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The present invention relates to a detecting device for containers in movement along an advancement pathway of a conveyor.

In particular, the detecting device is adapted to operate on bottles which are consecutively loaded on a conveyor having a plurality of supports on which the bottles are positioned. The conveyor is preferably of the rotating carousel type in which the supports are positioned along the periphery of the carousel, but might also be of the straight or linear type composed of straight portions and curved portions.

Still more in particular, the present invention relates to the field of detecting an orientation of a container with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof with the aim of applying a label to the bottle in the desired position (for example in line with a "spot" on the bottle on the opposite side with respect to the weld of the bottle glass).

In the prior art, after having been consecutively loaded on a conveyor (which loading normally takes place by action of a transfer star conveyor) the bottles are rotated about themselves by rotation of the support (known as a plate in the field) on which they are mounted. Externally of the conveyor and flanked to the rotating bottles there is usually a detector, mounted on a structure movable in synchrony with the bottle and which follows the bottle (it is often indeed referred to as a "follower") until the bottle has completed a rotation about itself (360°) or until the spot on the bottle is detected (in this case the angular rotation might also be less than 360°).

A control unit connected to the rotating support and the detector receives the information relating to the rotation of the bottle and to the images acquired and determines the position to which the bottle is to be brought before the successive labelling station in order to be able to apply the label in the correct position. Thus, the control unit commands the rotating support to position the bottle at the identified angular position for the labelling.

This prior art is described in document PCT/IB2011/055377, belonging to the same Applicant.

However, over the years this prior art has been shown not to be free of drawbacks.

These drawbacks are substantially linked to the minimum step of the conveyor (the "step" is the distance between two consecutive supports) and to the volumes the detecting device occupies on the conveyor.

Primarily, it should be noted that the minimum step of the conveyor must be calculated taking into account the fact that, within that step distance, the bottle must be able to perform a complete rotation about itself and the follower must have the time to stop, invert its motion and return to the starting position in order to await the arrival of the following bottle.

For example, in the case of a rotating carousel conveyor having 12 supports for the bottles, the step is at 30° angles. Supposing that the starting position of the follower is at 0° of the carousel position, the follower starts following the bottle up until the bottle has completed the 360° rotation about itself. Supposing that the completion of this rotation requires a 10° angular swivel of the carousel, the follower will have the remaining 20° (30° - 10°) to halt, invert its motion and return to the starting position in which it awaits the following bottle to arrive.

The above-described operation determines a limit for the minimum dimension of the step of a conveyor (and therefore also for the maximum number of bottles that can be worked on at the same time) and a limit for the maximum working velocity of the conveyor.

To obviate these drawbacks, the same document PCT/IB2011/055377 describes another solution relating to the use of two detectors spaced from one another at a fixed distance equal to a "step" and which move together. In this way, when the first detector is positioned at a first container, the second detector is located at a second container consecutive to the first. In this way, each detector has a greater carousel rotation angle for carrying out the return thereof into the initial position.

Returning to the preceding example, each detector would have a carousel rotation angle of 50° (30° x 2 - 10°) in order to be able to perform the return operations.

However, this last solution also has drawbacks substantially connected to the greater volume that the two-detector structure occupies on the conveyor. In fact, this structure occupies a space corresponding to two carousel steps. Consequently, the space for being able to connect work stations to the conveyor is reduced, without counting that the labelling station has to be translated.

In this situation, the object of the present invention is to realise a detecting device for containers which obviates the above-cited drawbacks.

The object of the present invention is to realise a detecting device for containers which enables to speed up the detection of the containers without increasing the volumes on the conveyor.

The above-indicated objects are substantially attained by a detecting device for containers according to what is described in the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more greatly emerge from the detailed description that follows of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a detecting device for containers illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows, in a front view, a rotating carousel conveyor to which the detecting device according to the present invention is applied;

- figure 2 shows, in a view from above, a portion of the conveyor of figure 1 to which the detecting device according to the present invention is applied;

- figure 3 shows, in a front view, a rotating carousel conveyor to which the detecting device according to a first variant of the present invention is applied;

- figure 4 shows, in a view from above, a portion of the conveyor of figure 3 to which the detecting device according to the present invention is applied; and

- figure 5 shows, in a view from above, a rotating carousel conveyor to which the detecting device according to a first variant of the present invention is applied.

The present invention relates to a detecting device 1 for containers 2 in movement along an advancement pathway P of a conveyor 100.

