Support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device, and container inspection device and inspection method using said support

Abstract

A support (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 sheets (5) coupled to an upper portion of the support body (4a) moving along the supply path (A), wherein the support body (4a) has two or more support portions (S1, S2), the two or more support portions (S1, S2) being at least partially separated from one another by one or more openings (P), each of the two or more support portions (S1, S2) carrying at least one respective receiving sheet (5), and the two or more support portions (S1, S2) being coupled or integrated with one another in a lower region of the support body (4a).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus, as well as an apparatus and a method for inspecting containers using this support, in particular containers of the type containing pre-dosed amounts of granular or powdered ingredients for producing food products, for example freeze-dried food materials (such as meat or vegetable stocks), or granular ingredients for producing infused beverages, and more particularly capsules for producing such food products. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, capsules for infused beverages (e.g. coffee) are checked using check weighers located along the capsule supply line downstream from the machine that produces the capsules. The purpose of the weighing is to check that the capsule contains the desired amount of product and thus complies with the given production standards.

[0003] In prior art production lines, capsules are transported between the various production stations (loading, dosing, sealing, etc.) using a tray or suitable support plate with a housing for holding a number of capsules.

[0004] In prior art applications, the use of an in-line scale entails the need for an intermittent supply of capsules because the scale requires that each capsule remain on the scale, particularly the load cell, for a predetermined amount of time.

[0005] Disadvantages of these solutions are slow and inflexible: intermittent feeding of capsules reduces the productivity of the machine, and increasing the speed of the capsules during their travel is not a desirable solution to overcome this drawback, as capsules containing granular or powdered materials are prone to damage due to high accelerations or vibrations.

[0006] Furthermore, the use of a support tray reduces the flexibility of the machine due to the mutual arrangement of the capsules being determined by the way in which the housings are distributed on the tray. Summary of the Invention

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus and an apparatus and method for inspecting containers which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0008] More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus and an apparatus and method for inspecting containers, which allows increased productivity.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus and an apparatus and method for inspecting containers which improves overall operational flexibility.

[0010] The object is achieved entirely by a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus according to the invention, as well as by an apparatus and method for inspecting containers, as characterized in claims 1, 7 and 15 of the accompanying claims or one or more of the claims dependent thereon.

[0011] According to the invention there is provided a support specially configured for transporting containers in a microwave inspection apparatus, the characteristics of which are at least implicit in the fact that the support has a support body movable along a feed path and at least two receiving seats coupled to the upper part of the support body for movement along the feed path, the receiving seats passing within the resonant cavity and the support passing longitudinally through a gap obtained between two lower opposing lobes of the resonator, the two lower opposing lobes defining the base of the resonant chamber.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the support body has two or more support parts at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings and each carrying at least one receiving sheet, preferably a single opening is formed between two adjacent support parts in the form of a recess gap extending vertically from the upper edge of the support body in the area between the two receiving sheets.

[0013] Preferably, adjacent support parts are joined or integrated with each other in a lower region of the support body, so that the support body has a "U" shape in the case of two support parts, or a "comb" shape in the case of several support parts.

[0014] Preferably, the support body is unitary and the successive support parts are at least partially separated by openings extending from the upper edge of the support body to the middle part of the support, in particular to the above-mentioned lower region, the latter defining a rigid joint area between the support parts, so that receiving sheets of the same support are integrated with each other in the process of moving through the microwave inspection device.

[0015] Preferably, the support member lies mainly in a main plane that lies parallel to the axis of movement during the movement through the microwave inspection device, whereby the support body can pass longitudinally through the lower gap of the resonator. More preferably, the support body has a plate-like shape, in particular the support parts are flush with one another.

[0016] Preferably, the support is made from a single body of plastic material, preferably polyethylene, the monolithic body preferably comprising a support body, a number of receiving seats in the shape of cups arranged on top of said support body, and according to one embodiment also a support base arranged below the support body.

[0017] The receiving sheet is preferably aligned along an alignment direction designed to coincide with the direction of travel through the microwave inspection tool.

