Test method for inspection device, particularly for label seating inspection device

• US 8,711,350 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Motter, Theo, Fischer, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Stock, Jr., Gordon J
• Application Number:
  US13/063,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 356/240.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/402 for detecting properties or defects of labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/407 after labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/40 Controls; Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/90 in a container or its contents G01N21/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/93 Detection standards; Calibrating baseline adjustment, drift correction

Abstract

The invention relates to a test method for checking an inspection device, comprising at least the steps of: generating a prescribed number of faulty and/or correctly labelled containers or test containers; moving the faulty containers or test containers past the inspection device, which detects the faulty containers or test containers and generates a signal for ejecting the faulty containers or test containers, or indicates a value relative to the expected and the measured faulty and/or correctly labelled containers. The test method can be started or performed manually or automatically, and is suitable, for example, for checking a label seating inspection device for correct functionality, or optionally for confirming the faulty functioning thereof.

Claims

1. A method for testing container inspection, said method comprising generating a prescribed number of test containers, leading the test containers past where containers are to be inspected, while the test containers are where containers are to be inspected, detecting the test containers and generating a control signal, generating a complete test container flow having a prescribed number of faulty and correct test containers, leading the complete test container flow past where containers are to be inspected, and, while the containers are where containers are to be inspected, generating a signal for ejecting faulty test containers from the test container flow, whereby correct test containers remain in the test container flow.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing generation of a signal for ejecting test containers with at least one of faulty and correct label seating.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one test container with a special test marking selected from a group consisting of a test embossing, a test label, and a test overprint, teaching the test marking to a capture unit, wherein the test marking defines at least the start of a test program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising feeding at least one test container into a transport path upstream of a labeling machine having a labeling function, and when the container is where containers are either inspected or measured, detecting the test container, and, according to data that results from either inspecting or measuring the container, switching off the labeling function of the downstream labeling machine or treatment station in relation to the at least one test container.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the prescribed number of test containers into a labeling machine, leading the test containers past where seating of labels on containers is to be inspected, and, while the test containers are where seating of labels on containers is to be inspected generating a signal for ejecting each faulty test container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein leading containers to where containers are to be inspected comprises leading the containers to a portion of a labeling machine at which seating of labels on containers is to be inspected.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

feeding a prescribed number of test containers with faulty and/or correct label seating into a transport path upstream of past where containers are to be inspected, and, while the containers are being led past where containers are to be inspected, inspecting the test containers, and generating a measured value, the measured value being indicative of a number of test containers with faulty and/or correct label seating.

8. A method for checking container inspection, said method comprising generating a prescribed number of incorrectly labeled test containers, leading the incorrectly labeled test containers past where containers are to be inspected, and, while the containers are being led past where containers to be inspected, detecting incorrectly labeled test containers and generating a signal for ejecting the incorrectly labeled test containers, introducing, into a container flow, a test container having a unique feature, at an alignment station of a labeling machine, said alignment station having a detection function, recognizing the unique feature and generating a signal representative thereof, detecting, by a test program, said signal, and, in response to detection of said signal, turning off the detection function of the alignment station, and turning off a labeling function of said labeling machine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

including correctly labeled test containers;

leading the test containers, which include incorrectly labeled and correctly labeled test containers, past where containers are to be inspected, and, while there, detecting and distinguishing between incorrectly and correctly labeled test containers and generating at least one signal for taking action on the basis of whether a test container is an incorrectly or correctly labeled test container.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting the faulty test containers where inspection is being carried out, and generating a signal for ejecting the faulty test containers.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising leading at least one test container with a correctly applied label past where the containers are to be inspected.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a complete test container flow having a prescribed number of faulty and fault-free test containers.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising leading test containers past where containers are to be inspected regularly via a lock and storage system.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein leading containers past where containers are to be inspected comprises leading containers past where label seating on containers is to be inspected.

15. A method for checking container inspection, said method comprising generating a prescribed number of incorrectly labeled test containers, leading the incorrectly labeled test containers past where containers are to be inspected, while the containers are where containers are to be inspected, detecting incorrectly labeled test containers and generating a signal for ejecting the incorrectly labeled test containers, including correctly labeled test containers, leading the test containers, which include incorrectly labeled and correctly labeled test containers, past where containers are to be inspected, and while the containers are where containers are to be inspected, detecting and distinguishing between incorrectly and correctly labeled test containers and generating at least one signal for taking action on the basis of whether a test container is an incorrectly or correctly labeled test container.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, detecting the faulty test containers where the containers are being inspected, and generating a signal for ejecting the faulty test containers.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising leading at least one test container with a correctly applied label past where containers are being inspected.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a complete test container flow having a prescribed number of faulty and fault-free test containers.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising leading test containers past where containers are being inspected regularly via a lock and storage system.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein leading containers past where containers are to be inspected comprises leading containers past where label seating of labels on containers is to be inspected.