US 11,815,469 B2
Apparatus and method for inspecting containers which are at least partially transparent to a predetermined electromagnetic radiation
Luca Vallati, Mira (IT)
Assigned to Stevanato Group S.P.A., Padua (IT)
Filed by Stevanato Group S.P.A., Piombino Dese (IT)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,180.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000010790 (IT), filed on Apr. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349831 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/88 (2006.01); G01N 21/17 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/8851 (2013.01) [G01N 21/17 (2013.01); G01N 2021/1776 (2013.01); G01N 2021/887 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8864 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8887 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for inspecting containers which are at least partially transparent to a predetermined electromagnetic radiation and which contain a liquid which is at least partially transparent to the predetermined electromagnetic radiation, the containers comprising at least one portion having radial symmetry about an axis of symmetry, the apparatus comprising:
a rotation device which is adapted to rotate the container about the axis of symmetry;
a camera which is positioned in such a manner that the container, when positioned, is located in the field of view thereof, the camera being sensitive to the predetermined electromagnetic radiation;
a processing unit which is adapted to control the rotation device and the camera, the processing unit being programmed:
to control the rotation device so as to move the container at a first angular speed and to keep the first angular speed constant for a first time period;
to control the camera so that it acquires during the rotation at the first angular speed at least a first and a second series of images, each image of the first or second series being an image of a portion of the container and each series of images representing the portion of the container in a rotation thereof through 360°;
to identify in the first and second series of images defective areas, each defective area having at least one characteristic which is different from the characteristics of the areas adjacent thereto, generating a first and a second map of the defective areas, each map comprising the position and the characteristics of the defective areas, identical positions in the first map and in the second map identifying the same position in the container;
to compare the position of the defective areas of the first and the second maps;
to establish presence of first impurities, said first impurities including impurities present in the container and impurities present in the liquid contained in the container, differentiating said first impurities from any bubbles in the liquid, if a defective area is present in a position in the first map and a defective area is present in a region surrounding the same position in the second map.