FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD FOR TREATING GLASS CONTAINERS COMPRISING AN
OPTICAL CHECK OF A QUANTITY OF TREATMENT SUBSTANCE
DISPENSED, AND RELATED TREATMENT INSTALLATION
APPLICANT
SGD S.A., a French company, having its address at Tour CB 16, 17
Place des Reflets, 92097 PARIS LA DEFENSE Cedex, FRANCE
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention
and the manner in which it is to be performed:
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the general technical field of methods and
installations for the treatment of glass containers.
5 PRIOR ART
The invention more particularly relates to a method for treating the inner
face of the wall of a glass container, which wall delimits an accommodation
cavity for a product and an opening providing access to said
accommodation cavity, said method comprising an operation of dispensing
10 a treatment substance into said cavity using a dispensing means, an orifice
of which for dispensing said treatment substance is located at a distance
from the opening of the container and outside the latter, said container being
in motion relative to said dispensing means.
The invention also relates to an installation for treating the inner face of the
15 wall of a glass container, which wall delimits an accommodation cavity for a
product and an opening providing access to said accommodation cavity,
said installation comprising a dispensing means for dispensing a treatment
substance into said cavity, said dispensing means being provided with an
orifice for dispensing said treatment substance and being designed so that
20 said dispensing orifice is located at a distance from the opening of the
container and outside the latter and to dispense said treatment substance
while said container is in motion relative to said dispensing means.
3
In the field of pharmaceutical glass primary packaging, the purpose is to
propose containers, in particular of the vial type, that have an excellent
chemical compatibility with the product or preparation they are intended to
contain. Indeed, the aim is to prevent any harmful interaction between a
5 species from the glass forming the container and the product contained by
the latter. In this respect, it is known to subject glass containers, before their
use, to a dealkalization treatment that consists in extracting, over a depth of
several dozens of nanometres, the alkaline ions – and in particular the
sodium ions – present in the vicinity of the surface of the inner face of the
10 glass wall of the container, and evacuating them, in order to avoid as much
as possible the elution of the alkaline ions over time into the product
contained by the container. Such a treatment is generally carried out by
introducing into a glass container to be treated a reactive substance that is
capable, under the action of heat, to generate an acid gas likely to
15 chemically react with the alkaline ions present in the glass of the container.
The chemical (or hydrolytic) resistance level of the container is thus
improved.
Dealkalization treatment methods are thus known, which consist in
introducing into a hot glass container ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 in
20 solid form, for example in the form of a crystalline powder or tablets, through
a dispenser positioned above the containers. Under the effect of heat, the
ammonium sulphate sublimates and forms a gas that reacts with the sodium
contained in the glass in the immediate vicinity of the surface of the
4
container wall inner face. The sodium so extracted from the glass is then
deposited at the surface of said container inner face in the form of a residual
powder compound of sodium sulphate Na2SO4, which can then be removed
by washing.
5 If the known treatment methods and installations are generally satisfactory,
there is still room for improvement. In particular, it may occur that the
quantity of treatment substance really dispensed into the glass containers
to be treated is insufficient to ensure a suitable treatment and to reach the
required chemical (or hydrolytic) resistance level. Such a phenomenon may
10 be linked, for example, to a bad positioning of the treatment substance
dispenser with respect to the containers to be treated, to a wrong setting of
the dispenser, or also to a deviation over time in the setting of the latter.
However, it is imperative, for health safety reasons, to ensure that the
treatment method is perfectly reliable. It is therefore crucial to ensure that
15 the glass containers have effectively received at least a sufficient and
necessary quantity of treatment substance to allow reaching the hydrolytic
resistance level required for the container, in compliance with the applicable
Pharmacopoeia. Moreover, it is important to make sure that the mechanical
properties of the glass containers were not degraded as a result of the
20 treatment carried out.
5
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The objects assigned to the present invention therefore aim to propose a
new treatment method and a new treatment installation that make it possible
to ensure in a simple and effective manner that a glass container the inner
5 wall surface of which is to be treated receives a sufficient and necessary
quantity of treatment substance to ensure a sufficient treatment of said glass
container.
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new treatment method
and a new treatment installation that make it possible to obtain a
10 pharmaceutical glass container that is particularly safe in terms of health.
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new treatment method
and a new treatment installation that make it possible to ensure that the
glass container has been suitably treated without prejudice to its mechanical
strength.
