Claims:We claim:
1. A machine for contact-less inspection of codes on labelled cylindrical packings, comprising a carriage spaced above ground level for randomly oriented cylindrical packagings to move thereunder in upright position in a line and mounted to a support structure, a plurality of peripheral cameras disposed in a circle with respect to the centre of the carriage and radially spaced from one another at equal angular distances and focused towards the periphery of the packagings moving under the carriage, for capturing the product identifier codes on the labels at the periphery of the packagings, each of the peripheral cameras being associated with a peripheral light unit disposed focused towards the periphery of the packagings moving under the carriage, a top camera disposed above and concentric with the peripheral cameras, for capturing the top code at the top of the packagings, the top camera being associated with a top light unit disposed below and concentric with the top camera, the peripheral cameras and peripheral light units and the top camera and top light unit being mounted to the carriage and a control cum image processing unit connected to the cameras and the light units and configured and programmed to operate the cameras and light units and process the images of the codes captured by the cameras and display the operational status of the machine on a display unit simultaneously.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a base resting on the ground and a rectangular upstanding frame on the base, the upstanding frame having a pair of spaced vertical members interconnected at the top thereof by a top cross member and a canopy projecting inwardly from the top thereof and facing the base and a panel at the back thereof and a height adjustment cum guide mechanism mounted to the upstanding frame at the centre thereof and wherein the carriage is spaced above the base and mounted to the height adjustment cum guide mechanism and wherein the control cum image processing unit is housed in the panel and comprises a human-machine-interface with a keypad and wherein the display unit consists of a monitor located at the front side of the carriage and mounted to the upstanding frame and a status indicator mounted on the top cross member of the upstanding frame.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carriage consists of a rectangular vertical frame and a rectangular horizontal frame projecting from the vertical frame and facing the base and a cover mounted over the horizontal frame and wherein the height adjustment cum guide mechanism consists of a lead screw rotatably mounted at the centre of the upstanding frame between the two vertical members of the upstanding frame and in thread engagement with at least a pair of vertically spacedly disposed nuts, the top end of the lead screw projecting out through the top cross member of the upstanding frame and having a hand wheel at the top thereof and a pair of vertically spaced roller guide elements vertically slidably engaged to each vertical member of the upstanding frame and wherein the carriage is mounted to the nuts and the roller guide elements.
4. The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lead screw is in thread engagement with a digital position indicator located on the top cross member of the upstanding frame.

5. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upstanding frame consists of a flexible cable duct disposed at the front thereof, the lower end of the cable duct being fixed to the upstanding frame and the upper end of the cable duct being fixed the carriage for concealing electrical connection cables.

6. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base consists of castor wheels at the bottom thereof for mobility of the machine.

7. The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carriage cover consists of an openable front door and a viewing window in the front door

8. The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the carriage cover consists of a semicircular cut across the bottom centre thereof.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the indicator consists of a tower lamp having three differently coloured LEDs located one above another.

10. The machine as claimed in claim 1, which comprises six peripheral cameras disposed in a circle with respect to the centre of the carriage and radially spaced from one another at angular distance of 60o , six camera mounting arms, each being L-shaped and having a vertical limb with one peripheral camera attached to the lower end of the vertical limb and having a horizontal limb with a hole at the distal end thereof, six peripheral light units, each associated with a peripheral camera, six peripheral light unit mounting brackets, each having a peripheral light unit attached thereto, a top camera disposed above and concentric with the peripheral cameras and mounted to a top camera mounting bracket and a top light unit disposed below the top camera concentric with the top camera and mounted to the top camera mounting bracket and a radial length adjustment mechanism mounted to the carriage and holding the peripheral cameras radially adjustably and holding the peripheral light units and the top camera and top light unit in position.

