# US 12,768,796 B2 · Container inspection device and blister packaging machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,796 B2 - Document ID: US12768796B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/265,532 - Filed: 2025-07-10 - Published: 2025-11-06 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-02-24 - Assignees: Ckd Corporation - Applicants: Ckd Corporation - Inventors: Yukihiro Taguchi; Shiori Imaizumi; Shozo Oda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768796B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/9054: {Inspection of sealing surface and container finish} - B65B 9/045: {for single articles, e.g. tablets} - B65B 41/12: Feeding webs from rolls - B65B 57/00: Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) - B65D 75/367: {and forming several compartments} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A container inspection device includes: an irradiator that irradiates, with light, containers transferred in an arrangement of multiple lines; an imaging sensor that images the radiated light; optical path conversion sheets that convert an optical path of the light; an imaging optical system that forms an image of the light along the converted optical path onto the imaging sensor; and a hardware processor that identifies whether the side walls include a defect based on image data obtained from the light imaged on the imaging sensor. The optical path conversion sheets are laid across the multiple lines. The optical path conversion sheets respectively correspond to the side wall areas, and each of the optical path conversion sheets converts the optical path of the light reflected from or transmitted through a corresponding one of the side wall areas into an optical path along an optical axis of the imaging optical system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container inspection device, comprising: an irradiator that irradiates, with predetermined light, a plurality of containers transferred in an arrangement of multiple lines; an imaging sensor that images the light radiated from the irradiator; optical path conversion sheets that convert an optical path of the light radiated from the irradiator and reflected from or transmitted through side wall areas that extend in a circumferential direction of side walls of each of the containers; an imaging optical system that forms an image of the light along the optical path converted by the optical path conversion sheets, onto the imaging sensor; and a hardware processor that identifies whether the side walls include a defect, based on image data obtained from the light imaged on the imaging sensor, wherein the optical path conversion sheets are laid across the multiple lines of the containers when viewed from an imaging sensor side, and disposed along a transfer direction of the containers, the optical path conversion sheets respectively correspond to the side wall areas, and each of the optical path conversion sheets converts the optical path of the light reflected from or transmitted through a corresponding one of the side wall areas into an optical path along an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and the side wall areas respectively corresponding to the optical path conversion sheets cover an entire circumference of the side walls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging optical system serves as an object-side telecentric optical system and comprise a diaphragm that regulates the light imaged on the imaging sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging optical system comprises an object-side lens that focuses the light along the optical path converted by the optical path conversion sheets, and the object-side lens is a Fresnel lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the optical path conversion sheets has a surface with protrusions arranged in parallel to one another, and each of the protrusions comprises: a vertical face having an angle of not less than 80 degrees and not greater than 95 degrees with respect to a flat rear face of each of the optical path conversion sheets in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the protrusions; and an inclined face having an angle of not less than 10 degrees and not greater than 55 degrees with respect to the rear face in the cross section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the irradiator is disposed between the optical path conversion sheets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the containers are connected with one another by a flange portion extending outward from respective edges of the side walls, the imaging optical system forms an image of light reflected from or transmitted through the flange portion, from between the optical path conversion sheets, onto the imaging sensor, and the hardware processor identifies whether the flange portion includes a defect, based on the image data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging optical system forms an image of light reflected from or transmitted through a bottom wall of each of the containers, from between the optical path conversion sheets, onto the imaging sensor, and the hardware processor identifies whether the bottom wall includes a defect, based on the image data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A blister packaging machine that manufactures a blister sheet, the blister packaging machine comprising: a pocket portion forming device that forms pocket portions to be arranged in multiple lines in a belt-shaped container film; a roll that transfers the container film; a filling device that fills each of the pocket portions with a content; and the container inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the container inspection device is disposed between the pocket portion forming device and the filling device along a transfer path of the container film, and identifies whether the side walls of each of the pocket portions include a defect.