Inspection device, inspection method and automatic packaging machine for container

Abstract

A support member (4) for transporting a container (100) in a microwave inspection device (1), comprising a support body (4a) movable along a supply path (A) and at least two receiving seats (5) connected to the top of the support body (4a) to move along the supply path (A), wherein the support body (4a) has two or more support parts (S1, S2), the support parts are at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings (P) and each support part carries at least one corresponding receiving seat (5), and the support parts (S1, S2) are connected to each other or integrated in the lower area of ​​the support body (4a).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device, and to a device and a method for inspecting containers using the support, wherein the containers are particularly containers of the type containing a predetermined dose of material in granular or powdered form for preparing food (for example, freeze-dried food material (meat or vegetable raw materials, etc.) or granular material for preparing brewed beverages), and more particularly capsules for preparing such food. Background Art

[0002] Typically, capsules for brewing beverages (e.g. coffee) are checked using a check scale arranged along a capsule supply line downstream of the machine preparing the capsules. The purpose of weighing is to check whether the capsules contain the required amount of product and therefore whether they comply with predetermined production standards.

[0003] In prior art production lines, suitable support plates or trays having receptacles for accommodating a plurality of capsules are used to transfer the capsules between the different production stations (loading, dosing, sealing, etc.).

[0004] In prior art applications, the use of in-line check scales involves the need to feed the capsules intermittently, since weighing requires each capsule to remain on the check scale, in particular on a load cell, for a predetermined length of time.

[0005] Disadvantageously, these solutions are slow and inflexible. Intermittent feeding of capsules reduces the productivity of the machine, and increasing the speed during a stretch of the capsule in motion is not an ideal solution to overcome this drawback, since capsules containing granular or powdered material are susceptible to damage due to high accelerations or vibrations.

[0006] Furthermore, the use of a supporting tray reduces the flexibility of the machine, since the mutual positioning of the capsules is determined by the distribution of the receptacles on the tray. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device, a device and a method for inspecting containers which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a support for conveying a container in a microwave inspection device, an apparatus and a method for inspecting the container, which can improve productivity.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device, a device and a method for inspecting containers, which increase the overall operational flexibility.

[0010] The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a support for conveying a container in a microwave inspection device, a device for inspecting a container, and a method according to the present invention.

[0011] According to the invention, there is a support specifically configured for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device. This function is found at least implicitly in the fact that the support has a support body that can be moved along a feed path, and at least two receptacles connected to the top of the support body to move along the feed path, so that the receptacles pass inside the resonant cavity when the support longitudinally passes through a gap present between two opposite lower protrusions of the resonator, which define the bottom of the resonant cavity.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the support body has two or more support parts, which are at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings and each support part carries at least one corresponding receptacle. Preferably, a single opening is formed between two adjacent support parts, which single opening is in the form of a recessed gap extending vertically from the upper edge of the support body in the region between the two receptacles.

[0013] Preferably, mutually adjacent support parts are connected or integrated with each other in the lower region of the support body. In the case of two support parts, this makes the support body have a "U" shape, or in the case of multiple support parts, this makes the support body have a "comb shape".

[0014] Preferably, the support body is a single body and the connected support parts are at least partially separated by an opening extending from the upper edge of the support body to the middle part of the support body, in particular to the above-mentioned lower area, wherein the latter defines a rigid joint area between the support parts. This allows the receptacles of the same support to be integrated with each other during movement through the microwave inspection device.

[0015] Preferably, the support member is mainly located in a main plane which is parallel to the movement axis during passage through the microwave inspection device so that the support body can be longitudinally passed through the lower gap of the resonator. More preferably, the support body has a plate-like shape, in particular the support parts are coplanar with each other.

[0016] Preferably, the support is composed of a single body of plastic material, preferably polyethylene. The monolithic body preferably comprises a support body, a plurality of receptacles shaped in the form of cups positioned on top of the support body, and according to one embodiment, a support base positioned below the support body.

[0017] Preferably, the receptacles are aligned along an alignment direction designed to coincide with a direction of movement through the microwave inspection device.

