FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of food and pharmaceutical
packaging, and more particularly to a method for detecting the airtightness of a
bottle stopper.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Currently, capping machine or filling- sealing machine needs to detect the
airtightness of a bottle stopper after added a bottle stopper. In common,
detection method is to detect the actual perpendicular height between a
bottleneck and a highest point of a bottle stopper first, and then compared it
with a standard perpendicular height; If the actual perpendicular height is greater
than the standard perpendicular height, determining that the airtightness of the
bottle stopper is unqualified, otherwise qualified. However, at present even for
the same specifications of the glass bottle, there is a certain error both between
bottlenecks and bottle stoppers. So in this method, the certain error between
bottle stoppers will impact influence upon the accuracy of detection, sometimes
lead to misjudgments. In the freeze-drying process, the bottle stopper in a
negative pressure is sucked into the bottleneck. The method of detecting the
perpendicular height between a bottleneck and a highest point of a bottle
stopper, and then comparing with a standard perpendicular height is not
accurate. The actual perpendicular height is always within the preset value, but in
fact, there is a clearance; as for freeze-dried products, if the airtightness
detection is not accurate, it is easy to lead to drug failure, causing serious
consequences for patients.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The invention is advantageous in that it provides a method for detecting the
airtightness of a bottle stopper, which has high detection efficiency and high
detection accuracy.
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According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and
advantages are attained by the following method.
A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper, comprising the
following steps: detecting the maximum perpendicular height H1 between the
upper surface of a bottleneck of a bottle body on which a bottle stopper is added
and the lower surface of a bottle stopper cap of the bottle stopper; and if H1 is
greater than a preset first standard height threshold, determining that the
airtightness of the bottle stopper is unqualified.
An improvement of the present invention:
The method comprises determining whether H1 is greater than the preset
first standard height threshold; and if H1 is not greater than the preset first
standard height threshold, detecting the maximum horizontal width L1 between
the outer edge of the bottle stopper and the inner wall of the bottleneck; and if
L1 is greater than a preset standard width threshold, determining that the
airtightness of the bottle stopper is unqualified.
The method comprises determining whether L1 is greater than the preset
standard width threshold; and if L1 is not greater than the preset standard width
threshold, detecting the maximum perpendicular height H2 between the upper
face of the bottleneck and the upper face of the bottle stopper cap of the bottle
stopper; and if H2 is greater than a preset second standard height threshold,
determining that the airtightness of the bottle stopper is unqualified, otherwise it
is qualified.
The method comprises determining whether H1 is greater than the preset
first standard height threshold; and if H1 is not greater than the preset first
standard height threshold, detecting the maximum perpendicular height H2
between the upper face of the bottleneck and the upper face of the bottle
stopper cap of the blotter stopper; and if H2 is greater than a preset second
standard height threshold, determining that the airtightness of the bottle stopper
is unqualified, otherwise it is qualified..
The method comprises determining whether H2 is greater than the preset
second standard height threshold; and if H2 is not greater than the preset second
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standard height threshold, detecting the maximum horizontal width L1 between
the outer edge of the bottle stopper and the inner wall of the bottleneck; and if
L1 is greater than a preset standard width threshold, determining that the
airtightness of the bottle stopper is unqualified, otherwise it is qualified.
H1 or L1 is detected by a plurality of picture acquisition devices, wherein the
pluralities of picture acquisition devices are arranged in the circumferential
direction of the bottle stopper.
There are two picture acquisition devices, wherein the two picture
acquisition devices are arranged at 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of
the bottle stopper.
H1 or L1 of the rotating bottle 1 is detected by a picture acquisition device.
H1 or L1 is detected by a picture acquisition device, wherein the picture
acquisition device is rotatable in the circumferential direction of the bottle
stopper.
The picture acquisition device is a machine vision camera.
Comparing with the current technology, the advantages of the present
invention are described as follows:
The method for detecting airtightness of the bottle stopper in the present
invention, detecting the maximum perpendicular height H1 between the upper
surface of a bottleneck of a bottle body and the lower surface of a bottle stopper
cap of the bottle stopper, that is, the clearance height between the bottle
stopper and the bottleneck. It is quickly to detect most of the unqualified bottles,
in the meanwhile, avoiding the effect which impacted by the height error of the
bottle stopper itself on the accuracy of the detection. The detection efficiency
and detection accuracy are high. And the method further comprises: detecting
the maximum horizontal width L1 between the outer edge of the bottle stopper
and the inner wall of the bottleneck, and detecting the maximum vertical height
H2 between the upper surface of the bottle stopper cap of the bottle stopper and
the upper surface of the bottleneck. The detection range is wider, more
comprehensive. The detection accuracy is further improved, avoiding drug failure
caused by air tightness failure.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a flow chart of the method according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a flow chart of the method according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
Figure 3 is a flow chart of the method according to a third embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the parameters when a bottle stopper is not
completely inserted in the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the parameters of one side when the bottle
stopper is cocked in the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the parameters of the other side when the
stopper is cocked in the present invention.
