Method and device for verifying at least one test container, and test container

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for verifying at least one test container (10), wherein the at least one test container (10) has at least one portion (14) with at least one unique identification feature, which is in the form of a profiled surface (16, 18). The method (100) has at least the following steps: transporting (102) the at least one test container (10) into a reading region (31) of at least one device (30) for verifying at least one test container, said device having at least one profile sensor (32); detecting (104) the at least one portion (14) of the test container (10) by means of the profile sensor (32) in the reading region (31); and deriving (106) the at least one unique identification feature from the profiled surface (16, 18) of the detected portion (14) in order to verify the at least one test container (10).

Description

[0001] Method and apparatus for verifying at least one test container as well as test containers

[0002] The invention relates to a method and a device for verifying at least one test container and a test container.

[0003] During the manufacturing and / or processing of containers, the containers can be inspected using an inspection device to check the quality of the manufactured or processed containers. To test whether the inspection device is working correctly, test containers can be used that may have known defects, which the inspection device is then intended to detect.

[0004] The test containers can be introduced into the production flow, allowing testing to take place during ongoing operations.

[0005] From DE 10 2019 119 435 A1, it is known to equip test containers with a marking for identification purposes. The marking can take the form of reflective elements in an area of ​​the test containers, 2D and / or 3D codes on or inside the test containers, or as a transponder inside the test containers. The codes can be optically detected or read from the containers using an inspection device. In this way, the source of the defect, which represents the respective test container, can be identified in the event of a fault detected by the inspection device.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for verifying at least one test container, in which the reliability and accuracy of the test container detection is increased.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description. According to a first aspect, a method for verifying at least one test container is described, wherein the at least one test container has at least one section with at least one unique identification feature designed as a surface profile, the method comprising at least the following steps: transporting the at least one test container into a reading area of ​​at least one device for verifying at least one test container, which has at least one profile sensor; detecting the at least one section of the test container by means of the profile sensor in the reading area; and deriving the at least one unique identification feature from the surface profile of the detected section to verify the at least one test container.

[0008] This method uses a surface profile on the test container to verify it. The surface profile can be an integral part of the test container, allowing the unique identifier to be incorporated into the container material during manufacturing. Subsequent application of the identifier is not required. Furthermore, the surface profile can be permanently attached to the test container, ensuring it cannot be lost. This eliminates the possibility of erroneous detection of the unique identifier due to fading ink, a detachable adhesive strip, or contamination. This can increase the reliability and accuracy of test container identification.

[0009] The surface profile can be captured, for example, by scanning using a touch sensor or by non-contact measurement.

[0010] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the profile sensor can detect the at least one section without contact. This non-contact detection can be achieved, for example, with a laser scanner that scans at least part of the section's surface to capture the surface profile.

[0011] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the profile sensor can detect at least one section by touching it.

[0012] For example, a contact distance sensor can be guided along the section to measure the surface profile. Alternatively or additionally, the contact distance sensor can also be designed to detect the entire surface profile.

[0013] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile can encode a binary pattern as a unique identification feature.

[0014] The surface profile can thus represent, for example, a barcode. The bars of a conventional barcode can be formed as raised areas, and the spaces between them as depressions or grooves between the raised areas of the surface profile.

[0015] However, this does not rule out the possibility that the surface profile could also represent a QR code or another type of code.

[0016] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the at least one test container can be transported to the device within a series of production containers.

[0017] The test container can thus be transported to an inspection device within a container manufacturing and / or treatment plant during operation. For this purpose, the test container can be inserted into a conveyor system for containers, joining a series of production containers that are being transported past an inspection device. According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the test container can be diverted from the series after detecting at least one section of the container.

[0018] After the functionality of an inspection device has been checked with it during operation, the test container can be sorted out from the series of production containers so that the production containers can be processed further without the test container causing a disruption, being destroyed and / or having to be sorted out after further processing steps.

[0019] According to a second aspect, a test container is described comprising at least one section with at least one unique identification feature, wherein, according to the invention, the identification feature is designed as a surface profile.

[0020] The test container can, for example, be made of plastic. With relatively little effort, the plastic can be given a surface profile that can serve as a unique identification feature.

[0021] The advantages, effects, and further developments of the test container arise from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the procedure described above. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0022] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile can be arranged at an opening area of ​​the test container.

[0023] The test container may then have predefined defects, particularly outside the mouth area, to which the inspection device being tested should respond.

[0024] In some other embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile is arranged away from the mouth area, particularly if the detection of defects in the mouth area is to be verified. According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile can encode a binary pattern as a unique identification feature.

[0025] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile can be formed circumferentially, preferably rotationally symmetrically, around a longitudinal axis of the test container.

[0026] The longitudinal axis can extend through a belly area between an opening and a bottom area of ​​the container. Because the surface profile is circumferential, a defined orientation around the longitudinal axis is not required for its detection. In this embodiment, it may be sufficient for the profile sensor to measure only a portion of the section to detect the surface profile.

[0027] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the surface profile can be formed as an embossing in the section.