[0018] Furthermore, preferably, each support portion has a front edge and a rear edge with respect to the alignment direction, wherein the front edge and the rear edge have a shape that is symmetrical with respect to the symmetry axis or extension of the receiving portion. This shape reduces the measurement disturbance of each container and the associated support portion due to the presence of the container and / or the adjacent support portion. The shape of the front edge and the rear edge can be arbitrary, for example (but not necessarily) straight (vertical), arched, curved.

[0019] The invention also relates to an inspection device for inspecting containers, in particular capsules, of the type containing a dose of a product in powder or granular form for preparing food. The device essentially comprises a conveyor extending along a closed line, equipped with a plurality of supports, preferably made according to the invention as described above, configured to move a receptacle along a feeding path between a loading station for loading the receptacle into the receptacle and an unloading station for unloading the receptacle from the receptacle through a microwave inspection station in which the receptacles can pass one after the other.

[0020] Preferably, the microwave detection station comprises a microwave detector defining a detection zone through which the individual containers pass one after the other. The microwave detector comprises a waveguide element having a shape surrounding the detection zone, preferably having a "U" or "C" shape.

[0021] More preferably, the waveguide element has two lower end portions facing each other, the two lower end portions forming a gap therebetween, through which the support member and more particularly the support body passes.

[0022] Preferably, the size of the gap measured perpendicular to the feed path is smaller than the detection zone through which the container (and the corresponding receptacle of the support) passes. Furthermore, the lateral width of the gap is slightly greater than the thickness of the plate-like support body of the support to allow the support body of each support to pass through the gap with the minimum clearance required to prevent dragging. More specifically, the support body passes through the slot when the support body is parallel to the feed path.

[0023] According to a preferred and particularly advantageous configuration, each support body is positioned so that during the passage of the support body through the gap, the opening between adjacent support parts extends at least partially, preferably completely, within the detection area and / or the gap. In this way, the detecting singularizing effect exerted by the opening is performed for the entire resonance space, thereby maximizing the advantages achieved.

[0024] The conveyor has a transport unit (eg a turntable or a chain or belt conveyor) defining a feed path and a plurality of supports extending transversely to the feed line and preferably in a vertical direction upwards away from the transport unit.

[0025] According to one embodiment, each support can rotate about an oscillation or rotation axis (parallel to the axis of the turntable or more generally perpendicular to the extension plane of the feed path) to adopt at least a first position and a second position, in which the receptacles of the same support are aligned transversely and preferably perpendicular to the feed path, and in which the receptacles of the same support are aligned along the feed path so as to pass through the detection area one after another.

[0026] Preferably, the device further comprises a processing unit configured to receive the measurement signal from the microwave detector and to generate an item of information related to at least one property, preferably density or weight, of the container or the dose contained therein.

[0027] Preferably, the processing unit is configured to generate, from the measurement signals received from the microwave detector, an item of information relating to at least one of: weight or density, type, presence of foreign matter in the container, of the product in the container.

[0028] Preferably, the processing unit is associated with a memory unit containing one or more reference models associated with corresponding reference measurement results and represented by different weight values ​​of the container or the dose of product contained therein.

[0029] Preferably, the processing unit is configured to generate the information item by comparing measurements received from the microwave detector with a reference model.

[0030] The invention also relates to an automatic packaging machine for containers, in particular capsules, containing products in powder or granular form for preparing food. The machine comprises:

[0031] - a unit for producing a series of containers, in particular filled with predetermined doses of a product; and

[0032] - An inspection device according to the invention located downstream of the production unit.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the machine comprises a rejection device, located downstream of the inspection device, for eliminating from the supply line containers deemed defective after the inspection.

[0034] Preferably, the machine further comprises a feedback control system connected to the production unit and the inspection device and configured to perform at least one of the following corrective actions as a function of said information item generated by the processing unit of the inspection device (1):

[0035] - modifying one or more operating parameters of a production unit, in particular of a device for filling containers (100); and

[0036] - operating a rejection device to reject one or more containers (100) deemed to be defective based on the generated information item.