11. The machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the radial length adjustment mechanism comprises a mounting plate disposed above the peripheral cameras, peripheral light units and top camera mounting bracket and having six rails mounted at the bottom thereof in a circle with respect to the centre thereof radially spaced from one another at angular distance of 60o and having six radial slots of equal radial length in an circle with respect to the centre thereof radially spaced from one another at angular distance of 60o, each rail being aligned with each radial slot short of the respective end of the respective radial slot and having an upstanding shaft rotatably mounted at the centre thereof, each horizontal limb of each peripheral camera mounting arm being radially slidably engaged in a rail with the hole in the respective horizontal limb protruding out of the respective rail, the peripheral light unit mounting brackets and the top camera mounting bracket being mounted at the bottom of the mounting plate, a cam plate rotatably located on the mounting plate with the shaft passing through the centre of the cam plate and the cam plate fixed to the shaft and rotatable with the cam plate, the cam plate having six curved cam grooves of equal sizes around the centre of the cam plate, each cam groove overlapping an adjacent cam groove radially upto the centre of curvature of the adjacent cam groove, the radial length between the centre of the cam plate to the centre of curvature of each of the grooves being equal, each of the cam grooves having a cam follower stud slidably engaged therein with the tip of the studs engaged in the holes at the distal ends of the horizontal limbs of the peripheral camera mounting arms, and a holder plate disposed over the cam plate and mounted to the carriage with the shaft freely rotatably protruding out of the holder plate, the holder plate having a plurality radial arms projecting therefrom radially spaced from one another, the radial arms being bent downwardly and inwardly to form holding lugs and engage over the mounting plate and hold the mounting plate with the cam plate, the top end of the shaft protruding out of the carriage and having a handle bush mounted thereto.

12. The machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting plate and cam plate are circular.

13. The machine as claimed in claim 1 10 or 11, wherein the cameras are digital cameras or smart cameras.

14. A packaging line for packaging a product in a cylindrical packaging in the pharmaceutical packaging industry including a conveyor mechanism for transporting the product along various work stations including a filling station for filling the product in a cylindrical primary packaging, a labelling station for labelling the primary packaging, an inspection station for contact-less inspection of a top code at the top of the primary packaging and a product identifier code on the label at the periphery of the primary packaging and a packaging station for collating the accurately labelled primary packagings and packing them in secondary or tertiary packagings, wherein the code inspection station comprises a machine for contact-less inspection of codes on the labelled cylindrical packagings as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a machine for contact-less inspection of codes on labelled cylindrical packagings

This invention particularly relates to a machine for contact-less inspection of top and peripherical codes on labelled and randomly oriented moving cylindrical packagings simultaneously.

This invention also relates to a packaging line for packaging a product in a cylindrical packaging in the pharmaceutical packaging industry comprising the above machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A packaging line or packaging system for packaging a product in the packaging industry, especially pharmaceutical packaging industry, includes a conveyor mechanism for transporting the product along various work stations including a filling station for filling the product in a cylindrical primary packaging, a labelling station for labelling the primary packaging, an inspection station (imaging station) for contact-less inspection of a top code at the top of the primary packaging and a product identifier code on the label at the periphery of the primary packaging and a packaging station for collating the accurately labelled primary packagings and packing them in secondary or tertiary packagings.

Pharmaceutical products in various forms such as capsules, powder, tablets, syrups and liquids are filled in primary packagings, generally cylindrical containers such as bottles, jars or vials (made of plastics or glass) and are closed or sealed at the filling station. Filled primary packagings are labelled at the labelling station, inspected for correctness of labelling at the inspection station and are collated and packed in the tertiary packagings such as shippers (large containers) or cartons or are shrink wrapped at the packaging station prior to transporting or shipping the products to destinations.

Labelling consists of providing a top code (topsert) at the top of the primary packagings and affixing labels at the periphery of the primary packagings. Labelling includes printing of product details at the periphery of the primary packagings. The top codes at the top of the primary packagings are reference codes and the labels at the periphery of the primary packagings include product identifier codes such as bar codes or 2-D codes. The top codes have a relation to the product identifier codes and enable identification of the packagings and the products in the packagings with reference to the product identifier codes on the labels.

The inspection station includes a top code inspection machine and a product identifier code inspection machine, both located in tandem in the order of the top code inspection machine followed by the product identifier code inspection machine or vice versa. The inspection station further includes an incorrectly labelled primary packaging rejector mechanism located before the packaging station.

In one version or design of the conveyor mechanism, a slat conveyor extends along the filling station, inspection station and packaging station and comprises an inlet end having a feed turntable disposed thereat and a discharge end having a discharge turntable disposed thereat. In another version or design of the conveyor mechanism, an endless linear conveyor extends along the various stations. The inspection machines and rejector mechanism are located at one side of the slat conveyor or endless conveyor, as the case may be.