[0018] Moreover, preferably, each support portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the alignment direction, the leading edge and the trailing edge having a shape that is symmetrical relative to the axis of symmetry or the axis of deployment of the receiving portion. This shape reduces measurement interference of each container and associated support portion due to the presence of the container and / or adjacent support portion. The shape of the leading edge and the trailing edge may be any shape, such as (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 doses of a powdered or granular product for preparing food, said device mainly comprising a conveyor extending along a closed line, said conveyor comprising a plurality of supports, preferably made according to the invention as described above, and adapted to move a receiving sheet along a feed path between a station for loading the containers into the receiving sheet and a station for removing the containers from the receiving sheet, via a microwave detection station through which the containers can pass in turn.

[0020] Preferably, the microwave detection station comprises a microwave detector defining a detection region through which each container passes in turn, the microwave detector comprising a waveguide element having a shape, preferably a "U" or "C" shape, to surround the detection region.

[0021] More preferably, the waveguide element has two lower ends facing each other and forming a gap between them through which the support, more particularly the support body, passes.

[0022] Preferably, the size of the gap measured perpendicular to the feed path is smaller than the detection area through which the container (and the receiving sheet of the support) passes. Furthermore, the lateral width of the gap is slightly larger than the thickness of the plate-like support body of the support, allowing the support body of each support to pass through the gap with the minimum clearance required to prevent jamming. More specifically, the support body passes through the gap while lying parallel to the feed path.

[0023] According to a preferred and particularly advantageous configuration, each support body is positioned such that the opening between adjacent support parts extends at least partially, preferably entirely, into the detection area and / or into the gap during the passage of the support body through the gap, in this way the detection of the specific effect brought about by the opening is carried out over the entire resonance space and the advantages achieved are maximized.

[0024] The conveyor comprises a transport unit, for example a rotating table or a chain or belt conveyor, defining a feed path, and a number of supports extending transversely and preferably vertically upwardly to said feed line away from the conveyor unit.

[0025] According to one embodiment, each support is rotatable about an axis of vibration or rotation (parallel to the axis of the rotating table or, more generally, perpendicular to the plane in which the feed path lies) and assumes at least a first position in which receiving sheets of the same support are aligned transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the feed path, and a second position in which receiving sheets of the same support are aligned along the feed path so that they pass through the detection area one after the other.

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

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

[0028] Preferably, the processing unit is associated with a memory unit, said memory unit containing one or more reference models correlated with respective reference measurements and relating to various weight values ​​of the container or product doses contained in said container.

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

[0030] The invention also relates to an automatic packaging machine for containers containing powdered or granular products for food preparation, in particular capsules. a unit for producing a series of containers, in particular a series of containers filled with a given dose of product; and an inspection device according to the invention, located downstream of the production unit.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the machine comprises a rejection device located downstream of the inspection device, which rejects from the supply line containers which are deemed non-compliant after inspection.

[0032] Preferably, the machine also comprises a feedback control system connected to the production unit and to the inspection device and configured to carry out at least one of the following corrective actions as a function of said items of information generated by the processing unit of the inspection device (1): changing one or more operating parameters of the production unit, in particular of the equipment for filling containers (100); and acting on a rejection device to reject one or more containers (100) deemed non-compliant based on the generated information items.

[0033] The invention also relates to a method for inspecting containers, in particular capsules, containing doses of a powdered or granular product for preparing food, the method preferably being operated by using an inspection device according to the invention, comprising: feeding a series of containers, preferably a continuous series of containers, along a feed path through a detection station equipped with a microwave detector; measuring each container with a microwave detector via a measurement station to obtain a series of measurements; and generating, based on each measurement, an item of information relating to at least one property, preferably density or weight, of the container or of the dose contained in said container.

[0034] Preferably, the steps of supplying the series of containers and performing detection for each container are performed while the containers are supported by a respective support, each support comprising a support body and at least two receiving sheets coupled to the upper part of the support body and each configured to receive a corresponding container. More preferably, the support is made according to the invention and in particular has two or more support parts at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings and each carrying at least one corresponding receiving sheet, the support parts being coupled to each other or integrated in a lower region of the support body. Preferably, the lower region of the support body defining the (rigid) coupling between the support parts is at least partially outside the microwave detector during movement so as to reduce or eliminate data detection disturbances from adjacent containers and / or support parts.

[0035] Preferably, the containers are fed along the feed path while supporting the containers in groups of two or more containers, the containers of each group being arranged on the same support and aligned with each other along an alignment direction parallel to a plane in which the support body of each support lies.