15 Another object of the invention aims to propose a new treatment method
and a new treatment installation that make it possible to ensure in a simple
and effective manner the quality of the treatment carried out at very high
treatment rates, and that for containers of any shape and size, including
containers with a very small ring opening.
20 Another object of the invention aims to propose a new treatment method
and a new treatment installation that make it possible to ensure an excellent
repeatability of the treatment carried out.
6
Another object of the invention aims to propose a new treatment method
and a new treatment installation, the implementation of which is particularly
simple and economical, in particular in a context of industrial manufacture
of glass containers.
5 The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a method
for treating the inner face of the wall of a glass container, which wall delimits
an accommodation cavity for a product and an opening providing access to
said accommodation cavity, said method comprising
- an operation of dispensing a treatment substance into said cavity, using
10 a dispensing means, an orifice of which for dispensing said treatment
substance is located at a distance from the opening of the container and
outside the latter, said container being in motion relative to said
dispensing means, and
- a check operation comprising capturing, by an image-capture device,
15 during said dispensing operation, at least one image of a spatial area
including the opening of the container, and determining, by analysis of
the so-captured image, whether or not at least a predetermined quantity
of said treatment substance has been introduced into the cavity of the
container through the opening of the latter.
20 The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved by means of an
installation for treating the inner face of the wall of a glass container, which
wall delimits an accommodation cavity for a product and an opening
7
providing access to said accommodation cavity, said installation
comprising:
- a dispensing means for dispensing a treatment substance into said
cavity, said dispensing means being provided with an orifice for
5 dispensing said treatment substance and being designed so that said
dispensing orifice is located at a distance from the opening of the
container and outside the latter and to dispense said treatment
substance while said container is in motion relative to said dispensing
means, and
10 - a check means comprising an image-capture device for capturing, when
the dispensing means dispenses said treatment substance, at least one
image of a spatial area including the opening of the container, and an
image-analysis system for determining, by analysing the captured
image, whether or not at least a predetermined quantity of said treatment
15 substance has been introduced into the cavity of the container through
the opening of the latter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in more detail
20 upon reading of the following description, with reference to the appended
drawings, given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, in
which:
8
- Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of glass container of the
vial type subjected to an operation of introducing a treatment substance
into its cavity, in accordance with the treatment method according to the
invention;
5 - Figure 2 schematically illustrates, in a side view, a preferential
embodiment of a treatment installation according to the invention;
- Figure 3 schematically illustrates, in a top view, the treatment installation
of Figure 2.
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating a
10 glass container 1, such as a vial. The invention further relates, according to
a second independent aspect, to an installation 2 for treating such a glass
container 1. More precisely, as illustrated as an example in Figure 1, the
container 1 the treatment method and installation 2 according to the
invention relate to comprises a wall 3 delimiting an accommodation cavity 4
15 for a product (or a substance) and an opening 5 providing access to said
accommodation cavity 4. The glass wall 3 has an inner face 6, located facing
said accommodation cavity 4 and preferentially intended to come into direct
contact with said product, and an opposite outer face 7. Herein, the
treatment method and installation 2 according to the invention are method
20 and installation 2 for treating the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of such a glass
container 1. The treatment method and installation 2 according to the
invention are preferably industrial method and installation, advantageously
automated, intended to be integrated to industrial glass container production
9
line and method. In this respect, said method and said installation 2 are
preferentially designed to allow the treatment of a large number of glass
containers 1 in a substantially uninterrupted manner.
The treatment method according to the invention is preferentially intended
5 to be implemented using a treatment installation 2 according to the
invention. Reciprocally, the treatment installation 2 is preferentially intended
to implement the treatment method according to the invention. Said
treatment method and installation will now be described in parallel, it being
understood that the features, definitions, effects and advantages described
10 in relation with the treatment method advantageously apply mutatis
mutandis to the treatment installation according to the invention, and
reciprocally. This being said, the treatment method according to the
invention is not necessarily limited to an implementation using the treatment
installation that will be described hereinafter, and reciprocally, the treatment
15 installation according to the invention is not necessarily limited to the sole
implementation of the treatment method that will be described hereinafter.
In the sense of the invention, the word “glass” refers to a mineral glass.