As already mentioned previously, the device 1 is applied to a conveyor

100 for containers 2 (in the following also referred to as bottles) which can be:

- a rotating carousel 3 (for example figures 1-4);

- straight;

- linear made up of straight and curved portions (for example figure 5)·

The present invention preferably relates to a rotating carousel 3 conveyor 100 and therefore reference will mainly be made in the following parts of the present description to this embodiment. However, the detecting device 1 might also be applied to conveyors of a different type as described in the following.

In any case, the conveyor 100 has a plurality of supports 4 on which said containers 2 are arranged. These supports 4 are distanced from one another by a predefined distance defined "step 5" of the conveyor 100. The conveyor 100 can have a fixed "step 5" (as in the case of the rotating carousel 3) or a variable "step 5" (as in the case of a conveyor 100 having linearly motorised carriages which are movable independently of one another).

Further, each support 4 is of the rotary type so as to be able to rotate the container 2 about itself while the container 2 itself is advancing along the advancement direction P (coinciding with the advancement pathway). The rotating support 4 is preferably motorised so as to be able to rotate on command during the passage of the support along a predefined detecting zone.

The detectors 6, 8 described in the following also move in this detecting zone. In other words, the detectors 6, 8 move simultaneously with the rotation of a support 4 about itself.

In particular, the movement of the detectors 6, 8 aims to detect one or more characteristics of the lateral wall of the container 2 in rotation about itself so as identify the application zone of the label (for example where a "spot" on the bottle is present).

The device 1 comprises a first detector 6 of a lateral wall of a first container 2 and first movement means 7 of the first detector 6 configured for moving said first detector 6 in synchrony with the first container 2 at least for a predefined portion of advancement pathway P, so as to follow said first container 2 during the movement thereof.

Further, the device 1 according to the present invention comprises a second detector 8 of an orientation of a lateral wall of a second container 2, consecutive to the first container 2 on the conveyor 100 and second movement means 9 of the second detector 8 configured for moving said second detector 8 in synchrony with the second container 2 at least for a predefined portion of advancement pathway P, so as to follow the second container 2 during movement thereof.

In particular, each movement means is preferably motorised by means of an electric motor having a rotating rotor, or by and electric motor of a linear type.

In the first case (figures 3-4), the movement means 7 comprise a guide 10 having a predefined shape and a slide 11 slidably mounted on the guide 10. The displacing means also comprise a transmission system for transmitting the motion of the motor to the slide. The transmission system preferably comprises a rack 12 fixed to the slide 11 and a pinion 13 enmeshed with the rack 12 and connected to the rotor of the motor in order to take motion therefrom.

Note that the slide 11 is complementarily shaped with respect to the advancement direction P of the conveyor 100. For example, if the conveyor 100 is of the rotating carousel 3 type, the advancement direction P is circular and therefore the slide 11 is shaped as an arc of circumference having a same centre as the circular advancement direction P. In this way, the detector performs an arc of circumference movement in order to follow the containers 2 along the circular advancement direction P. As regards these characteristics, reference is made to the description in document VR2010A000253 owned by the same Applicant, from page 8, line 26 to page 12, line 12, which is incorporated in the present document and is part and parcel thereof (in particular with reference to the synchronising means).

In a variant embodiment, if the conveyor 100 is of the rotating carousel 3 type, the advancement direction P can be straight and therefore the slide 11 is straight. In this way, the detector performs a movement along a straight line flanked and more or less distanced from the circular advancement direction P according to the considered position. In this case the detector is configured to detect in any case the image of the container 2 in movement.

In other words, the movement direction of the detector (in the following defined as the detecting direction) follows the advancing of the container 2 independently of any eventual differences of distance between the two. Therefore, the detecting and advancing directions of the containers 2, at least in the detecting zone, can be complementarily shaped or not. In the latter case, the detecting direction can extend along a straight line external or internal of the circumference defined by the advancement direction P of the carousel 3.

Alternatively, to the foregoing, each movement means 7, 9 can comprise at least a linear motor 14 which moves the detector along a detecting direction thereof substantially parallel to the advancement direction P of the containers 2. In particular, if the advancement direction P of the containers 2 is circular (for example in the case of a rotating carousel 3 conveyor 100) the detecting direction can be straight or an arc of circumference.

