METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING CONTAINERS FILLED WITH LIQUID

Abstract

A method for inspecting containers filled with liquids, wherein the containers is transported along a predetermined transport path by a transport device, and, wherein in a first identification step, at least one identification element is arranged on the container being inspected and/or an identification element being to the container, and at least one first parameter being detected is based on the identification element, which first parameter is characteristic of the filled container, wherein the at least one parameter is characteristic of the liquid desired in the container, wherein at least one further parameter characteristic of the liquid actually located in the container is determined in an inspection step.

Claims

1. A method for inspecting containers filled with liquids, wherein the containers are transported along a predetermined transport path a transport device, and, wherein in an identification step, at least one identification element arranged on the container is inspected and/or an identification element is attached or applied to the container, and at least one first parameter is detected based on said identification element, which first parameter is characteristic of said filled container, wherein said at least one parameter is characteristic of the liquid desired in the container, wherein at least one further parameter characteristic of the liquid actually located in the container is determined in an inspection step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inspection includes a check whether the liquid desired in the container corresponds to the liquid actually located in the container.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the inspection whether the liquid desired in the container corresponds to the liquid actually located in the container is carried out using the first parameter and the second parameter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a further parameter characteristic of the liquid actually located in the container is determined by inspecting the liquid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further parameter characteristic of the liquid actually located in the container is determined by a sensor device that is selected from a group of sensor devices consisting of a color sensor device, a spectroscopic devices, laser interferometry devices.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification step and the inspection step are carried out temporally offset relative to one another, and the inspection step is carried out after the identification step.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a container is discharged from a container stream if it is determined that the liquid desired in the container does not correspond to the liquid actually located in the container.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two parameters that are characteristic of the container are detected based on the identification element.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the parameters are characteristic of a property selected from a group of properties selected from fill-line related data, and best-before data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the further parameters are compared with stored data, wherein the stored data is stored in an LMS, in a receipt and/or in a storage device and/or in a cloud.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification element is selected from a group of identification elements consisting of a barcode, a matrix code, a smart label, and a color-coded closure, and/or in that the identification element is arranged on a container closure of the container.

12. An apparatus for inspecting containers filled with liquids having a transport device configured to transport the containers along a predetermined transport path, having an identification device that is configured for identifying an identification element arranged on the container, and/or for attaching an identification element to the container, wherein at least one first parameter is detectable based on said identification element, which parameter is characteristic of said filled container, wherein the at least one parameter is characteristic of the liquid desired in the container, wherein the apparatus has an inspection device that is configured for determining at least one further parameter characteristic of the liquid actually located in the container.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus has an evaluation device that is configured for checking, on the basis of the first parameter and the second parameter, whether the liquid desired in the container corresponds to the liquid located in the container.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inspection device has a sensor device that is selected from a group of sensor devices consisting of a color sensor device, a spectroscopic device, and a laser interferometry devices.

15. A container, wherein said container is filled with a liquid and is closed with a closure, wherein an identification element is arranged on the container or the closure, which identification element identifies said container, and at least one first parameter detectable based on said identification element, which parameter is characteristic of said filled container, wherein the at least one parameter is characteristic of the liquid desired in the container, wherein a main body of the container is designed without a label and/or imprint such that the liquid located in the container can be inspected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus according to the invention; and

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to the invention for inspecting containers 10 filled with liquids. In this case, reference sign 2 refers to a transport device that transports the containers along a transport path or a transport direction T, which in this case is preferably straight. For this purpose, the transport device 2 preferably has a transport belt 22 on which the containers 10 are transported upright. Reference sign 12 designates an identification element arranged on the containers 10, such as a matrix code.

[0058] Reference number 4 designates an identification device that, within the scope of a first identification step 11, inspects the containers and in particular reads out the identification element 12. Alternatively or additionally, said identification device can also apply an identification element to each of the containers. In this case, it is possible for the identification device to apply closures provided with the identification elements to the containers, for example. It would also be conceivable for the identification device to apply, for example print, the identification element onto the containers and/or the closures thereof.

[0059] In this way, data relating to the container 10 can be read out and/or determined, for example a best-before date or data that is characteristic of the liquid located in the container. This information is preferably stored in a storage device 24.

[0060] Reference sign 6 designates an inspection device that is used to inspect the liquid in the containers 10 during a second inspection step 12. However, said second inspection device 6 preferably has a transmission device 62 that emits radiation and a receiving device 64 that receives the radiation transmitted through the containers 10.

[0061] For example, as mentioned above, this can be a spectroscopy device. The liquid in the containers 10 can be inspected by means of said second inspection device 6.

[0062] Reference sign 26 designates a comparison device that compares the liquid found in the container with the liquid that is to be located in the container based on the identification element 12. If these liquids correspond, the container can be transported further for further processing. If a deviation is detected, a discharge device 8 can discharge the corresponding container from the transport stream.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a container. Said container has a container closure 11 on which an identification element 12, such as a matrix code, is arranged. Reference sign L designates a longitudinal direction of the container 10.

[0064] The container also has a main body 10a, which forms the receiving volume for a liquid F. In addition, a label is usually arranged on these containers in the prior art. Within the scope of the invention, it is proposed to dispense with this label so that the container can also be inspected independently of its direction of rotation using the inspection device 6 shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] Particularly preferably, the container is a container made of a material that is transparent to light. In particular, the container is a plastic container or a glass container.

[0066] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are novel over the prior art individually or in combination. It is also pointed out that features which can be advantageous in themselves are also described in the individual figures. The person skilled in the art will immediately recognize that a particular feature described in a figure can be advantageous even without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual or in different figures.