The product identifier code inspection machine comprises a plurality of peripheral cameras disposed in a circle radially spaced at equal angular distances and corresponding number of peripheral light units mounted to a support frame. The peripheral cameras are focused towards the periphery of the packagings moving along the centre of the circle. Each peripheral camera is associated with each peripheral light unit directed towards the respective camera. The top inspection machine comprises a top camera disposed above and at the centre of the peripheral cameras and a top light unit below the top camera concentric therewith, both mounted to another support frame. The cameras are digital or smart cameras. The cameras and light units of both the machines are connected to a control cum image processing unit, which includes a display unit and a human-machine-interface (HMI) with a key pad or key board. The display unit consists of a monitor and a status indicator. The control cum image processing unit is configured and programmed to operate the cameras and light units and process the images of the codes captured by the cameras and display the operational status of the machines on the display unit.

During operation of the packaging line, labelled primary packagings move forward on the conveyor from the filling station to the packaging station via the inspection station in a line randomly oriented but in upright position. While passing through the top code inspection machine and the product identifier code inspection machine at the inspection station, the top camera captures the image of the top code at the top of the packagings and the peripheral cameras capture the image of the product identifier code on the labels at the periphery of the packagings, respectively and feed the information to the control cum image processing unit. The control cum image processing unit processes the images and compares the images with a reference top code and a reference product identifier code in the control cum image processing unit.

If the camera captured top code and product identifier code do not relate to each other, the control cum image processing unit activates the rejector mechanism to reject the respective primary packaging (failed or inaccurately labelled primary packaging) from the conveyor before it reaches the packaging station. Accurately and correctly labelled primary packagings (primary packagings having their top codes and product identifier codes relating to each other) proceed to the packaging station for collation and packaging into secondary packagings.

A packaging line comprising two inspection machines in tandem, requires large area for occupation of the machines. As a result, the foot print and space requirement for occupation of the machines and hence area of occupation of the packaging line are increased thereby rendering the machines and the packaging line bulky and increasing the cost. Installation cost of the two inspection machines also increases. The machines mounted or installed on site cannot be easily moved and used as retrofit in a different packaging line. As the top code and product identifier code are read sequentially after a time interval, the speed of operation of the packaging line is reduced thereby reducing throughput and productivity of the packaging line. Both the machines have to be separately connected to the control cum image processing unit. This is inconvenient, increases electrical connection cable cost and labour and renders the packaging line messy and clumsy. The machines also cannot handle primary packagings of different sizes as they do not have adjustability.

There is thus need for new or improved machines for contact-less reading or inspection of top code and product identifier code on labelled and randomly oriented moving cylindrical packagings simultaneously, which obviate the problems or disadvantages in the prior art and provide distinct advantages and benefits.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a machine for contact-less inspection of codes on labelled cylindrical packings, comprising a carriage spaced above ground level for randomly oriented cylindrical packagings to move thereunder in upright position in a line and mounted to a support structure, a plurality of peripheral cameras disposed in a circle with respect to the centre of the carriage and radially spaced from one another at equal angular distances and focused towards the periphery of the packagings moving under the carriage, for capturing the product identifier codes on the labels at the periphery of the packagings, each of the peripheral cameras being associated with a peripheral light unit disposed focused towards the periphery of the packagings moving under the carriage, a top camera disposed above and concentric with the peripheral cameras, for capturing the top code at the top of the packagings, the top camera being associated with a top light unit disposed below and concentric with the top camera, the peripheral cameras and peripheral light units and the top camera and top light unit being mounted to the carriage and a control cum image processing unit connected to the cameras and the light units and configured and programmed to operate the cameras and light units and process the images of the codes captured by the cameras and display the operational status of the machine on a display unit simultaneously.