Preferentially made of moulded or drawn glass, and formed of a single,
monolithic piece of glass, the container 1 the invention relates to may have
20 any shape adapted to its function, such as for example the shape of a vial
or a bottle. As illustrated by way of example in Figure 1, the wall 3 of the
container 1 is advantageously formed by a glass bottom 8, a glass lateral
wall 9 that rises from the periphery of the bottom 8, and a neck 10 provided
10
with a ring 11 that delimits the opening 5 of the container 1, to allow the
accommodation cavity 4 to be put in communication with the outside.
Advantageously, said opening 5 is designed so as to be able to be closed
by a removable or pierceable plug or membrane seal.
5 Preferably, the product intended to be received into the cavity 4 of the
container 1 is advantageously fluid, i.e. likely to flow like, for example, a
liquid, pasty (such as a liquid with a high degree of viscosity) or powder
substance. Preferably, it is a pharmaceutical product or a substance, such
as for example a medication, potentially intended to be administered by
10 parenteral route (general or locoregional) or to be ingested or absorbed by
a patient, or also a diagnostic substance, as for example a chemical or
biological reagent. By extension, the container 1 can be designed to contain
a biological substance (or body fluid), such as for example blood, a blood
product or by-product, urine, etc. Even if the application to the
15 pharmaceutical and diagnostic fields is preferred, the invention is however
not limited to the treatment of pharmaceutical and diagnostic containers 1
and may in particular also relate to a container designed to contain a liquid,
pasty or powder substance for industrial (storage of chemical products,
etc.), scientific (laboratory glassware), veterinary, food or also cosmetic use.
20 In accordance with the invention, the treatment method comprises an
operation of dispensing a treatment substance into the accommodation
cavity 4 of the container 1, i.e. an advantageously reactive substance,
intended for obtaining the searched treatment effect. It is preferably a
11
treatment substance that is solid, and more preferably powdery or granular,
or liquid (with higher or lower viscosity). The dispensing operation is carried
out using a dispensing means 12 that comprises a dispensing orifice 13
through which said treatment substance is dispensed. During the
5 dispensing operation, the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12
is located at a distance from the opening 5 of the container 1 and outside
the latter, and the container 1 to be treated is in motion relative to the
dispensing means 12. The dispensing means 12 remains preferentially
stationary in the terrestrial reference system. Preferably, the container 1
10 moves with respect to the dispensing means 12 along a substantially
rectilinear path (indicated by an arrow T in Figures 1 to 3), which is
advantageously substantially orthogonal to an average direction of
dispensing of the treatment substance by the dispensing means 12.
The treatment installation 2 according to the invention, a preferential
15 embodiment of which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a
dispensing means 12 that is advantageously intended for the
implementation of the above-mentioned dispensing operation. Said
dispensing means 12 is designed to dispense a treatment substance, as
described hereinabove, into the cavity 4 of the container 1. Provided with
20 an orifice 13 for dispensing said treatment substance, the dispensing means
12 is designed in such a way that said dispensing orifice 13 is located at a
distance from the opening 5 of the container 1 and outside the latter, at least
when the dispensing means 12 is in operation and dispenses said treatment
12
substance. Said dispensing means 12 is moreover designed to dispense
said treatment substance while the container 1 to be treated is in motion
relative to said dispensing means 12.
The dispensing means 12 of the method and installation 2 is preferentially
5 designed in such a way that, when the opening 5 of the container 1 to be
treated is positioned facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing
means 12, the treatment substance can be dispensed through said
dispensing orifice 13 as a dispensing cone C (illustrated in dotted line in
Figure 1), a cross-section of which, included in a plane comprising the
10 opening 5 of the container 1, has a lower (and preferably far lower) size than
said opening 5 of the container 1 in said plane (Figure 1). Such a
configuration is indeed particularly favourable to an accurate dispensing of
the treatment substance towards the cavity 4 of the container 1 to be
treated. It will be noted that "dispensing cone" is not to be considered herein
15 according to a strict mathematical definition of the term "cone", but
preferentially means a dummy envelope (whether conical, frustoconical, or
even ideally substantially cylindrical) inside which is contained substantially
all the quantity of treatment substance dispensed by the dispensing means
12.
20 Notwithstanding the above, the dispensing means 12 may be designed to
dispense said treatment substance as a spray or a trickle of little grains or
crystals, as a single drop or droplet, or also as a spray or trickle of a plurality
of drops or droplets.