[0036] According to one embodiment, each container rotates around its respective axis of rotation or vibration during each movement cycle (i.e. during each rotation of the rotary table) between at least a first position obtained before and after the microwave detection step and in which the same group of containers are aligned transversely, preferably vertically, to the feed path, and a second position maintained at least during microwave detection and in which the same group of containers are aligned along the feed path such that they pass the detection station successively. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] In relation to the above objectives, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the appended claims, and its advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a detection device according to the invention; [Diagram 2] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a microwave detector used in the apparatus of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a microwave detector used in the apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 illustrates diagrammatically a container calibration procedure according to the present invention; [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view along a longitudinal plane of a support according to the invention forming part of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-section along a longitudinal plane of a support according to the invention forming part of the device of FIG. 1; [Figure 7-8] 5 is a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal plane of a support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device according to a modified embodiment; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The number 1 in the accompanying drawings generally indicates a testing device according to the invention. The testing device 1 is adapted to test containers 100 of the type comprising an outer casing containing pre-dosed amounts of material in granular or powder form for making infused beverages (coffee, tea, herbal teas, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, these containers are capsules for preparing this type of beverage and may for example have the shape of a downwardly tapering "cup".

[0039] The invention applies to unsealed containers and can therefore be applied, for example, upstream of a station for attaching a lid to close an outer casing, or to already sealed containers. Preferably, these containers are of the non-metallic type.

[0040] The apparatus 1 comprises a conveyor 2 in the form of a revolving carousel which rotates about a vertical axis of rotation X and which comprises a turntable 3 on which a series of supports 4 are arranged.

[0041] More specifically, the conveyor 2 has the function of transporting a series of containers 100 of the above-mentioned type along a supply path A between a loading station 200 and an unloading station 300 through a detection station 400 configured to perform electromagnetic non-contact inspection on the individual containers 100 while the individual containers 100 are fed through the detection station 400 in a detection direction parallel to the supply path "A".

[0042] The above-mentioned supports 4 are uniformly distributed around the rotation axis X of the turntable 3, in particular in its peripheral area, and extend away from the turntable 3 transversely to the supply path A, in particular along respective directions parallel to the rotation axis X.

[0043] At its top, each support 4 is provided with one or more receiving cavities 5 configured to receive corresponding containers 100. According to the embodiment shown, each support 4 is provided with two receiving sheets 5 at its top, although the number of receiving sheets 5 may be more than two, the receiving sheets 5 being aligned along an alignment direction, preferably a straight one, in particular parallel to the feed path "A".

[0044] Preferably, the receiving sheets 5 of one and the same support 4 are aligned in line with one another, for reasons that will become clearer as this description continues.

[0045] Each receiving cavity 5 is configured in the shape of an open-topped "cup" that holds a corresponding container 100 by gravity via at least one bottom of the container 100 itself, as shown in FIGS.

[0046] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each support 4 is mounted on the turntable 3 (or on a general transport element of the conveyor 2) so as to be rotatable about a respective pivot axis Y parallel to the rotation axis X of the turntable 3. In such a configuration, the supports 4 can take at least a first position (visible in the loading station 200 and the unloading station 300 in FIG. 1 ) in which the incoming sheets 5 of one and the same support 4 are arranged in alignment transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the feed path "A", and a second position (visible in the detection station 400 in FIG. 1 ) in which the incoming sheets 5 of one and the same support 4 are aligned along the feed path "A" so that they pass, singly or successively, through the measuring station 400.

[0047] These supports 4 can be rotated about their pivot axis Y by respective independent actuators (e.g. independently controllable electric motors) or mechanical transmission means (e.g. a cam system housed within the turntable 3).

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the movement of the support 4 about the pivot axis Y may not be a pivotal movement between two end positions (i.e. positions where the rotation is reversed), but may be a complete rotation, always in the same direction, intermittent if necessary.

[0049] For simultaneously loading and simultaneously unloading two or more containers 100 at the loading station 200 and the unloading station 300, respectively, suitable loading and unloading means (not shown) are provided with jaws configured to simultaneously grip and release two or more containers 100 and mounted on respective operating units of respective transport wheels. The jaws are arranged to simultaneously release and pick up two or more containers 100 while the containers are aligned according to the aforementioned first position.

[0050] 5 and 6 show a preferred embodiment of the support 4 in detail.