According to the invention there is provided a packaging line for packaging a product in the pharmaceutical packaging industry including a conveyor mechanism for transporting the product along various work stations including a filling station for filling the product in a cylindrical primary packaging, a labelling station for labelling the primary packaging, an inspection station for contact-less inspection of a top code at the top of the primary packaging and a product identifier code on the label at the periphery of the primary packaging and a packaging station for collating the accurately labelled primary packagings and packing them in secondary or tertiary packagings, wherein the inspection station comprises a machine for contact-less inspection of codes on the labelled cylindrical packagings as described above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig 1 of the drawings is a schematic isometric or perspective view of the machine for contact-less inspection of top and peripherical codes on labelled and randomly oriented moving cylindrical packagings simultaneously according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig 2 of the drawings is a schematic isometric or perspective view of the support structure of the machine of Fig 1;

Fig 3 of the drawings is a schematic isometric or perspective view of the upstanding frame of the machine of Fig 1 with the height adjustment cum guide mechanism and carriage and without the carriage cover;

Fig 4 of the drawings is an isometric or perspective view of the height adjustment cum guide mechanism and carriage without the carriage cover of the machine of Fig 1;

Fig 5 of the drawings is an isometric or perspective view of the carriage cover of the machine of Fig 1;

Fig 6 of the drawings is an isometric or perspective view of the peripheral cameras and peripheral light units and top camera and top light unit and radial length adjustment mechanism of the machine of Fig 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig 7 of the drawings is a sectional view of the cameras, light units and radial length adjustment mechanism of Fig 6;

Fig 8 of the drawings is a top view of the cam plate of the radial length adjustment mechanism of Fig 6;

Fig 9 of the drawings is an exploded view of the cameras and light units and radial length adjustment mechanism of Fig 6; and

Fig 10 is a view from the bottom in Fig 6.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the machine 1 for contact-less inspection of top and peripheral codes on labelled and randomly oriented moving cylindrical packagings simultaneously as illustrated in Figs 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings, installed at the inspection station of a packaging line for packaging a product in a packaging industry, comprises a carriage 2 mounted to a support structure 3. The support structure comprises a base 4 with castor wheels 5 and resting on the ground or floor and a rectangular upstanding frame 6 on the base and having a pair of spaced vertical members 7, 7 interconnected at the top thereof by a top cross member 8 having a centre hole 9. The upstanding frame 6 includes a panel 10 at the back thereof having an access opening (not shown) with or without a door (not shown). A canopy 11 projects inwardly from the top of the upstanding frame and faces the base. The base supports the upstanding frame on the ground and provides stability to the machine. (Figs 1, 2, 3).

A lead screw 12 is vertically rotatably mounted at the centre of the upstanding frame 6 between the two vertical members 7,7 of the upstanding frame in a bottom bearing 13 and a top bearing 14. The bottom bearing is fixed to a transverse member 15 which in turn is fixed to the vertical members. The top bearing is fixed to the top cross member 8. The lead screw is in thread engagement with a pair of vertically spacedly disposed nuts 16,16. The top end of the lead screw projects out through the hole 9 in the top cross member of the upstanding frame and has a hand wheel 17 at the top thereof. A pair of vertically spaced roller guide elements 18 are vertically slidably engaged to each vertical member of the upstanding frame. Each roller guide element consists of a pair of spaced rollers 19, 19 fixed to a support element 20. The spacing between each pair of rollers corresponds to the width of each vertical member such that the rollers are engaged to the vertical members in sliding contact therewith (Figs 1, 2, 3, 4).

The carriage 2 is spaced above the base 4 and consists of a rectangular vertical frame 21 and a rectangular horizontal frame 22 projecting from the vertical frame and facing the base. A cover 23 is mounted over the horizontal frame on a bracket 24 extending across the horizontal frame. The carriage cover is mounted to the extensions 25, 25 at the ends of the bracket 24. The bracket 24 has a hole 26 at the centre thereof. The cover consists of an openable front door 27 with a handle 28 and a viewing window 29 in the front door. The carriage cover also consists of a semi-circular cut 30 across the bottom centre thereof and a centre hole 31 through the top thereof. The space between the base and carriage is marked 32 (Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

The carriage 2 is mounted to the nuts 16, 16 and each pair of roller guide elements 18, 18 are slidably engaged to each of the vertical members 7, 7 of the upstanding frame 6. On rotating the hand wheel 17 at the top of the lead screw 12 in one direction, say in the clockwise direction, the lead screw rotates in the nuts in the same direction at the same position. As a result, the nuts move up on the lead screw along with the carriage. On rotating the lead screw in the opposite direction, say in the anticlockwise direction, the lead screw rotates in the nuts in the same direction at the same position and the nuts move down on the lead screw along with the carriage. Thus by operating the hand wheel, the carriage can be adjusted on the upstanding frame vertically with respect to the base and the space 32 between the base and carriage can be adjusted. The viewing window 29 in the front door 27 of the carriage cover 23 provides visibility inside the carriage from outside the carriage. The openable front door 27 of the carriage cover provides accessibility into the carriage.