In a case in which the detecting direction is straight, it is flanked to the advancement direction P, whether circular or straight, of the containers 2. In a case in which the detecting direction is an arc of circumference, it is preferably complementarily-shaped to the circular advancement direction P of the containers 2.

In this last case, the movement is realised by means of the combination of at least two simultaneous movements of the detector along two Cartesian axes (figures 1-2). In this case, the movement means comprise respective linear motors 14, 15 mounted on one another so that the stator of one is mounted on the rotor of the other. In this way, it is possible to realise a curvature of the detector as desired, as a function of the desired radius of circumference. As for these characteristics, reference is made to document 102014902291253, owned by the present Applicant, from page 10 line 9 to page 13 line 4 which is incorporated in the present document and is part and parcel thereof (in particular with reference to the linear motors 14, 15).

In any case, in the present invention the first 7 and second 9 movement means operate independently of one another so that the first detector 6 is moved independently of the second detector 8 and vice versa.

The device 1 preferably comprises a control unit connected to said first and second detector 8, and to said first and second movement means 9. The control unit is configured to command movement of the first 7 and/or the second movement means 9 in an independent way to one another. In particular the control unit is configured to:

- send a start signal of the rotation of the support of a first container 2;

- send a start signal of the movement of the first detector 6;

- receive the detecting signal from the first detector 6; - analyse the contents of said detecting signal (images where a TV camera is used);

- identify the application zone of the label;

- send a positioning signal to the support in the angular position of the container 2 at the identified application zone of the label.

Further, said first movement means 7 and said second 9 movement means are configured for moving the first detector 6 and the second detector 8 alternatingly so that the first detector 6 detects the first container 2 and the second detector 8 detects the second container 2 following the first container, and so on.

In particular, each of said first and second detector 8 is moved along an outrun direction A, during which each of said first and second detector 8 follows a container 2, and along a return direction R, during which each of said first and second detector 8 moves in an opposite direction to the advancement direction P of the containers 2. The outrun direction A and the return direction R belong to the same pathway (in other words, they coincide).

Notwithstanding the foregoing in relation to the fact that the two detectors 6, 8 are moved along respective pathways both at least partly facing a same portion of advancement pathway P; in the preferred case the same portion of advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100 is comprised (is equal to or smaller than) in a step 5 of the conveyor 100.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated in the figures, the same portion of advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100 might be greater than a step 5 of the conveyor (for example 1 , 2 steps) as there are two alternating detectors 6, 8. This variant embodiment might be advantageous for example in a case in which the conveyor 100 has numerous supports 4 and therefore the step 5 becomes small (for example a carousel with 48 divisions). In this case, the detecting zone in which the two detectors 6, 8 move might be greater than one step 5 of the conveyor 00. In any case (independently of the extension of the superposing zone of the detectors) note that the pathway along which each detector 6, 8 moves can be smaller, equal to or greater than a step 5 of the carousel.

In the preferred case, which is illustrated in the figures, the two detectors move along directions that superpose on one another so as to occupy, along the conveyor 100, the same space that a single detector would occupy.

The detecting pathway of each detector is preferably such that both the detectors move within a single step 5 of the conveyor 100. In this way the device 1 according to the present invention advantageously occupies a portion of conveyor 100 that is equal to only one step 5 so as to occupy the least possible space around the conveyor 00.

Further, each detector is configured for terminating the detecting of the container 2 starting from a same predefined initial position PI relative to the advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100 and for terminating the detecting of the container 2 starting from a same predefined final position PF relative to the advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100.

In detail, the first detector 6 is moved in the return direction R during the movement of the second detector 8 according to the outrun direction A and vice versa.

In any case, the two detectors are moved along respective pathways both completely facing a same portion of advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100. Therefore, the two detectors move along a same arc of circumference or straight segment.

In other words, the two detectors are arranged in such a way as to superpose for detecting a same portion of the conveyor 00.

In still other words, the two detectors move along the same detecting direction.

The two detectors 6, 8 are preferably superposed with respect to one another along a vertical direction at least at said same portion of advancement pathway P of the conveyor 100. Two situations have been illustrated in the figures by way of example of the superposing: in figures 1 , 2 the superposing is realised by mounting two linear motors 14, 15 one on the other, where each linear motor 14 moves the relative detector; in figures 3 and 4 the superposing is realised by means of direct connecting means of the detectors to a fixed part of the conveyor 100.ln this last case, the connecting means comprise a first structure 16 which rises from a base portion 18 of the conveyor 100 towards the containers 2 on which the first detector 6 is mounted, and a second structure 17 which descends from a top portion 19 of the conveyor 100 towards the containers 2, on which the second detector 8 is mounted. The two detectors are therefore superposed on one another.