Reference numerals in FIG are as follows:
1, bottle body; 2, bottle stopper; 21, bottle stopper cap; 22, bottle stopper
rod.
DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is further described in details concerning on the
drawings and preferred embodiments.
The first embodiment:
As shown in Fig. 1, a method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle
stopper in the present invention, the bottle stopper 2 as shown in Fig. 4 includes
a bottle stopper cap 21 and a bottle stopper rod 22. The method comprises
detecting the maximum perpendicular height H1 between the upper surface of a
bottleneck of a bottle body 1 on which a bottle stopper is added and the lower
surface of a bottle stopper cap 21 of the bottle stopper 2. That is, the clearance
height between the bottleneck of the bottle body 1 and the bottle stopper 2, that
is the perpendicular height between point A and B in Fig. 4; and if H1 is greater
than a preset first standard height threshold, determining that the airtightness of
the bottle stopper 2 is unqualified. The reason for airtightness failure of the
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bottle stopper most likely because that the bottle stopper 2 is not completely
inserted into the bottleneck, as shown in Fig. 4; so there is a certain clearance
between the bottle stopper 2 and the bottleneck. The method comprises
detecting and determining the clearance height, thus most of the unqualified
bottle stopper 2 can be detected. And the detection efficiency is higher. In
addition, since the detection method does not relate to the thickness of the
bottle stopper cap 21 of the bottle stopper 2 at all, It is possible to avoid the
effect caused by the height error of the bottle stopper 2 itself upon the detection
accuracy completely, so that the detection accuracy is higher and the drug failure
caused by airtightness failure is avoided.
The second embodiment:
As shown in Fig. 2, the method in present embodiment is based on the
detection and determination of H1 in the first embodiment, and further
comprises determining whether H1 is greater than a preset first standard height
threshold. If H1 is not greater than the preset first standard height threshold,
detecting the maximum horizontal width L1 between the outer edge of the bottle
stopper and the inner wall of the bottleneck, that is, the horizontal width
between point A and C in Fig. 5; and if L1 is greater than a preset standard width
threshold, determining that the bottle stopper is unqualified. By the step
additional, it is possible to further detect the situation of that the bottle stopper
2 is not horizontally inserted into the bottleneck (as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6,
the bottle stopper is cocked), and this situation cannot be detected by the
detection method in the first embodiment. Thus, the present embodiment is
more accurate.
The third embodiment:
As shown in Fig. 3, the method in the present embodiment is based on the
method comprises detecting and determining L1 in the second embodiment, and
further comprises detecting whether L1 is greater than a preset standard width
threshold. If L1 is not greater than the preset standard width threshold, detecting
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the maximum perpendicular height H2 between the upper surface of the
bottleneck and the upper surfaces of the bottle stopper cap 21 of the bottle
stopper 2. That is, the perpendicular height between point A and D in Figure 5. If
H2 is greater than a preset second standard height threshold, determining the
airtightness of the bottle stopper 2 is unqualified, otherwise it is qualified. By the
detection method of the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the bottle
which is unqualified completely. The detection is comprehensive, and the
accuracy of detection is further improved.
The detection and determination of H1, L1 and H2 can be adjusted
according to the different products to be defected and the requirements of
detection. In other embodiments, it will be fine to complete the detection and
determination of H1 first, then the detection and determination of H2.
Alternatively, it will be fine to complete the detection and determination of H1
firstly, the detection and determination of H2 secondly, the detection and
determination of L1 finally; the steps of the detection and the determination of
the parameters are arranged in order to meet the requirements of detection.
H1 or L1 is detected by a plurality of picture acquisition devices. The picture
acquisition devices are arranged in the circumferential direction of the bottle
stopper 2. The circumferential direction of the bottle stopper 2 is completely
detected, ensuring the reliability of detection. In the present embodiment, the
number of the picture acquisition devices is two, and the two picture acquisition
devices are arranged at 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the bottle
stopper 2. The circumferential surface of the bottle stopper 2 can be generally
detected. It is possible to detect H1 or L1 of the rotating bottle body 1 by a
picture acquisition device. H1 or L1 is detected by a picture acquisition device,
and the picture acquisition device is rotatable in the circumferential direction of
the stopper 2. As shown in Fig. In the present embodiment, the picture
acquisition device is a machine vision camera.