[0037] The invention also relates to a method for inspecting a container, in particular a capsule, containing a dose of a product in powder or granular form for preparing a food product. The method is preferably performed by using an inspection device according to the invention and comprises the following steps:

[0038] - feeding a series of containers along a feed path, preferably continuously, through a detection station equipped with a microwave detector;

[0039] - measuring each container passing through the measuring station by means of a microwave detector to obtain a series of measurement results;

[0040] - Based on each measurement result, an item of information relating to at least one property, preferably density or weight, of the container or of the dose contained therein is generated.

[0041] Preferably, the steps of supplying a series of containers and performing detection on each container are performed while the container is supported by a corresponding support, wherein each support comprises a support body and at least two receiving seats, the at least two receiving seats being connected to the top of the support body and each configured to accommodate a corresponding container. More preferably, the support is manufactured according to the invention, in particular having two or more support parts, the support parts being at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings and each supporting part carrying at least one corresponding receiving seat, wherein the support parts are connected to each other or integrated in the lower area of ​​the support body. Preferably, the lower area of ​​the support body defining the (rigid) connection between the support parts is at least partially outside the microwave detector when passing through, so as to reduce or eliminate data detection interference from adjacent containers and / or support parts.

[0042] Preferably, the containers are fed along the feed path when they are supported in groups of two or more containers, wherein the containers of each group are positioned on the same support and aligned with each other along an alignment direction parallel to a plane of a support body of each support.

[0043] According to one embodiment, during each movement cycle (that is to say, during each rotation of the turntable), each container is rotated about a respective rotation or oscillation axis at least between a first position and a second position, the first position being obtained before and after the microwave detection step and in which the containers of the same group are arranged aligned transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the feed path, and the second position being maintained at least during the microwave detection and in which the containers of the same group are arranged aligned along the feed path so that they pass successively through the detection station. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] With reference to the above objects, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the appended claims, and its advantages become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred, non-limiting example embodiments of the present invention, and in which:

[0045] Figure 1 Shows a stereoscopic view of a detection device according to the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 and Figure 3 They are shown in Figure 1 Cross-sectional and perspective views of a microwave detector used in an apparatus;

[0047] Figure 4 Schematically illustrates a container calibration process according to the present invention;

[0048] Figure 5 and Figure 6 They are formed Figure 1 A perspective view and a section along a longitudinal plane of a support according to the invention of a portion of a device;

[0049] Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a section along a longitudinal plane of a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device according to a variant embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Reference numeral 1 in the drawings denotes as a whole an inspection device according to the invention. The inspection device 1 is configured to inspect containers 100 of the type comprising a housing containing a predetermined dose of material in granular or powder form for preparing an infused beverage (coffee, tea, decoction, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, these containers are capsules for preparing such beverages, which may have, for example, the shape of a "cup" tapering downwards.

[0051] The invention is applicable to unsealed containers, thus, for example, upstream of a station for applying a cover in order to close the housing, or it can be applied to containers that are already sealed.Preferably, these containers are of non-metallic type.

[0052] The inspection device 1 comprises a conveyor 2 in the form of a rotating carousel having a turntable 3 which rotates about a vertical axis of rotation X and on which a series of supports 4 are arranged.

[0053] More specifically, the conveyor 2 has the function of transporting a series of containers 100 of the above-mentioned type along the supply path A between the loading station 200 and the unloading station 300 through the inspection station 400, and the inspection station 400 is configured to perform electromagnetic non-contact inspection on each container 100 when the each container 100 is fed through the inspection station 400 in an inspection direction parallel to the supply path "A".

[0054] The aforementioned supports 4 are evenly distributed around the rotation axis X of the turntable 3 , in particular in the peripheral region thereof, and extend transversely to the feed path A, in particular in a respective direction parallel to the rotation axis X, away from the turntable 3 .

[0055] At the top of each support, each support 4 has one or more receptacles 5 configured to receive a corresponding container 100. According to the embodiment shown, each support 4 is equipped with two receptacles 5 at the top, however the number of receptacles 5 may also be greater than 2, wherein the receptacles 5 are aligned along an alignment direction, which is preferably rectilinear, in particular parallel to the feed path "A".

