US 12,422,375 B2
Inspection unit for cans and method for determining the quality of cans
Mark Andrews, Sparks, NV (US); Dave Donegan, Reno, NV (US); and Keith Scott, Reno, NV (US)
Assigned to H&T RECHARGEABLE SOLUTIONS GMBH, Marsberg (DE)
Appl. No. 18/701,751
Filed by H&T Rechargeable Solutions GmbH, Marsberg (DE)
PCT Filed Jun. 17, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/066565
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 16, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/066532, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 27, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/256,739, filed on Oct. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0426764 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 21/90 (2006.01); G01N 21/88 (2006.01); G01N 21/84 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/909 (2013.01) [G01N 21/8851 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8411 (2013.01); G01N 2021/845 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection unit for cans, comprising:
a visual inspection unit comprising a plurality of camera units which define a visual inspection area in which the cans are visually inspected by a plurality of camera units;
a conveying unit for conveying the cans through the visual inspection area,
wherein the conveying unit and the plurality camera units are coordinated such that images of the individual cans are captureable in the visual inspection area by different camera units of the plurality of camera units from different viewing angles, and
wherein the conveying unit and the plurality of camera units are coordinated such that the plurality of camera units each capture a plurality of cans simultaneously in an image, the image comprising a plurality of image portions, the image portions including images of an outer surface portion of each of said plurality of cans from a different viewing angle,
wherein the image portions captured by said plurality of camera units include images of outer side surface portions and the outer bottom surface portion of each of said plurality of cans, the sum of the images of the outer side surface portions covering the entire outer side surface of the can; and
a processing unit operatively coupled to the plurality of camera units, the processing unit configured to process the captured images portions for each of said plurality of cans and to determine an inspection result, wherein determining the inspection result comprises comparing image parameters to predetermined parameters;
a tube assembly with a plurality of tubes and a tray, wherein the conveying unit is adapted to convey the cans into the tubes after the visual inspection in such a way that the tubes receive one can each,
wherein the tubes are adapted to guide the cans onto the tray by gravity, and wherein the tubes are at least partially inclined in the direction of fall so that the distance between adjacent cans on the tray is smaller than on the conveying unit; and
wherein the inspection unit is adapted to shift the tray relative to the tube assembly after a first filling operation to place cans in a second filling operation between cans placed on the tray during the first filling operation.