[0028] The embossing can be a raised or a hollow embossing. It can be applied to the test container with minimal effort. Furthermore, the embossing can be applied to the test container during its manufacturing process.

[0029] According to a third aspect, a device for inspecting at least one test container as described above is described, comprising at least one reading area arranged on a transport path for the at least one test container, at least one profile sensor for detecting at least one surface of a test container arranged in the reading area, and at least one control unit, wherein at least one signal connection links the control unit to the profile sensor, and the control unit is configured to derive at least one identification feature from the surface profile of the detected section for verifying the at least one test container. Advantages, effects, and further developments of the device result from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the test container and method described above.To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0030] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the profile sensor can be designed as a non-contact sensor, preferably as a laser scanner.

[0031] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the profile sensor can be designed as a contact sensor.

[0032] For example, a touch distance sensor can be guided along the section to measure the surface profile.

[0033] According to a fourth aspect, a plant for manufacturing and / or treating containers is described, comprising at least one machine for manufacturing and / or treating containers and a device according to the preceding description, wherein a transport path for containers extends between the machine and the device.

[0034] The advantages, effects, and further developments of the system result from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the device, test container, and method described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0035] In some embodiments, the device can be arranged upstream or downstream of an inspection device in the direction of transport. Upstream refers to the container's position in the direction of transport, and downstream refers to the opposite direction of transport. In some embodiments, a diverting device can be arranged downstream of the device to remove transport containers detected by the device from the transport path.

[0036] The invention is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows:

[0037] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of the procedure for verifying at least one test container;

[0038] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a test container;

[0039] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a device for verifying at least one test container; and

[0040] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a plant for the manufacture and / or treatment of containers.

[0041] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the procedure for verifying at least one test container and is referenced in its entirety by reference numeral 100.

[0042] Method 100 comprises a step 102 in which at least one test container 10 is transported. The test container 10 is shown by way of example as a cross-sectional view of part of a bottle in Figure 2. The bottle has an opening 12 and a body 20. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottle is formed circumferentially, preferably rotationally symmetrically, about a longitudinal axis 22 extending from the opening 12 to the body 20.

[0043] In this embodiment, the test container 10 has a section 14 in the opening area 12, on which a surface profile 16, 18 is arranged. The surface profile 16, 18 can extend around the opening area 12 and is preferably rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 22. Furthermore, the surface profile 16, 18 has protrusions 16 and depressions 18. The sequence of protrusions 16 and depressions 18 forms the surface profile 16, 18 and provides a unique identification feature for the test container 10.

[0044] For example, the sequence of raised areas 16 and indentations 18 can form a binary pattern that, like a barcode, encodes a sequence of numbers. The respective number sequence of a test container 10 can be uniquely selected for that test container 10. This means that, at least in connection with use with a specific inspection device under test, no other test container 10 has this number sequence as a unique identifier.

[0045] The surface profile 16, 18 can be produced by embossing the test container 10, both by embossing and by debossing.

[0046] After inspection by an inspection device according to step 102, the test container 10 can be transported into a reading area 31 of a device 30 for verifying at least one test container 10, as shown in Figure 3. The device 30 has at least one profile sensor 32 that can detect the at least one section 14 of the test container 10.

[0047] The profile sensor 32 can detect section 14 without contact in some embodiments. In these embodiments, the profile sensor 32 can, for example, be configured as a laser scanner.

[0048] In other embodiments, the profile sensor 32 can detect section 14 by contact. For this purpose, the profile sensor 32 can, for example, have at least one sensing element with which the surface of section 14 of the test container 10 can be scanned. The profile sensor 32 can also have a plurality of sensing elements, wherein the sensing elements can then detect section 14 partially and / or in its entirety and thus measure the surface profile 16, 18. This can be carried out at a higher speed than when using a profile sensor 32 with only one sensing element scanning section 14.

[0049] Figure 3 shows a transport path 34 along which production containers 54 and test containers 10 are transported. The transport can be timed, whereby the containers can, for example, be transported along a specific path at a time, and the transport can then be paused for a predefined period. Production containers 54 are to be understood as containers that are not designed as test containers 10, but are part of the production process.

[0050] Upstream of the transport direction 35, an inspection device can be arranged that inspects the production containers 54 and the test containers 10. The test containers 10 have known defects that are to be detected by the inspection device in order to verify its functionality.

[0051] To prevent the test containers 10 from being further processed or filled with the production containers 54 and delivered to customers, all containers can be transported through the reading area 31. In the reading area 31, the profile sensor 32 detects at least one section 14 of the test container 10 according to step 104 of procedure 100.

[0052] The trigger 36 can first detect a test container 10 as it is transported past it. The trigger 36 can be connected to a control unit 42 via a signal connection 50, which can be wired or wireless. The control unit 42 can be connected to the profile sensor 32 via another signal connection 48, which can also be wired or wireless, and trigger it when the test container 10 is positioned within the reading area 31.

