Device and method for continuously inspecting containers

An inspection device for continuously inspecting fed containers, in particular bottles, comprising:

• a feed conveying device configured to feed containers to the inspection device in succession,
• a discharge conveying device configured to discharge the inspected containers,
• a throughput station for the containers, which is arranged between the feed conveying device and the discharge conveying device, and
• a bottom inspection station in an area of the throughput station, said bottom inspection station being configured to inspect bottoms of passing containers,
• wherein the throughput station comprises a conveyor arrangement with an individual drive and a plurality of conveying units, which are movable by means of the individual drive individually and independently of one another, the conveyor arrangement being configured to convey the containers from the feed conveying device to the discharge conveying device,
• wherein the individual drive is a linear motor drive,
• wherein the plurality of conveying units are configured as carriages, which are movable individually and independently of one another via magnetic interaction with the linear motor drive, and
• wherein the conveyor arrangement additionally comprises an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit, which is configured to move the conveying units from a pick-up site for the containers at the feed conveying device to a discharge site for the containers at the discharge conveying device.