US 12,748,010 B2Granted

System for detecting leaked gas from containers

AssigneeFt System S.R.L.

InventorFabio Forestelli

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Abstract

A system for detecting leaks from containers is provided. The system comprises conveying means including at least one inlet conveyor belt and being configured to transport containers, already filled with a given food and sealed, to an inspection zone. The system further comprises an inspection apparatus, configured to test the tightness of containers arrived at the inspection zone. The inspection apparatus comprises extraction means and suction means, configured to induce the release of volatile substances from each container arrived at the inspection zone and suck in gas surrounding each of the containers and any volatile substances leaked from the containers. The inspection apparatus also including detection means configured to analyze the sucked-in gas and detect the presence of any volatile substances leaked from the containers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system (10;

510) for detecting leaks from containers, the system comprising:
conveying means, comprising at least one inlet conveyor belt (11a, 11b;
111;
511), said means being configured to transport containers (1), already filled with a given food and sealed, to an inspection zone (25;
525), and
an inspection apparatus (30;
530), configured to test the tightness of containers (1) arrived at the inspection zone (25;
525), said inspection apparatus (30;
530) comprising extraction means configured to induce the release of volatile substances from each container (1) arrived at the inspection zone (25;
525), suction means configured to suck in gas surrounding each of said containers (1) and any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1), and detection means configured to analyze the sucked-in gas and detect the presence of any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1),
wherein the extraction means of the inspection apparatus (30;
530) comprise one or more plungers (31), movably mounted in respective seats (34), said plungers (31) being configured to move from a raised position, in which an upper surface (31a) of the plungers (31) is adapted to receive a container (1), and a lowered position, in which the container (1) is carried into the seat (34) of the plunger (31),
wherein the inspection apparatus (30;
530) further comprises a cover (37) configured to close said seats (34) when the containers (1) are within the seats (34), whereby each container (1) is enclosed within a respective chamber (41) defined by the upper surface (31a) of the respective plunger (31), the respective seat (34), and the cover (37),
wherein a respective channel (32) is formed within each plunger (31), each channel (32) having an end (32a) open towards the upper surface (31a) of the respective plunger (31) and being connected to the suction means, said suction means being configured to suck in gas from the seat (34) associated with the respective plunger (31), through the channel (32) of the plunger and the open end thereof (32a), and
wherein each channel (32) is further connected to the detection means.

13 more elements

A system (210;

310;
410;
610) for detecting leaks from containers, the system comprising:
conveying means, comprising at least one inlet conveyor belt (211;
311a, 311b;
411;
611), said means being configured to transport containers (1), already filled with a given food and sealed, to an inspection zone (225;
325;
425;
625), and
an inspection apparatus (230;
330;
430;
630), configured to test the tightness of containers (1) arrived at the inspection zone (225;
325;
425;
625), said inspection apparatus (230;
330;
430;
630) comprising extraction means configured to induce the release of volatile substances from each container (1) arrived at the inspection zone (225;
325;
425;
625), suction means configured to suck in gas surrounding each of said containers (1) and any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1), and detection means configured to analyze the sucked-in gas and detect the presence of any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1),
wherein the extraction means (230;
330;
430;
630) of the inspection apparatus comprise one or more grippers (255;
355, 356;
455) and respective ducts (269;
369;
469),
wherein each gripper (255;
355, 356;
455) comprises two jaws (258, 259;
357, 358, 359;
458, 459) configured to be moved from an open position to a closed compression position, in which they compress, in the inspection zone (225;
325;
425;
625), a respective container (1) located between said jaws (258, 259;
357, 358, 359;
458, 459),
wherein each duct (269;
369;
469) has an end (269a;
369a) open towards the inspection zone (225;
325;
425;
625) and connected to the suction means, said suction means being configured to suck in gas surrounding the containers (1) compressed by the grippers (255;
355, 356;
455) through the respective ducts (269;
369;
469) and the open ends thereof (269a;
369a), and
wherein each duct (269;
369;
469) is further connected to the detection means.

53 more elements

A system (10;

210;
310) for detecting leaks from containers, the system comprising:
conveying means, comprising at least one inlet conveyor belt (11a, 11b;
111;
211;
311a, 311b), said means being configured to transport containers (1), already filled with a given food and sealed, to an inspection zone (25;
225;
325), and
an inspection apparatus (30;
230;
330), configured to test the tightness of containers (1) arrived at the inspection zone (25;
225;
325), said inspection apparatus (30;
230;
330) comprising extraction means configured to induce the release of volatile substances from each container (1) arrived at the inspection zone (25;
225;
325), suction means configured to suck in gas surrounding each of said containers (1) and any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1), and detection means configured to analyze the sucked-in gas and detect the presence of any volatile substances leaked from said containers (1),
wherein the conveying means further comprise a star conveyor (20;
120;
220;
320), configured to receive the containers (1) arriving from the at least one inlet conveyor belt (11a, 11b;
111;
211;
311a, 311b), and
wherein the star conveyor (20;
120;
220;
320) comprises a fixed slider plate (21;
221;
321), on which the containers (1) received from the at least one inlet conveyor belt (11a, 11b;
111;
211;
311a, 311b) rest, and a rotating disk (22;
122;
222;
322), comprising a plurality of radial compartments (23a, 23b;
123;
223;
323a, 323b), each configured to receive, in an entry zone (24;
124;
224;
324) of the star conveyor (20;
120;
220;
320), a group (G) of containers (1) arriving from the at least one inlet conveyor belt (11a, 11b;
111;
211;
311a, 311b), and to move said group (G) of containers (1), by means of the rotation of the rotating disk (22;
122;
222;
322), dragging and sliding the containers (1) on the fixed slider plate (21;
221;
321) so that they reach the inspection zone (25;
225;
325).

52 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.