[0056] Preferably, for reasons that will become clearer as the description proceeds, the receptacles 5 of one and the same support 4 are aligned with one another in a single line.

[0057] Each receiving seat 5 is configured in the form of a top-opened "cup" that holds the corresponding container 100 by gravity through at least one bottom of the container 100 itself, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown.

[0058] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, each support 4 is rotatably mounted on the turntable 3 (or on a common transport element of the conveyor 2) about a respective rotation axis Y parallel to the rotation axis X of the turntable 3. In such a configuration, the support 4 can adopt at least a first position (in Figure 1 and a second position (visible in the loading station 200 and the unloading station 300 in FIG. Figure 1 In the inspection station 400, as can be seen in the figure, in the first position, the receiving seats 5 of the same support member 4 are positioned to be aligned transversely to, preferably perpendicularly to, the supply path "A", and in the second position, the receiving seats 5 of the same support member 4 are aligned along the supply path "A" so that they pass through the inspection station 400 individually or continuously.

[0059] The support 4 can be rotated about a respective axis of rotation Y by means of respective independent actuators (eg independently controllable electric motors) or by means of mechanical transmission means (eg a cam system housed inside the turntable 3).

[0060] In a variant embodiment, the movement of the support 4 about its axis of rotation Y may not be a rotational movement between two end positions (that is to say positions of reverse rotation), but it may be a full rotation always in the same direction and, if necessary, intermittent.

[0061] In order to simultaneously load and simultaneously remove two or more containers 100 in the loading station 200 and the unloading station 300, a suitable loading and unloading device (not shown) equipped with grippers is provided, which are configured to simultaneously clamp and release two or more containers 100 and are mounted on corresponding operating units of corresponding transfer wheels. These grippers are arranged to release and pick up two or more containers 100 when the containers are aligned according to the aforementioned first position.

[0062] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A preferred embodiment of the support 4 is shown in detail.

[0063] Each support 4 has, below the receptacle 5 , a supporting body 4 a mounted on the turntable 3 , designed to support the receptacle 5 in a movement along the feed path “A”, preferably in a rotatable manner about said oscillation axis “Y”.

[0064] Preferably, the supporting body 4 a has a plate-like shape having a main vertical extension plane parallel to the above-mentioned alignment direction of the receptacle 5 .

[0065] The supporting body 4a is connected at the bottom to a supporting base 4b which is formed by one or more plate-like parts arranged perpendicularly to the supporting body 4a and in particular horizontally.

[0066] Advantageously, the supporting body 4a has two or more supporting parts "S1", "S2" which are at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings "P" and each carrying at the top at least one respective receptacle 5. The supporting parts "S1", "S2" are connected or integrated with each other in the lower region of the supporting body 4a to give the supporting body 4a a rigid structure and mobility.

[0067] In more detail, the connected supporting parts "S1", "S2" are at least partially separated by an opening "P", which is open at the top, that is, the opening extends from the upper edge of the supporting body 4a to the middle part of the supporting body 4a, in particular to the above-mentioned lower area, so that there is a lower area with a rigid connection between the supporting parts "S1", "S2".

[0068] Furthermore, the receptacles 5 are also separate from one another. In this way, the receptacles 5 of the support 4 are made integral with one another only by being connected in the lower region of the above-mentioned rigid connection.

[0069] The support portions "S1", "S2" are coplanar with each other and are defined by the same plate-like support body 4a.

[0070] Due to the presence of the above-mentioned opening "P", the support body 4a has a "U" shape in the case of two receptacles 5. However, if the support 4 has more than two receptacles 5 separated by corresponding openings, the support body 4a will have a "comb shape".

[0071] Preferably, the support 4 consists of a single body of plastic material, preferably polyethylene, comprising a support body 4a, two or more receiving seats 5 shaped as cups positioned on top of the support body 4a, and a support base 4b positioned below the support body 4a.

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment, each support portion "S1", "S2" has a front edge 6 and a rear edge 7 with respect to the direction of movement along the supply path "A", which have a symmetrical shape with respect to the symmetry (vertical) axis or extension of the corresponding receptacle 5. The advantages of this feature are explained in more detail below.

