APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING CONTAINERS

Abstract

Apparatus for inspecting containers, having a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, and having an inspection device for inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device has an image recording device which is configured for recording a spatially resolved image of a bottom of the container. The apparatus includes an image evaluation device which is configured for evaluating the image recorded up by the image recording device, wherein this image evaluation device enables a distinction between images of those containers which have foreign bodies in their interior and those containers which have foreign bodies on an outer surface of the bottom.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inspecting containers, having a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, and has an inspection device for inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device having an image recording device which is configured for recording a spatially resolved image of a bottom of the container, wherein the apparatus comprises image evaluation device which is configured to evaluate the image recorded by the image recording device, wherein said image recording device enabling a distinction between images of those containers which have foreign bodies in their interior and those containers which have foreign bodies on an outer surface of the bottom.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device is arranged above the containers to be inspected.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image recording is configured to record an image of the bottom of the container through a mouth of the container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an illumination device configured to illuminate the bottom of the container.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is configured for transporting the containers at least in sections bottom-free.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image evaluation device is configured for identifying optically perceptible characteristic properties of foreign bodies arranged on the outer surface of the containers.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a rejection device which is configured for rejecting containers from the product flow of the containers transported by the transport device on the basis of a value output by the evaluation device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a contaminant removal devices arranged along the transport path upstream with respect to the inspection device, which is configured to remove contaminants located on the outer surface of the bottom portion of the container, wherein said contaminant removal device comprises an element mechanically contacting the container.

9. A method for inspecting containers, wherein a transport device transporting the containers along a predetermined transport path and an inspection device inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device has an image recording device configured to record at least one spatially resolved image of a bottom of the container, wherein the image recorded by the image recording device is evaluated by an image evaluation device, wherein said image evaluation device distinguishes between images of those containers which have foreign bodies in their interior and those containers which have foreign bodies on an outer surface of the bottom.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein only those containers are discharged which have foreign bodies in their interior.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the image evaluation device uses a deep learning evaluation method.

Description

[0081] In the Drawings:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a representation of an apparatus according to the state of the art;

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a representation with a synchronisation of a blow-off unit according to the state of the art;

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a faulty synchronisation in the state of the art;

[0085] FIG. 4 shows a representation of images taken in the presence of a blow-off;

[0086] FIG. 5 shows a representation of recorded images without a blow-off;

[0087] FIG. 6 shows a representation of an advantageous embodiment of the invention with an additional cleaning device;

[0088] FIG. 7 shows a representation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 with a different type of dirt;

[0089] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration explaining the invention;

[0090] FIG. 9 shows a representation of a possible evaluation procedure.

[0091] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 according to the prior art. Containers 10 are transported along a transport path P. The reference sign 110 indicates a blow-off device which blows off contamination, such as foam residues, from the bottoms of the containers. The reference sign 104 indicates an image recording device which records an image of the container bottoms through the mouths of the containers in order to detect contamination.

[0092] In the illustration shown in FIG. 2, a flash=time of the pulsed blow-off of a blow-off device 110 is correctly synchronised to the containers or their transport and thus triggers the cleaning in the correct position of the container.

[0093] In the illustration shown in FIG. 3, the pulse and the transport of the containers are not synchronous, so that cleaning is carried out at the wrong moment. As a result, the outer bottom of the container is still dirty downstream.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows the effect of a blow-off or suction on the corresponding foreign body. There is an impurity S1 and an impurity S3 on the container 10, wherein the impurity S3 is located inside the container. The blow-off 110 removes the outer contaminant S1, so that only the contaminant S3 appears in the camera image shown on the right.

[0095] In the situation shown in FIG. 5, no blow-off is provided, so that both the contamination S3 and the contamination S1 are present in the camera image. These are different in shape and can also be distinguished from each other by an evaluation device, as explained in more detail above.

[0096] In the situation shown in FIG. 6, a brush device is provided which partially removes a foam, in this case a contaminant S2, from the container. This produces the camera image shown in the partial image on the right.

[0097] In the situation shown in FIG. 7, a contaminant S5 is on an outside of the container and can be removed by the brushing device so that only the contaminant S3 appears in the camera image.

[0098] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention. Here again a bottle 10 is provided which is inspected through its mouth 10b by the image recording device 42. More precisely, the bottom 10a of the container is inspected here, which may have impurities both on its inside and on the outside.

[0099] The reference sign 46 indicates an illumination device which illuminates the bottom 10a of the container from below.

[0100] The reference sign 44 indicates the evaluation device that evaluates at least one or more images of the image recording device in order to conclude the type of contamination. If it is determined that contamination such as contamination S3 in FIG. 7 is present, the corresponding container is ejected. However, if only contamination such as contamination S5 is detected, a machine control (not shown) causes the container not to be discharged.

[0101] FIG. 9 illustrates a possible procedure for image evaluation. The starting point is an image 60 taken by the image recording device, for example of a bottom of the container. This image shows a foreign body S2, here in the form of a foam residue.

[0102] In a first step A, a convolution step (convolutions), feature maps 62 are created. In a further process step B, the sub-selection process, further (reduced) convolutions 64 are created or determined which, however, contain the respective image section. A further folding step C is carried out wherein a larger number of feature maps 66 are generated. In a process step D, a further sub-selection is made with a larger number of feature maps, so that finally a complete subdivision of the image is produced in step E and the result 70, which contains the searched feature, can be output.

[0103] Furthermore, the image 60 can also be taught in a varied manner, for example in different rotational positions, or also in enlarged or reduced forms of reproduction of the foreign body or the like.

[0104] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided they are individually or in combination new compared to the prior art. It is further pointed out that the individual figures also describe features which may be advantageous in themselves. The skilled person immediately recognises that a certain feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the skilled person recognises that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual figures or in different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0105] 10 containers/bottle [0106] 10A bottom [0107] 10B mouth [0108] 42 image recording device [0109] 44 evaluation device [0110] 46 illumination device [0111] 60 image [0112] 62, 64, 66, 68 feature cards [0113] 70 output [0114] 100 apparatus [0115] 104 image recording device [0116] 110 blow-off device [0117] S1-S3, S5 contamination [0118] A-E method steps