[0051] Each support 4 has a support body 4a configured to support, below the receiving sheet 5, the receiving sheet 5 which is attached to the rotary table 3 and moves along the feed path "A", preferably rotatably about the vibration axis "Y".

[0052] Preferably, the support body 4 a has a plate-like shape with a main vertical plane parallel to the alignment direction of the receiving sheet 5 .

[0053] The support body 4a is connected at the bottom to a support base 4b formed by one or more plate-like parts which lie perpendicularly and in particular horizontally to the support body 4a.

[0054] Advantageously, the support body 4a has two or more support parts "S1", "S2" at least partially separated from one another by one or more openings "P", each of the two or more support parts "S1", "S2" carrying at their upper part at least one respective receiving sheet 5. Said support parts "S1", "S2" are connected to one another or integrated in a lower region of the support body 4a so as to give the support body 4a a rigid structure to move.

[0055] More specifically, the successive support portions "S1", "S2" are at least partially separated by an open-topped opening "P", i.e. an opening extending from the upper edge of the support body 4a to an intermediate portion of the support body 4a, in particular to the aforementioned lower region, such that there is a lower region of firm bonding between the support portions "S1", "S2".

[0056] Moreover, the receiving sheets 5 are also separate from one another. In this way, the receiving sheets 5 of the support 4 are integrated with one another only by bonding in the lower area of ​​the abovementioned rigid bond.

[0057] The support portions S1 and S2 are defined by the same plate-shaped support body 4a and are on the same plane as each other.

[0058] Due to the presence of the above mentioned openings "P", the support body 4a has a "U" shape when two receiving sheets 5 are present.

[0059] However, if the support 4 has three or more receiving sheets 5 separated by respective openings, the support body 4a has a "comb shape".

[0060] Preferably, the support 4 is made from a single piece of plastic material, preferably polyethylene, and comprises a support body 4a, two or more receiving sheets 5 molded in the shape of a cup placed on top of the support body 4a, and a support base 4b placed below the support body 4a.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, each support portion "S1", "S2" has a leading edge 6 and a trailing edge 7 relative to the direction of movement along the supply path "A" and has a symmetrical shape relative to the axis of symmetry or deployment (vertical) of the respective receiving portion 5.

[0062] The advantages of this feature are explained in more detail below.

[0063] The measuring station 400 is configured to measure each container 100 while it is supported and moving (preferably in a continuous motion, i.e. at a constant or tangential velocity) by the conveyor 2. For this purpose, the conveyor 2 is set to rotate at a constant angular velocity.

[0064] More specifically, the measurement station 400 comprises a microwave detector with a measurement area 410 through which each container 100 passes according to a feed logic that traverses the measurement area 410 one container 100 at a time.

[0065] Preferably, the measurement station 400 comprises a single microwave detector through which a series of containers 100 aligned in a single longitudinal line pass, such that the containers 100 pass the microwave detector one at a time.

[0066] Preferably, the microwave detector is a resonator and the measurement region 410 is a resonant cavity.

[0067] The microwave detector also preferably comprises a waveguide element 420 shaped to surround the measurement area 410, preferably U- or C-shaped, with its opening facing downwards (i.e. towards the conveyor 2). In particular, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the microwave detector waveguide element 420 is substantially ring-shaped, the interior of which defines a cavity, i.e. the measurement area 410.

[0068] The waveguide element 420 has two opposing ends 430 defining a gap 440 between which the support 4 in turn passes.

[0069] The size (or width) of the gap 440 facing the conveyor 2, measured perpendicularly to the feed path A, is smaller than the measurement area 410, so that the measurement area 410 is partially bounded at the bottom by the above-mentioned edge 430.

[0070] Further, the thickness of the plate-shaped support body 4a of each support body 4 is thinner than the gap 440 so that the support body 4a can pass through the gap 440 when the corresponding support body 4 takes the second position (FIG. 2).

[0071] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each support body 4 is arranged at a height such that the opening "P" extends into the detection area 410 and / or the gap 440 while the support body 4a passes through the gap 440, and preferably so that the lower joining area, which joins the support parts "S1", "S2" in a rigid manner, passes at least partially, preferably under the detection area 410 and / or the gap 440. In this way, interferences before and after with the receiving sheet 5 that could alter each single detection of the receiving sheet 5 can be eliminated from the single detection during the passage through the detection station 400. In this situation, the passage of the opening "P" between the current support part "S1", "S2" and the front or rear support part "S1", "S2" determines a virtual zero setting of the microwave reading, making it possible to measure each container 100 very accurately.