The lead screw 12 passes through and is in thread engagement with a digital position indicator 33 located on the top cross member 8 of the upstanding frame 6. When the lead screw is rotated the rotational movement of the lead screw is converted into a corresponding linear displacement and indicated by the digital position indicator. Therefore, the up and down movement of the nuts with the carriage on the lead screw with respect to the base and hence the space 32 between the carriage and the base can be adjusted and controlled with the hand wheel 17.

A mounting plate 34 is disposed in the carriage cover 23 concentrically with the carriage 2 and above a plurality of peripheral cameras 35 arranged in a circle with respect to the centre of the mounting plate and radially spaced from one another at equal angular distances. The peripheral cameras are associated with corresponding number of peripheral camera mounting arms 36. Each peripheral camera mounting arm is L-shaped having a vertical limb 37 with one peripheral camera attached to the lower end of the vertical limb and a horizontal limb 38 with a hole 39 at the distal end thereof. The peripheral cameras are associated with corresponding number of peripheral light units 40. Each peripheral light unit is associated with a peripheral light unit mounting bracket 41. Each peripheral light unit mounting bracket has a peripheral light unit attached thereto. A top camera 42 is disposed above the peripheral cameras concentric therewith and mounted to a top camera mounting bracket 43. A top light unit 44 is disposed below the top camera concentric with the top camera and mounted to the top camera mounting bracket 43 (Figs 6, 7, 9, 10).

The mounting plate 34 has a plurality of rails or channels 45 mounted at the bottom thereof in a circle with respect to the centre of the mounting plate radially spaced at equal angular distances. The mounting plate also has a plurality of radial slots 46 of equal radial length in a circle with respect to the centre of the mounting plate radially spaced at equal angular distance. The number peripheral cameras match to the number of rails and radial slots. Each rail is aligned with each radial slot short of the respective end of the respective radial slot. An upstanding shaft 47 is rotatably mounted at the centre of the mounting plate. Each horizontal limb 38 of each peripheral camera mounting arm 36 is radially slidably engaged in a rail with the hole 39 in the respective horizontal limb protruding out of the respective rail. The peripheral light unit mounting brackets 41 and the top camera mounting bracket 43 are mounted at the bottom of the mounting plate.

A cam plate 48 is rotatably located on the mounting plate 34 with the shaft 47 passing through hole 49 at the centre of the cam plate and the cam plate fixed to the shaft and rotatable with the cam plate. The cam plate has a plurality of curved cam grooves 50 of equal sizes around the centre of the cam plate. The number of cam grooves correspond to the number of peripheral cameras. Each cam groove overlap an adjacent cam groove upto the centre of the adjacent cam groove and the radial length between the centre of the cam plate to the centre of curvature of each of the cam grooves is equal. Each of the cam grooves 50 has a cam follower stud 51 slidably engaged therein with the tip of the studs engaged in the holes 39 at the distal ends of the horizontal limbs 38 of the peripheral camera mounting arms 36 (Figs 7, 8, 9).

A holder plate 52 is disposed over the cam plate 48 and mounted to the carriage with the shaft 47 freely rotatably passing through a centre hole 53 in the holder plate. The holder plate has a plurality of radial arms 54 projecting therefrom radially spaced from one another. The radial arms are bent downwardly and inwardly to form holding lugs 55 and engage over the mounting plate 34 and hold the mounting plate with the cam plate 48. The top end of the shaft 47 protrudes out of the carriage through the centre hole 26 in the bracket 24 and corresponding centre hole 31 in the carriage cover 23. A handle bush 56 is mounted to the top end of the shaft (Figs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9).