13
According to a preferential embodiment, illustrated in the Figures, the
putting in motion of the glass container 1 relative to said dispensing means
12 is ensured by a conveyor 14, on which the glass container 1 is arranged,
with its bottom 8 resting on the conveyor 14 and its opening 5 directed
5 upward. The dispensing means 12 is preferentially positioned above and
facing the conveyor 14 in such a way that the dispensing orifice 13 of the
dispensing means 12 can be positioned above and facing the opening 5 of
the container 1 to be treated when the latter is moved by the conveyor 14.
In this case, the treatment substance is typically dispensed under the sole
10 effect of gravity, the treatment substance thus dropping freely under its own
weight under the effect of gravity from the dispensing orifice 13 of the
dispensing device 12 into the cavity 4 of the container 1, or under pressure.
However, other spatial configurations may be contemplated. For example,
the container 1 could be lying on the conveyor 14 and the dispensing means
15 12 could then be located laterally with respect to the conveyor 14. During
the dispensing operation, the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means
12 and the opening 5 of the container 1 are preferentially spaced apart by a
distance d between 1 and 20 cm.
The treatment method and installation 2 according to the invention may
20 advantageously be implemented to carry out different types of treatment
(doping, chemical hardening, etc.) of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of a glass
container 1, according in particular to the nature of the treatment substance
used. According to a preferential embodiment, said method and installation
14
2 are however more specifically respectively method and installation 2 for
dealkalization treatment of the glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner
face 6 of the wall 3 of the glass container 1. It is understood that, in this
case, the glass of said concerned container 1 is then a glass containing at
5 least one alkaline species, such as sodium in particular. It may then be a
container made of soda-lime-silica glass ("Type III" glass), or also a
container made of borosilicate glass ("Type I" glass), insofar as such a
borosilicate glass does contain at least one alkaline species, although in
lower quantity than in the case of a soda-lime-silica glass. In a manner
10 known per se, such a dealkalization method aims to extract, typically over a
depth of several dozens of nanometres, the alkaline ions (and in particular
the sodium ions) present in the glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner
face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1. Once the container 1 treated, the
glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the
15 container 1 is thus, preferably significantly, depleted in alkaline ions.
In the case of such a dealkalization treatment, the treatment substance (or
dealkalization substance) is preferentially designed to react under heat to
cause a dealkalization of the glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner
face 6 of the glass wall 3. As will be detailed hereinafter, said inner face 6
20 is then brought, before or after the treatment substance dispensing into the
cavity 4 of the container 1, to a treatment temperature that is sufficient to
cause the reaction of the treatment substance, the latter being therefore
designed to react under the heat of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the
15
container 1 to cause a dealkalization of the glass. It may be a treatment
substance that, as such, is capable of coming itself into direct contact with
the hot inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 to react, under heat, with
one or several alkaline species present in the glass forming the wall 3 of the
5 container 1 or also a treatment substance capable of decomposing under
the heat inside the cavity 4 of the container 1, due to the temperature of the
inner face 6 of the wall 3, to produce one or several new chemical species
or substances, which are capable of coming into contact with the surface of
the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 and reacting with one or
10 several alkaline species present in the glass forming said wall 3 in order to
obtain the desired effect of dealkalization. Preferably, said treatment
substance comprises a sulphur compound, and more preferably a
compound containing sulphur combined with oxygen. Even more
preferentially, said sulphur compound is an ammonium sulphate. Indeed,
15 such a treatment substance based on ammonium sulphate is relatively easy
and inexpensive to implement, and allows a particularly efficient
dealkalization treatment of the glass container 1. This being said, other
dealkalization treatment substances liable to react under heat (such as, for
example, ammonium chloride or aluminium ammonium sulphate) could
20 obviously be used.
