Inspection machine for containers

• US 6,012,344 A
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Halbo, Hansjoerg
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/930,207
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 73/865.8, 73/865.9, 250/223 B, 356/240.1, 356/239.4, 356/239.5, 198/339.1
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/46 Inspecting cleaned containers for cleanliness
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/14 Combination of conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9009 Non-optical constructional details affecting optical inspection, e.g. cleaning mechanisms for optical parts, vibration reduction

Abstract

In an inspection machine for containers comprising a feed conveyor, a discharge conveyor, and an intermediate conveyor which is arranged thereinbetween and transfers the containers without any self-rotation, and a rotary conveyor which imparts a rotational movement to the containers and is provided at the feed conveyor, a first side inspection device is arranged at the feed conveyor in front of the rotary conveyor, a second side inspection device is arranged at the discharge conveyor after the intermediate conveyor, and a bottom inspection device is arranged in the area of the gap existing between the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor. A very efficient container transport and a high inspection accuracy are achieved with such an assembly.

Claims

1. In an inspection machine for containers, comprising a feed conveyor, a discharge conveyor, an intermediate conveyor which bridges a gap existing thereinbetween and comprises at least two endless conveying means drivable at the same speed for engaging opposite sides of containers and transferring containers without any rotation from said feed conveyor to said discharge conveyor, said inspection machine further comprising a rotary conveyor which is arranged at said feed conveyor and comprises at least one driven endless conveying means which laterally engages and rotates containers on said feed conveyor, a bottom inspection device arranged in an area of said gap, and a first side inspection device arranged in an area of said feed conveyor, the improvement wherein said first side inspection device is arranged upstream of said rotary conveyor and a second side inspection device is arranged downstream of said rotary conveyor.

2. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotary conveyor rotates containers standing on said feed conveyor by an angle of about 90 degrees.

3. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said first side inspection device is arranged in the area of said feed conveyor directly in front of said rotary conveyor.

4. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said second side inspection device is arranged in an area of said discharge conveyor following said intermediate conveyor.

5. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate conveyor follows said rotary conveyor without any gap.

6. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotary conveyor and said intermediate conveyor overlap in the area of said feed conveyor.

7. The inspection machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotary conveyor comprises at least two endless conveying means which engage opposite sides of containers and are driven at different speeds.

8. The inspection machine according to claim 7, wherein an average speed calculated from the speeds of the conveying means of said rotary conveyor equals the corresponding speed of the two conveying means of said intermediate conveyor of said feed conveyor and said discharge conveyor.

9. The inspection machine according to claim 7, wherein trailing pulleys of said rotary conveyor and leading pulleys of said intermediate conveyor which are respectively located at a same side of said feed conveyor are coaxially arranged one on top of the other.

10. The inspection machine according to claim 9, wherein said trailing pulleys of said rotary conveyor and said leading pulley of said intermediate conveyor which are respectively positioned at the same side of said feed conveyor are mounted on a joint drive shaft and supported in a freely rotatable manner on said joint drive shaft.

11. The inspection machine according to claim 10, wherein intermediate conveyor trailing pulleys of said intermediate conveyor are mounted on intermediate conveyor drive shafts.

12. The inspection machine according to claim 7, wherein at each side of said feed conveyor said rotary conveyor comprises two endless, drivable conveying means which are positioned at a higher level and lower level, respectively, than said endless conveying means of said intermediate conveyor which is located at the same side.

13. The inspection machine according to claim 12, wherein said conveying means of said rotary conveyor are capable of engaginq upper and lower body portions of containers.

14. An inspection machine for containers, comprising:

a feed conveyor comprising an endless belt for feeding containers;

a discharge conveyor comprising an endless belt for discharging containers;

an intermediate conveyor which bridges a gap existing between said feed conveyor and said discharge conveyor, said intermediate conveyor comprising two driven endless conveying means for engaging opposite sides of containers and transferring without rotation, containers from said feed conveyor to said discharge conveyor;

a rotary conveyor arranged so that said intermediate conveyor follows said rotary conveyor along a length of said feed conveyor, without any gap between said intermediate conveyor and said rotary conveyor, said rotary conveyor comprising two driven endless conveying means for laterally engaging and rotating containers on said feed conveyor;

a first side inspection device arranged in an area of said feed conveyor upstream of said rotary conveyor for inspecting a first side of containers;

a second side inspection device downstream of said intermediate conveyor for inspecting a second side of containers; and

a bottom inspection device in an area of the gap for inspecting containers.

15. The inspection machine according to claim 14, wherein said rotary conveyor and said intermediate conveyor overlap in the area of said feed conveyor.

16. The inspection machine according to claim 14, wherein trailing pulleys of said rotary conveyor and leading pulleys of said intermediate conveyor are coaxially arranged one on top of the other.

17. The inspection machine of claim 16, wherein said trailing pulleys of said rotary conveyor and respective leading pulleys of said intermediate conveyor, which are respectively positioned at a same side of said feed conveyor are mounted on a joint drive shaft, such that said feed conveyor, said rotary conveyor and said intermediate conveyor are capable of simultaneously contacting a container at a position adjacent said joint drive shaft.

18. The inspection machine according to claim 14, wherein said two driven endless conveying means of said rotary conveyor are spaced on opposing sides of said feed conveyor, and each endless conveying means of said rotary conveyor comprises two endless, driven conveyor belts positioned above and below each respective said endless conveying means of said intermediate conveyor.

19. The inspection machine according to claim 14, wherein said feed conveyor, said discharge conveyor, said intermediate conveyor and said rotary conveyor travel in a horizontal direction.