On rotating the shaft 47 with the handle bush 56 in one direction, say in the clockwise direction, the cam plate 48 rotates in the clockwise direction with the shaft and the studs 51 engaged in the cam grooves 50 slide inwardly in the cam grooves with the horizontal limbs 38 of the peripheral camera mounting arms 36 guided in the rails 45. As a result, the peripheral camera mounting arms 36 with the peripheral cameras 35 move radially inwardly as the tips of the studs 51 are engaged in the holes 39 at the distal ends of the horizontal limbs 38 of the peripheral camera mounting arms 36. On rotating the handle bush in the opposite direction, say in the anticlockwise direction, the cam plate rotates in the opposite direction, say in the anticlockwise direction with the shaft and the studs in the cam grooves move radially outwardly in the cam grooves with the horizontal limbs 38 of the peripheral camera mounting arms 36 guided in the rails 45. As a result, the peripheral camera mounting arms with the peripheral cameras move radially outwardly as the tips of the studs are engaged in the hole at the distal ends of the horizontal limbs of the peripheral camera mounting arms. Thus the peripheral cameras can be adjusted radially in-out by operating the handle bush by a radial length limited by the radial slots 46 in the mounting plate 34.

Because the cam grooves 50 are of equal sizes and are around the centre of the cam plate 48 and overlapping one another radially with the radial length between the centre of the cam plate to the centre of curvature of each of the cam grooves equal as stated earlier, and because the radial slots 46 in the mounting plate 34 are of equal sizes, the radial displacement or movement of the peripheral cameras 35 in-out can be equally or uniformly controlled by equal distances or lengths.

The machine includes a control cum image processing unit comprising a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) housed in the panel 10 of the upstanding frame 6 and a display unit having a monitor 57 located at the front side of the carriage 2 and mounted to the upstanding frame 6 with a bracket 58 and a status indicator tower lamp 59 mounted on the top cross member 8 of the upstanding frame. The tower lamp consists of 3 LEDs (light emitting diodes) 59a, 59b, 59c. The control cum image processing unit also includes a human-machine-interface (HMI) with a key pad or key board (not shown) connected to the CPU. The control cum image processing unit is configured and programmed in known manner and functions in known manner. Therefore, the control cum image processing unit is not illustrated and described in detail as it is not necessary to understand the invention.

The control cum image processing unit is connected to the cameras, light units and display unit for operation thereof. The machine includes a flexible duct 60 provided at the front of the machine between the base and the carriage for concealing the electrical connection cables connecting the cameras and the light units and the display unit to the control cum image processing unit. Concealment of the control cum image processing unit in the panel 10 of the upstanding frame 6 and electrical connection cables in the flexible duct 60 provide a very neat and aesthetic look to the machine. The lower end of the flexible duct is fixed to the upstanding frame and the upper end of the flexible duct is fixed to the carriage. The flexibility of the duct allows up and down movement of the carriage.

The machine of the invention is located in a packaging line at the inspection station between the labelling station and the packaging station and at one side of the conveyor mechanism conveying or transporting labelled and randomly oriented cylindrical packagings in an upright position. During operation of the packaging line, the control cum image processing unit senses the proximity of a cylindrical packaging approaching the carriage 2, and turns on the cameras and light units. When the cylindrical packaging is at the centre of the peripheral cameras, the top camera captures the image of the top code at the top of the cylindrical packaging and the peripheral cameras capture the images of the label at the periphery of the cylindrical packaging within the plane of view of the respective cameras.

The images captured by the peripheral cameras are stitched together into a continuous image of the label by the control cum image processing unit. The control cum image processing unit reads the product identifier code from the continuous image of the label. The image of the top code captured by the top camera and the image of the product identifier code in the label captured by the peripheral cameras are compared with a reference top code image and a reference product identifier code image in the control cum processing unit. If the camera captured top code and product identifier code in the label do not match with the reference codes and do not relate to each other, the control cum image processing unit activates a rejector mechanism (not shown) located prior to the packaging station to reject the failed primary packaging from the conveyor mechanism before reaching the packaging station. If the camera captured top code and product identifier code match with the references code and relate to each other, the control cum image processing unit signals to the packaging station accordingly and the accurately and correctly labelled primary packaging proceeds to the packaging station for collation and packaging into secondary packings.