[0073] The inspection station 400 is configured to measure each container 100 as it is supported and moved (preferably in a continuous motion - that is, at a constant or tangential speed) by the conveyor 2. To this end, the conveyor 2 is arranged to rotate at a constant angular speed.

[0074] In more detail, the detection station 400 comprises a microwave detector provided with a detection zone 410 through which each container 100 passes according to a feed logic by which the detection zone 410 is traversed by one container 100 at a time.

[0075] Preferably, the inspection station 400 includes a single microwave detector through which a series of containers 100 aligned in a single longitudinal line pass one container 100 at a time.

[0076] Preferably, the microwave detector is a resonator and the detection region 410 is a resonant cavity.

[0077] The microwave detector preferably further includes a waveguide element 420 having a shape surrounding the detection area 410, preferably having a U or C shape, the opening of which faces downward (ie, toward the conveyor 2). Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the waveguide element 420 of the microwave detector is substantially in the shape of a ring, the interior of which defines a cavity (ie, the detection region 410 ).

[0078] The waveguide element 420 has two facing ends 430 defining between them a gap 440 through which the supports 4 pass one after the other.

[0079] The gap 440 facing the conveyor 2 , measured perpendicularly to the feed path A, is smaller in size (or width) than the detection zone 410 , so that the detection zone 410 is partially delimited at the bottom by the above-mentioned end 430 .

[0080] In addition, the thickness of the plate-shaped support body 4a of each support member 4 is smaller than the gap 440, so that when the corresponding support member 4 adopts the second position ( Figure 2 ), the support body 4a can pass through the gap 440.

[0081] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, each support body 4a is positioned at such a height that, during the passage of the support body 4a through the gap 440, the opening "P" extends within the detection zone 410 and / or the gap 440, and preferably so that the lower connection area, where the support parts "S1", "S2" are joined in a rigid manner, preferably passes at least partially under the detection zone 410 and the gap 440. In this way, during the passage through the detection station 400, it is possible to eliminate from the individual detection the interferences of the front and rear to the receptacle, which could modify each individual detection of the receptacle 5. In this case, the passage of the opening "P" between the current support part "S1", "S2" and the previous and subsequent support parts "S1", "S2" determines a setting of substantially zero readings through the microwave detector, allowing each container 100 to be measured very accurately.

[0082] The inspection device 1 further comprises a processing unit (not shown) configured to receive the measurement signal from the microwave detector and to generate an item of information relating to at least one property of the content of the container.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the at least one characteristic is at least one of the following: the weight of the container 100 as a whole or the weight of the product dose contained therein, the type of product within the container 100, the presence of foreign matter in the container 100. In a preferred option, the measured characteristic is at least the density or the weight of the contents or the container as a whole (thus including the housing).

[0084] More specifically, the processing unit allows identifying different characteristics of the container and / or its contents detected by the microwave detector and, in particular, with regard to the type of product within the container 100, it allows not only determining the type of contents (e.g. distinguishing between tea, coffee or other objects) but also distinguishing between different grades or brands of products of the same type (e.g. different brands of coffee powder).

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the step of generating the information items is performed by comparing the measurements received from the microwave detector after a specific calibration process with a suitable choice of reference models, in particular preset reference models stored in the memory unit, for example. The reference models may represent different values ​​of the weight of the product in the container and / or different types and / or characteristics and / or different cases of the presence of foreign matter in the container, in particular by associating different “information items” with different reference measurements.

[0086] In this way, the processing unit can call one or more reference models stored in the storage unit and associated with corresponding reference measurement results, and then a comparison can be made between the reference measurement results associated with these models and the actual measurement results received from the microwave detector, thereby identifying the model that is closest to the current situation being measured.

[0087] Advantageously, due to the symmetrical shape of the front 6 and rear 7 edges of the support portions "S1", "S2", any disturbances caused by the shape of the support during measurement are compensated between the inlet and outlet of each support portion.

