US 12,226,804 B2
Support for transporting containers in a microwave inspection device and a device and method of inspection of containers using the support
Andrea Biondi, Bologna (IT); Luca Cavazza, Bologna (IT); Luca Cerati, Bologna (IT); Claudia De Maria, Bologna (IT); Giacomo Noferini, Castenaso (IT); Stefano Sinigardi, Roncoferraro (IT); and Noemi Zordan, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to G.D S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
Appl. No. 17/922,260
Filed by G.D S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/056431
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/038430, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000018712 (IT), filed on Aug. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173547 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B07C 5/34 (2006.01); B07C 5/344 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/344 (2013.01) [B65G 2201/0261 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection device for inspecting containers, each containing a dose of a product in powder or granular form for preparation of a food product; the device comprising:
a conveyor including a plurality of supports for transporting containers, each of the supports comprising: a supporting body which is movable along a feed path;
at least two receiving seats detached from each other and connected to a top of the supporting body to be moved along said feed path;
wherein said supporting body has two or more supporting portions which are at least partly separated from each other by one or more openings and each of the supporting portions carrying at least one respective receiving seat, said supporting portions being connected or integral with each other in a lower region of the supporting body;
the conveyor configured for moving said receiving seats along the feed path between a loading station for loading containers inside the receiving seats and an unloading station for unloading the containers from the receiving seats;
a detection station located along said feed path between the loading station and the unloading station and configured to inspect each container while the container is supported and moved by said support of the conveyor;
wherein said detecting station comprises a microwave detector including a detection zone through which said containers pass one after the other in succession.