The failed packaging rejector mechanism has not been illustrated and described as it is not a part of the invention and is not necessary for understanding the invention. The height of the carriage and hence the cameras and the light units mounted to the carriage with respect to the base is adjusted to adjust the space between the cameras and light units by operating the hand wheel as explained earlier to facilitate inspection of cylindrical packagings of different heights in the machine. The peripheral cameras are adjusted radially in-out as explained earlier to facilitate inspection of cylindrical packagings of different sizes in the machine. The semi-circular cut across the bottom centre of the carriage cover facilitates free movement of the primary packaging underneath the carriage. The access opening at the back of the panel 10 provides accessibility to the control cum image processing unit.

The operational status of the machine can be monitored on the monitor 57. LED 59a of the tower lamp 59 is coloured preferably yellow to indicate that the machine is ready for operation. LED 59b of the tower lamp is preferably coloured green to indicate that the machine is in operation. LED 59c of the tower lamp is preferably coloured red to indicate mismatch between the top code and product identifier code of a primary packaging as captured by the cameras and rejection of the packaging. The keypad of the HMI unit helps to manually interact with the control cum image processing unit and give or edit instructions to the CPU of the control cum image processing unit. The cameras are, preferably, digital cameras or smart cameras. The smart cameras are expensive as compared to digital cameras. Therefore, in order to reduce cost digital cameras are preferable to smart cameras.

According to the invention two independent machines, one top code inspection machine and the other product identifier code inspection machine, both functioning independently installed at the inspection station of a packaging line, have been eliminated. The machine of the invention installed at the inspection station of a packaging line reads and captures the top and product identifier codes of labelled cylindrical packagings simultaneously. Therefore, the processing time is substantially reduced and throughput and productivity of the packaging line is increased. The foot print and space for occupation of the machine and the area of layout of the packaging line are significantly reduced. The machine of the invention is compact and cost effective as compared to two independent existing machines. Reduction in the space requirement also reduces cost of the machine and packaging line. The castor wheels at the base of the machine provide portability and mobility to the machine. Because of the mobility of the machine, it is easy to move it from place to place and it can also be used as a retrofit in an existing packaging line. It is also easily possible to adjust the position of the machine in a packaging line after installation of the machine. Height adjustment of the carriage and cameras and light units and radial length adjustment of the peripheral cameras facilitate reading of top code and product identifier codes of labelled packagings of different heights and sizes.

Several variations of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings can be realized without deviating from the scope and essence or spirit of the invention. The carriage and peripheral cameras can be mounted in position without being adjustable. The support structure can be of a different construction and configuration. The castor wheels for the base are optional. The castor wheels can be height adjustable for height adjustment and level adjustment of the machine. The carriage can be of a different construction and configuration. The viewing window in the carriage cover can be a transparent portion. The openable door of the carriage cover can be fitted with door opening and closing mechanism. The bracket for mounting the monitor can be of a different construction and configuration. The bracket can be adjustable on the upstanding frame. The monitor can be adjustable on the monitor mounting bracket. The cable duct and panel of the upstanding frame are optional. The tower lamp configuration can be different. The colour combination of the LEDs can be different. There can be more than 3 LEDs. The tower lamp may include a hooter or audio alarm.

The height adjustment mechanism for the carriage can be of a different construction and configuration. The carriage can be guided with a different guide mechanism. The roller guide element can be of a different construction and configuration. The lead screw can be mounted in the upstanding frame laterally adjustably to adjust the position of the carriage laterally with respect to the base ie inwardly and outwardly with respect to the base in the horizontal plane. There can be more than two nuts to mount the carriage. The radial length adjustment mechanism for the in-out adjustment of the peripheral cameras can be of a different construction and configuration. The number of peripheral cameras and corresponding peripheral light units can vary. The canopy of the support structure can be provided with eye bolts to facilitate lifting and handling of the machine. The digital position indicator can be of a different design.

Such variations in the construction and configuration of the machine of the invention can be configured and executed by a man skilled in the art without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, such variations in the construction and configuration of the machine should be construed and understood to be within the scope of the machine. The appended claims define the scope of the machine of the invention.