In other words, the device 1 can be mounted directly on the carousel 3 (by mechanical connecting means) such as for example on the base 18 and/or on the top portion 19 arranged above the containers 2, or it can be mounted on a support element 20 external to the conveyor 100 and laterally fixable thereto. In this case said first and second detector 8 are mounted on said support element 20 by means of respective support structures. The support element 20 is preferably a carriage which laterally and externally hooks to the conveyor 100 (for example fig. 1).

In this matter, note that the mounting position of the device 1 (on a part of the conveyor 100 or on a carriage) is independent of the type of movement means used (linear motors 14, 15 or rotating rotor motors) notwithstanding the fact that the figures illustrate only a few examples of combinations among these characteristics.

Further, note that in the accompanying figures the detectors are preferably arranged externally of the carousel 3 and the advancement pathway P. However, in other embodiments that are not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the detectors might be arranged in the carousel 3 or the advancement pathway P or might be arranged one internally and one externally of the carousel 3 or the advancement pathway P.

Lastly, it should be noted that the first detector 6 and/or the second detector 8 is a TV camera or an optical sensor.

The preferred case, in which the first detector 6 and/or the second detector 8 is a TV camera, is particularly advantageous as images are captured of the whole external wall of the bottle.

The control unit receives these images and processes them with the aim of identifying the application position of a label. Following this, the control unit commands the support to carry out a rotation for bringing the bottle into the angular position for labelling.

Note that the above-described in relation to the presence of two detectors 6, 8 also extends to detecting devices 1 comprising more than two detectors (for example 3, 4, ...) which operate together. In other words, in an alternative embodiment of the detecting device 1 it comprises more than two detectors which superpose on one another for at least a part of the advancement pathway P and which alternate in following the containers in movement as described in the foregoing.

The present invention further relates to a conveyor 100 comprising the above-described device 1. In particular, all of the characteristics described in the foregoing are equally valid in relation to the conveyor 100 itself.

As already mentioned, the conveyor 100 can be a carousel 3 of a rotating type or a conveyor 100 of a straight or linear type. In this last case, the conveyor 100 comprises a guide 22 having a predefined profile and a plurality of carriages 21 slidable on said guide 22. Each support is mounted on a respective carriage and each carriage defines a linear motor 14 together with the guide. Regarding these characteristics, the description of document 1020 5000082929 belonging to the same Applicant from page 4 line 14 to page 7, line 6 which is incorporated and forms part and parcel of the present document. In this case, the step 5 of the conveyor 100 is of a variable type and therefore the movement zone of the detectors is predefined (for example it has a fixed length) independently of the step 5. As regards the functioning of the device 1 , initially the first detector 6 is arranged at the initial position PI while awaiting the arrival of the first container 2. When the first container 2 reaches the initial position PI, the first movement means 7 begin moving the first detector 6 in such a way that the detector 6 follows the first container 2. In the meantime, the first container 2 rotates due to the rotation of the support about itself, and the detector detects the lateral surface of the container 2. When the detector has carried out a complete detection of the lateral surface of the container 2 (360°) or when the detector detects a "spot" on the container 2, the control unit commands the movement means to halt movement of the first detector 6, and to return towards the initial position PI.

In the meantime, the second detector 8 is located in the initial position PI and begins moving in order to follow a second container 2 subsequent to the first, in a similar way to the previous operation of the first detector 6. In this way, it is possible

The present invention reaches the set objects.

In particular, the present invention enables limiting the application space of the detecting device 1 to a conveyor 100, which has two movable detectors at the same time in the superposed position. In this way, it is possible to exploit the same detecting space (preferably coinciding with the step 5 of the carousel 3) for moving two detectors which move according to a to-and-fro movement and alternate in detecting and following the containers 2.

In other words, each detector follows only one container 2 for each two, and therefore has more time and space to invert the direction of the motion in such a way as to prevent excessive stresses on the mechanical parts of the system. Therefore, each detector has available two steps of space of the conveyor 100 in order to carry out its manoeuvres.

Consequently, the present invention enables to improve the efficiency of the movement of the detectors and also enables the conveyor 100 to increase its working speed.