993; U.S. Pat. No.
5,369,713 issued to Schwartz et al. on Nov. 29, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.
5,442,446 issued to Gerber et al. on Aug. 15, 1995; U.S. Pat. No.
5,661,295 issued to Buchmann et al. on Aug. 26, 1997; and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,898,169 issued to Nodbryhn on Apr. 27, 1999.
[0097] The background information is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background
information for this patent application. However, the background
information may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the background information are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0098] Some examples of optical fiber wave guides which may
possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,457, entitled "Phototherapeutic wave guide
apparatus;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,055, entitled "Phototherapeutic
wave guide apparatus;" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,775, entitled
"Miniature image acquistion system using a scanning resonant
waveguide."
[0099] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0100] Some examples of labeling machines which may possibly be
utilized in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found
in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,400, entitled
"Labeling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,246, entitled "Labeling
machine capable of precise attachment of a label to different sizes
of containers;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,512, entitled "Labeling machine
capable of preventing erroneous attachment of labels on
containers;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,514, entitled "In-line continuous
feed sleeve labeling machine and method;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,587,
entitled "Cylindrical container labeling machine;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,328,086, entitled "Labeling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,021,
entitled "Labeling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,940, entitled
"In-line continuous feed sleeve labeling machine and method;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,199,614, entitled "High speed labeling machine having a
constant tension driving system;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,935, entitled
"Labeling machine; U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,223, entitled "Labeling
machine and method; U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,319, entitled "Non-round
container labeling machine and method;" and U.S. Pat. No.
6,045,616, entitled "Adhesive station and labeling machine."
[0101] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the object or objects is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the object or objects of this patent
application. However, the description of the object or objects may
not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in
this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this
patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing
from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made
relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the
claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the
claims in any manner.
[0102] All of the patents, patent applications and publications
recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
[0103] Some examples of starwheels which may possibly be utilized
or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly
be found in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,593,
entitled "Container handling starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,695,
entitled "Improved starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,112, entitled
"Odd-shaped container indexing starwheel;" and U.S. Pat. No.
4,084,686, entitled "Starwheel control in a system for conveying
containers."
[0104] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this
patent application, to adequately summarize this patent
application. However, portions or all of the information contained
in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit
the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting
the claims in any manner.
[0105] It will be understood that the examples of patents,
published patent applications, and other documents which are
included in this application and which are referred to in
paragraphs which state "Some examples of . . . which may possibly
be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present
application . . ." may possibly not be used or useable in any one
or more embodiments of the application.
[0106] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published
patent applications and other documents either incorporated by
reference or not incorporated by reference.
[0107] The corresponding foreign patent publication applications,
namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2005
017 957.6, filed on Apr. 18, 2005, having inventors Dr. Martin
Weisgerber, Carsten Buchwald, Ralph Pohl, and Wolfgang Schorn, and
DE-OS 10 2005 017 957.6 and DE-PS 10 2005 017 957.6, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein
for the purpose of correcting and explaining any possible
misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition,
the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and
international patent publication applications, and other
equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding
cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the
references and documents cited in any of the documents cited
herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications,
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein.
[0108] All of the references and documents, cited in any of the
documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if
set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited
herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include
all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited
anywhere in the present application.
[0109] The description of the embodiment or embodiments is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent
application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment
or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0110] The details in the patents, patent applications and
publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's
option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations
in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any
applied prior art.
[0111] The purpose of the title of this patent application is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the
general nature of this patent application. However, the title may
not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or
objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or
embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent
application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to
limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as
limiting the claims in any manner.
[0112] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): [0113] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure
in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0114] The embodiments of the invention described herein above in
the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as
limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided
details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention.
* * * * *