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CN-122003380-A - Inspection device for a capping device, capping device with an inspection device, packaging machine, method for inspecting a cap and method for applying a cap

CN122003380ACN 122003380 ACN122003380 ACN 122003380ACN-122003380-A

Abstract

An inspection apparatus (30) for inspecting an opening device (5) applied to a body (4) advancing along an advancing path (P) is described. The inspection apparatus (30) comprises a first imaging device (31) located at the first inspection station (32) and configured to acquire a first image (33) of an imaging portion (34) of the subject (4), the imaging portion (34) having a designated pouring opening area (9) of the subject (4), a second imaging device (35) located at a second inspection station (36) arranged downstream of the first inspection station (32) and configured to acquire at least one second image (37) of a respective opening device (5) applied to the respective imaging portion (34), and an analysis unit (38) configured to analyze each first image (33) and the respective second image (37) and determine a relative position between each opening device (5) and the respective designated pouring opening area (9) by analyzing each first image (33) and the respective second image (37).

Inventors

  • Roberto Skro
  • Maurizio Stefania Montorsi

Assignees

  • 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20240801
Priority Date
20231009

Claims (17)

  1. 1. An inspection device (30) for inspecting opening means (5) applied to a body (4) advancing along an advancing path (P); Wherein the inspection apparatus (30) comprises: -a first imaging device (31) located at a first inspection station (32) and configured to acquire a first image (33) of an imaging portion (34) of the subject (4), the imaging portion (34) having a designated pour opening area (9) configured to receive a respective opening device (5); -a second imaging device (35) located at a second inspection station (36) arranged downstream of the first inspection station (32) and configured to acquire at least one second image (37) of the opening device (4) applied to the respective imaging portion (34) of the main body (4), and -An analysis unit (38) configured to analyze each first image (33) and the respective second image (37) and to determine the relative position between each opening device (5) and the respective designated pouring opening area (9) by analyzing each first image (33) and the respective second image (37).
  2. 2. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit (38) is configured to determine a measured first relative position of each designated pouring opening area (9) with respect to a first reference station (39) from the respective first image (33) and to determine a measured second relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to a second reference station (41) from the respective second image (37); Wherein the analysis unit (38) is configured to determine the relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to the respective designated pouring opening area (9) from the measured first relative position and the respective measured second relative position.
  3. 3. The inspection apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the analysis unit (38) is configured to determine the first relative position of the measurement with reference to a first reference point (40) of the designated pour opening area (9) and to determine the second relative position of the measurement with reference to a second reference point (44).
  4. 4. An inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first reference point (40) corresponds to the centre of the designated pouring opening area (9) and/or the second reference point (44) corresponds to the centre (14) of the opening device (5).
  5. 5. The inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the analysis unit (38) is further configured to calculate an expected relative position of each opening device (5) from the respective first relative position of the respective designated pouring opening area (9) and to compare the respective second relative position obtained from the respective second image (37) with the expected relative position to determine the relative position between the designated pouring opening (5) and the opening device (5).
  6. 6. The examination apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first imaging device (31) comprises a 2D camera.
  7. 7. The examination apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second imaging device (35) comprises a 3D camera and/or is configured to perform three-dimensional contouring.
  8. 8. The inspection apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inspection apparatus (30) is configured to selectively determine for each opening device (5) whether the relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to the respective designated pour opening area (9) is within a desired range or whether the relative position would exceed a desired range.
  9. 9. A capping device (18) for applying an opening arrangement to a body (4) advancing along an advancing path (P), the capping device (18) comprising: -opening means application means (19) configured to apply respective opening means (5) to said body (4) at an application station (20), and -An inspection apparatus (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, configured to determine the relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to the respective designated pouring opening (9); Wherein the application station (20) is disposed between the first inspection station (32) and the second inspection station (36).
  10. 10. Capping apparatus (18) according to claim 9 wherein the opening device application apparatus (19) comprises one or more opening device applicators and one or more adjustment devices configured to adjust the position of each opening device applicator in dependence on the respective relative position of each designated pouring opening area (9) determined from the respective first image (33).
  11. 11. Capping apparatus (18) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the opening device application apparatus (19) further comprises adhesive application means (23) for applying adhesive and/or binder to the opening device (5) before applying the opening device (5) to the respective body (4); wherein the inspection apparatus (30) further comprises a third imaging device (42) configured to acquire at least one respective third image of each opening device (5) and the adhesive and/or binder applied to the respective opening device (5).
  12. 12. Packaging machine (1) for producing packages (2), said packages (2) each having a main body (4) and opening devices (5) applied on said main body (4) and filled with a pourable product, said packaging machine (1) comprising: -a package filling device (17) for forming and filling the body (4) with the pourable product, and -At least one capping device (18) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, configured to apply respective opening means (5) to the body (4).
  13. 13. Method of checking an opening device (5) applied on a body (4) filled with a pourable product, said method comprising the steps of: -acquiring a first image (33) of an imaging portion (34) of the subjects (4) at a first inspection station (32), the imaging portion (33) having a designated pour opening area (9) of each subject (4); -acquiring a second image (37) of the respective opening device (5) applied to the respective imaging section (34) at a second inspection station (36) arranged downstream of the first inspection station (32), and -Analysing each first image (33) and the corresponding second image (37) and determining the relative position between each opening device (5) and the corresponding designated pouring opening area (9) from the analysis of each first image (33) and the corresponding second image (37).
  14. 14. Method according to claim 13, during the analysis step, determining a measured first relative position of each designated pouring opening (9) with respect to a first reference station (39) from the respective first image (33) and a measured second relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to a second reference station (41) from the respective second image (37); Wherein during the analysis step, the relative position of each opening device (5) with respect to the respective designated pouring opening (9) is determined from the measured first relative position and the respective measured second relative position.
  15. 15. Method according to claim 14, wherein during the analysis step the first relative position is determined with reference to a first reference point (40) of the designated pouring opening (9) and the second relative position is determined with reference to a second reference point (44).
  16. 16. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein during the step of analyzing the unit, an expected relative position of each opening device (5) is calculated from the respective first relative position of the respective designated pouring opening (9) and the respective second relative position obtained from the respective second image (37) is compared with the expected relative position to determine the relative position between the designated pouring opening (9) and the opening device (5).
  17. 17. Method of applying an opening device (5) to a body (4) filled with a pourable product, said method comprising the steps of: -advancing the body (4) along an advancement path (P); -applying opening means (5) to said body (4), and -Performing the method according to any of claims 13 to 16.