[0072] The device 1 also 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 contents of the container.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the at least one characteristic is at least one of the following: weight of the entire container 100 or the dose of product contained therein, the type of product in the container 100, the presence of foreign objects in the container 100. In a preferred option, the characteristic measured is at least the density or weight of the contents or the entire container (thus including the outer casing).

[0074] More specifically, the processing unit enables various characteristics of the container and / or its contents detected by the microwave detector to be identified, in particular with regard to the type of product in the container 100, making it possible to determine the type of contents (e.g. distinguish between tea, coffee or other) as well as to distinguish between different grades or brands of the same type of product (e.g. different brands of coffee powder).

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the step of generating the information item is performed by comparing the measurements received from the microwave detector with a suitable selection of a reference model, for example according to a specific calibration procedure, in particular with a pre-set reference model stored in a storage unit. The reference model may relate to different weight values, and / or different types and / or characteristics of the product in the container, and / or different situations of the presence of a foreign object in the container, in particular by associating different "information items" with different reference measurements.

[0076] In this way, the processing unit can recall one or more reference models stored in the storage unit and associated with respective reference measurements, and can then compare the reference measurements associated with these models with the actual measurements received from the microwave detector, thus identifying the model that most closely matches the current situation being measured.

[0077] Advantageously, thanks to the symmetrical shape of the leading edge 6 and trailing edge 7 of the support sections "S1", "S2", any disturbances due to the shape of the support during the measurement are compensated between the inlet and the outlet of each support section.

[0078] According to alternative embodiments, the supports 4 carrying the receiving sheets 5 may not be individually attached to the rotary table 3, but may be configured as components of a single conveyor having, for example, a closed loop of the chain type. More specifically, figures 7 and 8 show alternative embodiments in which each support 4 is articulated to the preceding and following supports, for example by means of hinge joints defining respective hinge axes "Z" parallel to one another. The articulated connection may take place in the lower region of the support member 4a, as shown in figures 7 and 8, or in the lateral regions (embodiments not shown). Moreover, according to these variant embodiments, the number of receiving sheets 5 for each support 4 may be equal to one or more.

[0079] Furthermore, also in these variant embodiments, it is preferable to provide for the presence of the above-mentioned leading edge 6 and trailing edge 7 which are symmetrical to each other with respect to the vertical axis of the support 4 (for example the axis of the receiving sheet 5 in the solutions shown in Figures 7 and 8).

[0080] The above-described device may form part of a machine for packaging containers, which machine comprises a unit for producing a series of containers and downstream of which is an inspection device 1 according to the invention.

[0081] The machine also comprises a rejection device arranged downstream of the inspection device 1, and a feedback control system connected to the production unit and to the inspection device and adapted to carry out at least one of the following corrective actions as a function of an item of information generated by the processing unit of the inspection device 1: changing one or more operating parameters of the production unit, in particular of the equipment for filling containers (to correct a dose or filling error); Based on the generated information items, a rejection device is acted upon to reject one or more containers deemed non-compliant, e.g., containers containing foreign objects or containers whose weight is outside a predetermined tolerance range.

[0082] Described below is an inspection method according to the invention, in particular an inspection method carried out by an inspection device of the type described above.

[0083] The method is: feeding a series of containers 100 along a feed path A through a microwave measurement station 400; measuring each container 100 by microwaves while the container 100 passes through a measuring station 400 to obtain a series of measurements; and generating an item of information based on each measurement relating to at least one of the weight of the entire container or a dose of product contained in the container, the type of product in the container, and the presence of a foreign object in the container.

[0084] As the containers 100 progress along the feed path "A", they are supported in two or more groups by supports 4 of the type described above, with the containers 100 in each group aligned with one another and each group rotating about a respective pivot axis Y between a first position and a second position.

[0085] The inspection device 1 according to the invention may be subjected to a calibration process, for example a periodic calibration, as shown diagrammatically in FIG.

[0086] According to this process, one or more containers 100 are picked up from the conveyor 2 by special pick-up means 10 (e.g. by a screw conveyor or the like) which transfers the containers 100 to a weighing machine 20 which transmits its measurements to a processing unit (CPU) so that they can be compared with corresponding measurements obtained by the microwave detector 400.