[0053] From the signal provided by the profile sensor 32, at least one unique identification feature can be derived from the surface profile 16, 18 of the detected section 14 in accordance with step 106, in order to verify the at least one test container 10. Step 106 can be performed, for example, by the control unit 42.

[0054] The control unit 42 can further control the transport by means of a clock generator 44 via a signal connection 52, which can be wireless or wired. Through this clocked control, the control unit 42 can know the position of the test containers 10, detected by the trigger 36, on the transport path 34.

[0055] After verifying the test container 10, the control unit 42 can trigger a discharge device 38 via a signal connection 46, which can be wireless or wired, to discharge the verified test container 10 according to step 108. The discharged test container 10 can, for example, be discharged onto a discharge table 40, from which it can then be removed by a user. For further testing of the inspection device, the test container 10 can be reinserted upstream into the series of production containers 54.

[0056] Figure 4 schematically depicts a plant 60 for the manufacture and / or treatment of containers. The plant 60 may include a container treatment machine 64, an inspection device 62, and the device 30 for verifying test containers.

[0057] The transport path 34 can extend through the system 60, and can extend through the container treatment machine 64. The inspection device 62 and the device 30 can be arranged on the transport path 34 to inspect containers that are transported along the transport path 34 in the transport direction 35.

[0058] The inspection device 62 can be arranged upstream of the device 30. Container treatment machines 64 can be arranged both upstream and downstream of the device 30. In this embodiment, the container treatment machine 64 can, for example, be a container manufacturing machine in which containers can be produced from preforms by forming. The manufactured containers can be inspected by the inspection device 62. Test containers 10 can be introduced into the transport path 34 after the container treatment machine 64 and pass through the inspection device 62. The test containers 10 can then be detected by the device 30 and discharged.

[0059] The example described above does not in any way limit the invention. Rather, the invention can be modified in numerous ways. All features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention, either alone or in combination.

[0060] Reference symbol list

[0061] 10 test containers

[0062] 12 Mouth area

[0063] Section 14

[0064] 16 Survey

[0065] 18 In-depth study

[0066] 20 Abdominal area

[0067] 22 Longitudinal axis

[0068] 30 Device

[0069] 31 Reading area

[0070] 32 Profile sensor

[0071] 34 Transport route

[0072] 35 Transport direction

[0073] 36 triggers

[0074] 38 Discharge device

[0075] 40 discharge table

[0076] 42 Control unit

[0077] 44 clock generators

[0078] 46 Signal connection

[0079] 48 Signal connection

[0080] 50 signal connection

[0081] 52 Signal connection

[0082] 54 production containers

[0083] 60 plant

[0084] 62 Inspection device

[0085] 64 Container treatment machine

Claims

Claims 1. Method (100) for verifying at least one test container (10), wherein the at least one test container (10) has at least one section (14) with at least one unique identification feature designed as a surface profile (16, 18), wherein the method (100) comprises at least the following steps: Transporting (102) the at least one test container (10) into a reading area (31) of at least one device (30) for verifying at least one test container, which has at least one profile sensor (32); Detection (104) of at least one section (14) of the test container (10) by means of the profile sensor (32) in the reading area (31); and Deriving (106) the at least one unique identification feature from the surface profile (16, 18) of the recorded section (14) to verify the at least one test container (10).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the profile sensor (32) detects the at least one section (14) without contact.

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surface profile (16, 18) encodes a binary pattern as a unique identification feature.

4. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one test container (10) is transported within a series of production containers (54) to an inspection device (62).

5. Method (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the test container (10) is diverted (108) from the series after the detection (104) of the at least one section (14).

6. Test container (10) comprising at least one section (14) with at least one unique identification feature, characterized in that the identification feature is designed as a surface profile (16, 18).

7. Test container (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the surface profile (16, 18) is arranged at an opening area (12) of the test container (10).

8. Test container (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the surface profile (16, 18) encodes a binary pattern as a unique identification feature.

9. Test container (10) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the surface profile (16, 18) is formed circumferentially, preferably rotationally symmetrically, about a longitudinal axis (22) of the test container (10).

10. Test container (10) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the surface profile (16, 18) is formed as an embossing in the section (14).

11. Device (30) for inspecting at least one test container (10) according to one of claims 6 to 10, comprising at least one reading area (31) arranged on a transport path (34) for the at least one test container (10), at least one profile sensor (32) for detecting at least one surface of a test container (10) arranged in the reading area (31), and at least one control unit (42), wherein at least one signal connection (48) connects the control unit (42) to the profile sensor (32) and the control unit (42) is configured to derive the at least one identification feature from the surface profile (16, 18) of the detected section (14) for verifying the at least one test container (10).

12. Device (30) according to claim 11, characterized in that the profile sensor (32) is designed as a non-contact sensor, preferably as a laser scanner.

13. Device (30) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the The profile sensor (32) is designed as a contact sensor.

14. Plant (60) for manufacturing and / or treating containers, comprising at least one machine (64) for manufacturing and / or treating containers and a device (30) according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a transport path (34) for containers extends between the machine (64) and the device (30).

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