In addition, the reference point of measurement parameters in the method
of the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, such as the
upper surface of the bottleneck can be replaced by a bottleneck, which is,
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selecting H1 as the distance between the bottleneck and the lower surface of the
bottle stopper cap 21. The above parameters can be changed according to the
actual situation. The method of the present invention is applicable not only to
detect the airtightness of a semi-stopper bottle but also to detect the airtightness
of a full stopped bottle.
The normal production process comprises: taking a picture of a bottle by
using a picture acquisition device, then collecting the picture of the bottle by an
industrial computer, determining a picture region to be analyzed, performing
picture analysis, extracting a region of bottle stopper 2 and bottleneck,
comparing and determining finally. And the process is shown in details as follows.
For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the method comprises comparing the detected
H1 with the preset first standard height threshold firstly. If H1 is greater than the
first standard height threshold, determining that the bottle stopper 2 is not
completely inserted into the bottleneck. The airtightness of bottle body 1 is
unqualified, and removes the bottle body 1, detecting the next one. And if the H1
is not greater than the first standard height threshold, detecting and comparing
L1 with the preset standard width threshold. If L1 is greater than the standard
width threshold, determining that the bottle stopper 2 is cocked (i.e., one side of
the bottle stopper 2 is compacted, and the opposite side is not compacted. The
bottle stopper 2 is not horizontal, and the surrounding of the bottle stopper 2 is
relatively protruding, resulting that the detected L1 will exceed the standard
width threshold), then determining the airtightness of the bottle stopper 2 is
unqualified, remove the unqualified bottles; subsequently, enter the following
step, if L1 is not greater than the preset second standard width threshold,
comparing H2 with a preset second standard height threshold. And if H2 is
greater than the preset second standard height threshold, further determining
that the bottle stopper 2 is not completely inserted into the bottleneck or there is
a cocked, remove such unqualified bottles, after three steps within the detection
process, the bottle body 1 is a qualified bottle.
The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and
the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments;
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therefore, all of the technical solutions within the spirit of the present invention
should be included within the scope of the present invention. It should be point
out that this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention; for one skilled in the art.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper, comprising
the following steps: detecting the maximum perpendicular height H1 between
the upper surface of a bottleneck of a bottle body (1) on which a bottle stopper is
added and the lower surface of a bottle stopper cap (21) of the bottle stopper (2);
and if H1 is greater than a preset first standard height threshold, determining
that the airtightness of the bottle stopper (2) is unqualified.
2. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 1, comprising the following steps: determining whether H1 is greater than
the preset first standard height threshold; and if H1 is not greater than the preset
first standard height threshold, detecting the maximum horizontal width L1
between the outer edge of the bottle stopper (2) and the inner wall of the
bottleneck; and if L1 is greater than a preset standard width threshold,
determining that the airtightness of the bottle stopper (2) is unqualified.
3. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 2, comprising the following steps: determining whether L1 is greater than
the preset standard width threshold; and if L1 is not greater than the preset
standard width threshold, detecting the maximum perpendicular height H2
between the upper face of the bottleneck and the upper face of the bottle
stopper cap (21) of the bottle stopper (2); and if H2 is greater than a preset
second standard height threshold, determining that the airtightness of the bottle
stopper (2) is unqualified, otherwise it is qualified.
4. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 1, comprising the following steps: determining whether H1 is greater than
the preset first standard height threshold; and if H1 is not greater than the preset
first standard height threshold, detecting the maximum perpendicular height H2
between the upper face of the bottleneck and the upper face of the bottle
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stopper cap (21) of the blotter stopper (2); and if H2 is greater than a preset
second standard height threshold, determining that the airtightness of the bottle
stopper (2) is unqualified, otherwise it is qualified.
5. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 4, comprising the following steps: determining whether H2 is greater than
the preset second standard height threshold; and if H2 is not greater than the
preset second standard height threshold, detecting the maximum horizontal
width L1 between the outer edge of the bottle stopper (2) and the inner wall of
the bottleneck; and if L1 is greater than a preset standard width threshold,
determining that the airtightness of the bottle stopper (2) is unqualified,
otherwise it is qualified.
6. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein H1 or L1 is detected by a plurality of picture
acquisition devices, wherein the plurality of picture acquisition devices are
arranged in the circumferential direction of the bottle stopper (2).
7. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 6, wherein there are two picture acquisition devices, wherein the two
picture acquisition devices are arranged at 90 degrees in the circumferential
direction of the bottle stopper (2).
8. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein H1 or L1 of the rotating bottle(1) is
detected by a picture acquisition device.
9. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein H1 or L1 is detected by a picture acquisition
device, wherein the picture acquisition device is rotatable in the circumferential
direction of the bottle stopper (2).
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10. A method for detecting the airtightness of a bottle stopper as recited in
claim 9, wherein the picture acquisition device is a machine vision camera.