[0087] After being weighed by weigher 20, container 100 is removed by an unloader 30 which drops the container off into a reject or recycle line.

[0088] A comparison (preferably performed by a processing unit) between the measurements obtained by the weighing device 20 and corresponding measurements obtained by the microwave detector 400 preferably enables the inspection device 1 to identify possible discrepancies and apply corrective measures if the result of the comparison is a difference greater than a predetermined value, before the container 100 is picked up from the conveyor 2 by the pick-up means 10.

[0089] According to a further aspect of the invention, a reference control check of the device 1 is performed. According to the reference control check, the test method is applied to one or more reference pieces having precise and well-known characteristics and having the same shape as the typical container to be tested (e.g. made of high density polyethylene or PEEK).

[0090] The loading and unloading of the reference pieces onto and from the conveyor may be done using the same means 10, 30 as used for calibration or manually using dedicated means.

[0091] When a microwave measurement is performed with the microwave detector, the obtained measurement value is compared by the processing unit with a corresponding reference measurement value (predetermined and retrievable, for example, from a storage unit). In case of an unacceptable difference, further diagnostic steps or corrective and / or maintenance measures can be taken on the device 1. For example, very different measurement values ​​may indicate the presence of moisture in the resonating chamber, requiring appropriate maintenance measures.

[0092] The invention as described above is susceptible to several variations, not explicitly stated, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0093] In particular, whenever the conveyor comprises a series of supports formed as described above and the same considerations apply with regard to the number of receiving cavities and the possibilities for turning, the conveyor can be formed not only as a turntable but also as a linear conveyor, a closed-loop conveyor or any other type of conveyor, i.e. in the form of a general transport means defining a supply path.

[0094] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and achieves its intended objectives.

[0095] The ability of the inspection equipment to measure individual containers through a non-contact system, specifically an electromagnetic, and more specifically a microwave measurement system, allows the inspection equipment (and thus the entire packaging machine) to operate continuously and not necessarily intermittently, thereby increasing productivity.

[0096] Productivity is further increased by the fact that the conveyor can handle double lines of containers, where loading and unloading operations are performed on pairs of containers, whereas the containers are only repositioned longitudinally and aligned with each other in the section of the feed path where they are individually inspected by microwave measurements. Furthermore, this feature allows the loading and unloading speeds to be reduced, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the containers.

[0097] Furthermore, the special shape of the support allows for increased measurement accuracy by singulating the reading of each vessel, reducing disturbances caused by adjacent vessels.

[0098] Finally, moving the containers individually without the use of trays or support plates increases production efficiency by eliminating the need for fixed, static placement of the containers according to a predetermined positioning sequence.

Claims

1. A support (4) for transporting a container (100) in a microwave inspection device (1), comprising: A support body (4a) movable along a supply path (A); At least two receiving sheets (5) coupled to an upper portion of the support body (4a) moving along the supply path (A), The support body (4a) has two or more support parts (S1, S2), which are at least partially separated from one another by one or more openings (P), each of the two or more support parts (S1, S2) carrying at least one respective receiving sheet (5), and the two or more support parts (S1, S2) being connected or integral with one another in a lower region of the support body (4a).

2. 2. The support according to claim 1, wherein successive support portions (S1, S2) are at least partially separated by an opening (P) extending from an upper edge of the support body (4a) to an intermediate portion of the support body (4a).

3. 3. Support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support body (4a) has a main plane and the two or more support parts (S1, S2) are coplanar with each other.

4. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support body (4a) is U-shaped or comb-shaped.

5. 5. The support according to claim 1, wherein the support is made of a monolithic body made of plastic material and comprises the support body (4a), a receiving seat (5) in the form of a plurality of cups arranged on the top of the support body (4a) and a support base (4b) located below the support body (4a).

6. 6. The support according to claim 1, wherein the at least two receiving sheets (5) are aligned along an alignment direction, each support portion (S1, S2) having a leading edge (6) and a trailing edge (7) relative to the alignment direction, the leading edge (6) and the trailing edge (7) having a shape that is symmetrical relative to an axis of symmetry or an axis of development of the receiving sheets (5).