According to a preferential alternative, the operation of dispensing the
dealkalization treatment substance into the accommodation cavity 4 of the
glass container 1 is carried out while the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said
16
glass container 1 is at a temperature (or treatment temperature) of
advantageously at least 350°C, preferably between 350° and 850°C,
preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more preferably between 350°C and
700°C. Indeed, most known dealkalization substances, and in particular
5 ammonium sulphate, may be efficiently implemented at such a treatment
temperature. In this respect, the treatment method may advantageously
comprise, upstream form said dispensing operation, a operation of
supplying a glass container 1 such as described hereinabove, (at least) the
inner face 6 of the wall 3 of which is at a temperature of advantageously at
10 least 350°C, preferably between 350° and 850°C, preferably between
350°C and 800°C, more preferably between 350°C and 700°C. Such an
operation of supplying the container 1 may include a step of heating, using
any known suited heating means, a pre-existing glass container 1 as
described hereinabove, and the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of which is initially
15 at a temperature close (if not equal) to the ambient temperature, to heat it
in such a way that the temperature of at least the inner face 6 of its wall 3
reaches a value of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably between 350°
and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more preferably between
350°C and 700°C. As an alternative, and more advantageously, the
20 operation of supplying the container 1 may comprise a step of collecting a
glass container 1 as described hereinabove, at the exit of a machine 15 for
hot forming a glass container from a glass preform, while said container 1
is still hot enough so that (at least) the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said
17
container 1 is at a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably
between 350° and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more
preferably between 350°C and 700°C. According to such a preferential
alternative, the method according to the invention thus does not require the
5 implementation of a particular heating step, the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of
the container 1 being brought to a temperature of advantageously at least
350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C
and 800°C, more preferably between 350°C and 700°C, as a direct
consequence of a previous step of forming said container 1. Such a forming
10 step can be carried out using any known machine 15 for forming glass
containers 1, such as for example an IS machine in the case of a container
1 made of moulded glass. The implementation of the method according to
the invention is therefore simplified, in particular when the latter is
implemented in an industrial context of manufacture of glass containers 1.
15 According to another alternative, the operation of dispensing the treatment
substance into the accommodation cavity 4 of the glass container 1 may be
carried out while the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said glass container 1 is at
ambient temperature. In this case, the treatment method may comprise,
after said dispensing step, a step of heating the container 1 into which the
20 treatment substance has been dispensed, to bring the inner face 6 of the
wall 3 of said container 1 to a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C,
preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and
800°C, more preferably between 350°C and 700°C. Such a heating step
18
may for example be carried out in an annealing arch within which the
container 1 is placed at the end of said treatment substance dispensing
operation.
Reciprocally, the treatment installation 2 is then preferentially designed to
5 dispense, introduce, the treatment substance into the accommodation
cavity 4 of the glass container 1 while the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said
glass container 1 is at a temperature (or treatment temperature) of
advantageously at least 350°C, preferably between 350° and 850°C,
preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more preferably between 350°C and
10 700°C, in such a way as to allow the reaction of the treatment substance
under the heat of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 to therefore
cause a dealkalization of the glass. In this respect, the installation 2 can
advantageously comprise a means for supplying a glass container 1 as
described hereinabove, at least the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of which is at
15 a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably between 350°
and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more preferably between
350°C and 700°C. According to an alternative, this supply means could
comprise a heating means, of any known suitable type (for example, of the
arch or oven type), designed to heat a pre-existing glass container 1 as
20 described hereinabove and the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of which is initially
at a temperature close (if not equal) to the ambient temperature, in such a
way that the temperature of at least the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the
container 1 reaches a value of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably
19
between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more
preferably between 350°C and 700°C. According to another, more
preferential alternative, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the means for
supplying the container 1 comprises a system for collecting a glass
5 container 1 as described hereinabove at the exit of a machine 15 for hot
forming a glass container 1 from a glass preform, while said container 1 is
still hot enough so that (at least) the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said
container 1 is at a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably
between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more
10 preferably between 350°C and 700°C. According to this preferential
alternative, the installation 2 therefore advantageously comprises no
specific heating means for heating the container 1, the inner face 6 of the
wall 3 of the container 1 being brought to a desired treatment temperature
as a direct consequence of a previous operation of forming said container 1
15 by said forming machine 15. As mentioned hereinabove in relation with the
treatment method, this machine 15 for forming glass containers 1 may be
of any known type, such as for example an IS machine in the case of a
container 1 made of moulded glass. The collecting system may, for
example, comprise an arm, advantageously robotic, and/or a conveyor (for
20 example, of the belt or roll type), designed, arranged and sized to collect a
glass container 1 at the exit of a forming machine 15, close enough to the
latter so that (at least) the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 is still
at a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C, preferably between
20
350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C, more preferably
between 350°C and 700°C. Advantageously, the conveyor of the collecting
system can be merged with the above-mentioned conveyor 14, on which
the container 1 is brought to the dispensing means 12 for the treatment
5 substance to be dispensed. As an alternative, the installation 2 as such may
not comprise such means for supplying a container 1 (at least) the inner
face 6 of the wall 3 of which is at a temperature of advantageously at least
350°C, preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C
and 800°C, more preferably between 350°C and 700°C, except for the
10 above-mentioned conveyor 14, but it is nonetheless designed (particularly
in terms of choice of materials, etc.) to be able to operate satisfactorily in
the presence of a container 1 the inner face 6 of which is brought to such a
temperature.