[0088] According to an alternative embodiment, the support bearing the receiving seat 5 is not mounted separately on the turntable 3, but can be configured as a component of a single conveyor (for example a chain) with a closed loop. More specifically, Figure 7 and Figure 8 An alternative embodiment is shown in which each support 4 is connected in an articulated manner to the front and rear supports, for example by means of hinged articulations defining respective hinge axes "Z" parallel to each other. The articulated connection may be as follows Figure 7 and Figure 8 It is performed in the lower region of the support body 4a as shown, or in the lateral regions (embodiment not shown). Moreover, according to these variant embodiments, the number of receptacles 5 per support 4 may be equal to one or more.

[0089] Furthermore, in these variant embodiments, it is also preferred to provide the presence of the aforementioned front edge 6 and rear edge 7, which are perpendicular to the vertical axis of the support 4 (for example, at Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the embodiment shown, the axes of the receptacles 5 are symmetrical to one another.

[0090] The above device may constitute part of a machine for packaging containers, comprising a unit for producing a series of containers and, downstream thereof, an inspection device 1 according to the invention.

[0091] The machine also comprises a rejection device located downstream of the inspection device 1, and a feedback control system connected to the production unit and to the inspection device and configured to perform at least one of the following corrective actions as a function of the information items generated by the processing unit of the inspection device 1:

[0092] - modifying one or more operating parameters of the production unit, in particular the device for filling the containers (to correct any dosing or filling errors); and

[0093] - operating a rejection device to reject one or more containers that are considered unacceptable based on the generated information item (e.g. containers that contain foreign matter or whose weight is outside a predetermined tolerance range).

[0094] The inspection method according to the present invention is described below. In particular, the method is implemented by the inspection device of the above type.

[0095] The method comprises the following steps:

[0096] - feeding a series of containers 100 along a feeding path A through a microwave detection station 400;

[0097] - measuring each container 100 by means of microwaves as it passes through the inspection station 400, so as to obtain a series of measurement results;

[0098] - Based on each measurement result, an item of information is generated relating to at least one of: the weight of the container as a whole or of the dose of product contained therein, the type of product in the container, the presence of foreign matter in the container.

[0099] As the containers 100 advance along the feed path "A", they are supported in groups of two or more by supports 4 of the type described above, wherein the containers 100 in each group are positioned to be aligned with each other; and each group rotates about a corresponding rotation axis Y between a first position and a second position.

[0100] The inspection device 1 according to the present invention can be used to Figure 4A calibration process schematically shown in FIG. 1 , such as a periodic calibration.

[0101] According to the process, one or more containers 100 are picked up by the conveyor 2 by means of a special picking device 10, which transfers the container 100 (for example, by means of a screw conveyor or the like) to a check scale 20, which sends its measurement results to a processing unit (CPU) so that they can be compared with the corresponding measurement results obtained by the microwave detector.

[0102] After being weighed by the check scale 20, the container 100 is removed by a removal device 30 which unloads the container to a discharge or recovery line.

[0103] A comparison (preferably performed by a processing unit) between the measurement results obtained using the inspection scale 20 and the corresponding measurement results obtained using the microwave detector, preferably before the container 100 is picked up from the conveyor 2 by the picking device 10, allows possible differences to be identified and corrective actions to be applied to the inspection device 1 when the result of the comparison is a difference greater than a predetermined value.

[0104] According to another aspect of the invention, a reference control inspection of the inspection device 1 is performed. According to the reference control inspection, the inspection method is applied to one or more reference pieces (e.g. made of high-density polyethylene or PEEK) having precise, well-known properties and having the same shape as the regular container being inspected.

[0105] The loading and removal of the reference pieces to and from the conveyor can be done manually using the same pick-up device 10, removal device 30 used for calibration or using a dedicated device.

[0106] Once the microwave measurement has been performed in the microwave detector, the obtained measurement result is compared by the processing unit with a corresponding reference measurement result (preset, for example retrievable from a storage unit). In the event of a difference outside the tolerance range, further diagnostic steps or correction and / or maintenance actions can be taken on the inspection device 1. For example, very different measurement results can indicate the presence of damping in the resonant cavity, requiring adequate maintenance actions.