7. An inspection device (1) for inspecting containers (100) each containing a dose of a powdered or granular product for preparing a food product, comprising: a conveyor (2) comprising a plurality of supports (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and configured to move the at least two receiving sheets (5) along a feed path (A) between a loading station (200) for loading containers (100) into the at least two receiving sheets (5) and an unloading station (300) for unloading the containers (100) from the at least two receiving sheets (5); a detection station (400) arranged along the supply path (A) between the loading station (200) and the unloading station (300) and configured to inspect each container (100) while it is moving and supported by the supports (4) of the conveyor (2); The detection station (400) comprises a microwave detector having a detection area (410) through which the containers (100) pass successively in sequence.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the microwave detector comprises a waveguide element (420) shaped to surround the detection area (410), the waveguide element (420) having two opposing ends (430) defining a gap (440) between them through which the supports (4) pass, the gap (440) being measured perpendicular to the feed path (A), the size of the gap (440) being smaller than the detection area (410) to allow the passage of the container (100) and the passage of the support body (4a) of each support (4).

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein each support body (4a) is arranged such that the opening extends inside the detection area (410) and / or the gap (440) while the support body (4a) passes through the gap (440).

10. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the conveyor (2) comprises a transport unit (3) defining the feed path (A) and a plurality of supports (4) extending away from the transport unit (3) in a transverse direction to the feed path (A), each support (4) being rotatable about a pivot axis (Y) to assume at least a first position in which the at least two receiving sheets (5) of the support (4) are aligned transversely to the feed path (A) and a second position in which the at least two receiving sheets (5) of the support (4) are aligned along the feed path (A) such that they pass successively through the detection area (410), and wherein the support body (4a) of each support (4) has a thickness smaller than the gap (440) in order to pass through the gap (440) when the support (4) is in the second position.

11. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the conveyor (2) is made in the form of a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation (X), the pivot axis (Y) being parallel to the axis of rotation (X).

12. 12. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising a processing unit configured to receive a measurement signal from the microwave detector and to generate an item of information relating to at least one characteristic of the container or the dose contained in the container.

13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is associated with a memory unit containing one or more reference models correlated with corresponding respective reference measurement values ​​and relating to various weight values ​​of the container (100) or the doses of the product contained therein, and the processing unit is configured to generate the information item by comparing the measurement values ​​indicated by the measurement signal received from the microwave detector with the reference models.

14. 1. An automatic packaging machine for containers containing powdered or granular products for food preparation, comprising: a production unit for producing a series of containers (100); An inspection device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, located downstream of the production unit; a rejection device located downstream of the inspection device (1); a feedback control system connected to the manufacturing unit and to the inspection device (1) and configured to carry out 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), said corrective actions being: modifying one or more operating parameters of the production unit; and and acting on said rejection device to reject one or more containers (100) deemed non-conforming based on said generated items of information.

15. 1. An inspection method for inspecting containers containing doses of a powdered or granular product for preparing a food product, comprising: 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) with said microwave detector via said detection station (400) to obtain a series of measurements; generating, based on each measurement, an item of information relating to at least one characteristic of said container (100) or of said dose contained therein, 1. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of providing the series of containers (100) and performing detection on each container (100) are performed while the series of containers (100) are supported by a respective support (4), each support (4) comprising a support body (4a) and at least two receiving sheets (5) arranged on an upper portion of the support body (4a) and each configured to receive a corresponding container (100), the support body (4a) having two or more support parts (S1, S2), the two or more support parts (S1, S2) being at least partially separated from each other by one or more openings (P), each of the two or more support parts (S1, S2) carrying at least one corresponding receiving sheet (5), and the two or more support parts (S1, S2) being connected or integrated with each other in a lower region of the support body (4a).

16. said step of feeding a series of containers (100) along said feed path (A) comprises: Supporting the containers (100) in groups of two or more containers (100), the containers of each group being arranged on the same support (4) and aligned with each other along an alignment direction; 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method is carried out by rotating each support (4) about its respective pivot axis (Y) between at least a first position, obtained before and after the step of measuring each container (100) by the microwave detector to obtain a series of measurements, in which the containers (100) of the same group are aligned transversely to the feed path (A), and a second position, maintained at least during the measurements by the microwave detector, in which the containers (100) of the same group are aligned along the feed path (A) as they pass successively through the detection station (400).

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