Description

Inspection device for a capping device, capping device with an inspection device, packaging machine, method for inspecting a cap and method for applying a cap Technical Field The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a capping apparatus. Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a capping device for applying an opening device to a body of a package filled with a pourable product, preferably a package formed from a multi-layer packaging material. Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging pourable products, more particularly pourable food products, into a package, preferably a package formed from a multi-layer packaging material, and having at least one closure device. Advantageously, the invention also relates to a method of inspecting a package with a lid applied on a respective body. Advantageously, the invention also relates to a method of applying a lid to a body of a package. Background Many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are known to be sold in packages (especially sealed packages) made of sterile packaging material. A typical example is a parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products, called a rile brick-sterile (Tetra Brik Aseptic; registered trademark), made by sealing and folding strips of laminated packaging material. The packaging material has a multi-layer structure comprising a carton and/or a paper base layer covered on both sides with layers of heat-sealable plastic material, such as polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, for example aluminium foil, superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and covered with a further layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner surface of the package eventually contacting the food product. Such packages are typically produced on fully automatic packaging machines that form and fill packages starting from multiple layers of packaging material. Some packaging machines are configured to produce packages that include a body formed of multiple layers of packaging material and an opening device disposed about a designated pour opening of the body. The opening device is configured to allow selective opening and closing of the pouring outlet. A typical opening device includes a base frame connected to the body, a collar extending from the base frame and disposed about the pouring outlet, and a lid secured to the collar and controllable between a closed position and an open position. Some packaging machines for producing packages having respective opening devices include a package forming machine configured to form at least respective bodies from a multi-layer packaging material and to fill the respective bodies, and a capping apparatus configured to apply the opening devices to the respective bodies. Some known capping apparatuses include a conveyor for advancing the body along an advancement path, a feeder for feeding the opening device to a transfer station and through an adhesive station where adhesive is applied to the opening device, and one or more application devices configured to receive the opening device at the transfer station and apply the opening device to the body at an application station. While known capping devices and/or packaging machines work well, further improvements are desired in the industry. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved inspection apparatus allowing inspection of an opening device applied to a body. It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an improved capping apparatus. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved packaging machine. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved inspection method. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of applying a cap. According to the present invention, an inspection device and a method for inspecting the application of a cover according to the respective independent claims are provided. Preferred embodiments of the examination apparatus and method as claimed in the claims depend directly or indirectly on the respective independent claim. According to the present invention, there is also provided a capping device according to any one of claims 8 and 9. According to the invention there is also provided a packaging machine according to claim 12. According to the present invention there is also provided a method according to any one of claims 13 to 16. According to the invention, there is also provided a method according to claim 17. Drawings Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine ha