[0107] The invention described above is susceptible of several variations which have not been explicitly shown but which nevertheless fall within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0108] In particular, the conveyor can be made not as a turntable but in the form of a linear conveyor, a closed-loop conveyor or another kind of conveyor - that is to say, a universal conveying device defining a supply path - always provided that it is equipped with a series of supports manufactured as described above and the same considerations are applied with regard to the number of receiving cavities and the possibility of rotation.

[0109] The present invention achieves the preset purpose and overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0110] The ability of the inspection device to carry out measurements of individual containers by means of a non-contact system (particularly electromagnetic and, even more particularly, by means of a microwave measuring system) can increase productivity since the inspection device (and by extension, the entire packaging machine) can be operated in a continuous motion and no longer needs to be operated intermittently.

[0111] Productivity is further improved by the fact that the conveyor can work with double rows of containers that are longitudinally repositioned and aligned with each other only during a section of the feed path where they are individually checked by microwave measurement, while loading and unloading operations are performed on pairs of containers. Furthermore, this feature makes it possible to reduce the loading and unloading speeds, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the containers.

[0112] Furthermore, the particular shape of the support allows to improve the accuracy of the measurement by individualizing the reading of each container, thus reducing the interference generated by adjacent containers.

[0113] Finally, moving the containers individually avoids the use of pallets or support plates and can improve production efficiency because it does not require a static arrangement of containers fixed according to a predetermined positioning array.

Claims

1. An inspection device (1) for inspecting containers (100), each container containing a dose of a product in powder or granular form for preparing food; the inspection device (1) comprising: A conveyor (2) equipped with a plurality of support members (4), the support members (4) comprising a support body (4a) movable along a supply path (A) and at least two receiving seats (5) connected to the top of the support body (4a) to move along the supply path (A), wherein the support body (4a) has two or more support parts (S1, S2), the support parts (S1, S2) being at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings (P) and each supporting part carrying at least one corresponding receiving seat (5), the support parts (S1, S2) being connected to each other or integrated in the lower region of the support body (4a), the conveyor (2) being configured to move the receiving seat (5) along the supply path (A) between a loading station (200) for loading a container (100) into the receiving seat (5) and an unloading station (300) for unloading the container (100) from the receiving seat (5); an inspection station (400) positioned between a loading station (200) and an unloading station (300) along the supply path (A), the inspection station (400) being configured to inspect each container (100) while the container (100) is supported and moved by the support member (4) of the conveyor (2); Characterized in that the detection station (400) comprises a microwave detector equipped with a detection area (410), and the containers (100) pass through the detection area continuously one after another.

2. An inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the microwave detector includes a waveguide element (420), the waveguide element (420) having a shape surrounding the detection area (410), and wherein the waveguide element (420) has two facing ends (430), the two facing ends (430) defining a gap (440) between them, the support member (4) passing through the gap (440), the gap (440) measured perpendicular to the supply path (A) being smaller in size than the detection area (410) through which the container (100) passes, and allowing the support body (4a) of each support member (4) to pass through.

3. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein: When the support body (4a) is arranged parallel to the supply path (A), the support body (4a) passes through the gap (440).

4. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein each support body (4a) is positioned so that the opening extends within the detection area (410) and / or the gap (440) during the passage of the support body (4a) through the gap (440).

5. An inspection device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the conveyor (2) has a conveying unit (3) defining the supply path (A) and a plurality of supports (4) extending transversely to the supply path (A) and away from the conveying unit (3), each support (4) being rotatable around a rotation axis (Y) to adopt at least a first position and a second position, in the first position, the receiving seat (5) of the support (4) is positioned to be aligned transversely to the supply path (A), and in the second position, the receiving seat (5) of the support (4) is positioned to be aligned along the supply path (A) so that they continuously pass through the detection area (410), and the supporting body (4a) of each support (4) has a thickness less than the gap (440) so as to pass through the gap (440) when the support (4) adopts the second position.

6. Inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor (2) is made in the form of a turntable, which rotates around a rotation axis (X), and wherein the rotation axis (Y) is parallel to the rotation axis (X).

7. Inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a processing unit configured to receive the measurement signal from the microwave detector and to generate an item of information related to at least one property of the container or the dose contained therein.

8. Inspection device according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate, based on the measurement signal received from the microwave detector, an information item related to at least one of the following: the weight or density, the type, the presence of foreign matter in the container (100) of the product in the container (100).

9. An inspection device according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is associated with a memory unit, the memory unit containing one or more reference models, the reference models being associated with corresponding reference measurement results and relating to different weight values ​​of the container (100) or the product dose contained therein; the processing unit is configured to generate the information item by comparing the measurement results received from the microwave detector with the reference model.

10. An inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the continuous support parts (S1, S2) are at least partially separated by an opening (P), which extends from the upper edge of the support body (4a) to the middle part of the support body (4a).

11. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support body (4a) has a main extension plane and is plate-shaped, and the support parts (S1, S2) are coplanar with each other.

12. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support body (4a) is U-shaped or comb-shaped.

13. An inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support member is composed of an integral body, the integral body is made of plastic material, the integral body includes the support body (4a), a plurality of cup-shaped receiving seats (5) positioned on the top of the support body (4a), and a support base (4b) positioned below the support body (4a).

14. An inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receiving seat (5) is aligned along an alignment direction, and wherein each supporting portion (S1, S2) has a front edge (6) and a rear edge (7) relative to the alignment direction, and the front edge (6) and the rear edge (7) have a shape that is symmetrical relative to an extension or an axis of symmetry of the receiving seat (5).

15. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the waveguide element (420) has a "U" or "C" shape.

16. Inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the turntable rotates continuously around the rotation axis (X).

17. An automatic packaging machine for a container containing a product in powder or granular form for preparing food, the automatic packaging machine comprising: a production unit for producing a series of containers (100); Inspection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 16, which is located downstream of the production unit; A rejection device, which is located downstream of the inspection device (1); A feedback control system connected to the production unit and to the inspection device (1) and configured to perform at least one of the following corrective actions as a function of the information items generated by the processing unit of the inspection device (1): modifying one or more operating parameters of the production unit; and The reject device is operated to reject one or more containers (100) that are deemed to be defective based on the generated information item.

18. Automatic packaging machine according to claim 17, wherein modifying one or more operating parameters of the production unit is modifying one or more operating parameters of a device for filling the container (100).

19. An inspection method for inspecting a container containing a dose of a product in powder or granular form for preparing food, the inspection method being implemented using an inspection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, the inspection method comprising the following steps: feeding a series of containers (100) along a feed path (A) through a detection station (400) equipped with a microwave detector; measuring each container (100) passing through the inspection station (400) by means of the microwave detector to obtain a series of measurement results; generating, based on each measurement result, an item of information relating to at least one characteristic of the container (100) or the dose contained therein; The steps of supplying a series of containers (100) and performing detection on each container (100) are performed while the containers (100) are supported by corresponding support members (4), wherein each support member (4) comprises a support body (4a) and at least two receiving seats (5) positioned on the top of the support body (4a), each receiving seat being configured to accommodate a corresponding container (100), wherein the support body (4a) has two or more support parts (S1, S2), the support parts (S1, S2) are at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings (P) and each support part carries at least one corresponding receiving seat (5), and the support parts (S1, S2) are connected to or integrated with each other in a lower region of the support body (4a) at least partially passing through the outside of the microwave detector to reduce or eliminate detection interference caused by adjacent containers (100) and / or support parts (S1, S2).

20. The inspection method according to claim 19, wherein the step of feeding a series of containers (100) along the feeding path (A) is performed by: Supporting the containers (100) in groups of two or more containers (100), wherein the containers of each group are positioned on the same support member (4) and aligned with each other along an alignment direction; and Each support (4) is rotated about a corresponding rotation axis (Y) at least between a first position obtained before and after the microwave detection step, and in the first position, the same group of containers (100) are arranged to be aligned transversely to the feed path (A), and a second position is maintained at least during the microwave detection, and in the second position, the same group of containers (100) are arranged to be aligned along the feed path (A) so that they pass continuously through the detection station (400).

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