As an alternative, but less preferentially, the installation 2 as such may not
15 be specifically designed to introduce the treatment substance into the
accommodation cavity 4 of the glass container 1 while the inner face 6 of
the wall 3 of the latter is at a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C,
preferably between 350° and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and 800°C,
more preferably between 350°C and 700°C, but on the contrary while said
20 inner face 6 is at ambient temperature. In this case, the installation 2 could
then comprise (or at least being designed to be placed upstream from) a
means for heating the container 1, such as an annealing arch, positioned
downstream from the dispensing means 12, to bring the inner face 6 of the
21
wall 3 of the container 1 to a temperature of advantageously at least 350°C,
preferably between 350°C and 850°C, preferably between 350°C and
800°C, more preferably between 350°C and 700°C, once the treatment
substance dispensed into the container 1.
5 The treatment method according to the invention also comprises an
operation of checking that the treatment substance dispensing operation is
running correctly. It is advantageously a real-time check operation, which
takes place at least in part simultaneously with said dispensing operation,
and not a check operation carried out a posteriori, once the container 1
10 treated. According to the invention, said check operation comprises
capturing, by an image-capture device 16, during said dispensing operation,
at least one image of a spatial area including the opening 5 of the container
1, and determining, by analysis of the so-captured image, whether or not at
least a predetermined quantity of said treatment substance has been
15 introduced into the cavity 4 of the container 1 through the opening 5 of the
latter during the dispensing operation. Advantageously, at least the
dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12 and the opening 5 of the
container 1 are then included in said spatial area, and hence in the socaptured image(s). Therefore, if the dispensing means 12 can potentially be
20 designed to dispense a quantity of treatment substance that is greater than
the quantity strictly necessary to carry out the desired treatment of the
container 1, the capture and analysis of image(s) by the image-capture
device 16 during the dispensing operation aims to ensure that at least a
22
predetermined quantity – which will have been previously defined as being
the minimum quantity required to obtain a desired treatment level – has
actually been introduced into the cavity 4 of the container 1 during the
dispensing operation. Obviously, the definition of the predetermined
5 quantity of treatment substance will depend on the nature of the treatment
to be made, the size of the container 1, the expected level of treatment, etc.
Advantageously, and in particular in the case where the quantity of
treatment substance dispensed during the dispensing operation is higher
than said predetermined quantity of treatment substance, the check
10 operation comprises determining, by analysing said at least one socaptured image, whether or not substantially all the quantity of treatment
substance dispensed by the dispensing means 12 during said dispensing
operation has been introduced into the cavity 4 of the container 1, through
the opening 5 of the latter. The check operation therefore aims not only to
15 ensure that the predetermined quantity of treatment substance has actually
been introduced into the container 1 to be treated, but also to ensure that,
during the dispensing operation, no treatment substance has been
dispensed outside the cavity 4 of the container 1, whether it is next to the
container 1, on the ring 11 and/or on the outer face 7 of the wall 3 of said
20 container 1. Indeed, if it is not necessarily inconvenient that the container 1
receives more treatment substance than it would be required to obtain a
satisfying level of treatment, the dispersion of treatment substance outside
the container 1 can nevertheless have substantial economic (cost of the
23
treatment substance itself, clogging of the installations requiring costly
maintenance, etc.) and/or sanitary consequences. Moreover, the deposition
of treatment substance on the ring 11 or on the surface of the outer face 7
of the wall 3 of the container 1 lead to treat in a non desired and potentially
5 problematic manner the glass at said ring 11 and/or outer face 7, in the
sense that it may result in the generation of aesthetic defects and/or a
hindrance to the smooth running of a possible subsequent operation of
optical inspection aiming to search for glass defects the container 1 could
show. Such a deposition may also lead to a mechanical weakening of the
10 container 1, and in particular of the ring 11 of the latter, by reaction with the
treatment substance. Such a risk of weakening is observed in particular in
the case, contemplated hereinabove, in which the treatment substance is
advantageously provided to allow a hot dealkalization treatment of the
glass.
15 Symmetrically, the treatment installation 2 according to the invention
comprises a check means 17, which is advantageously designed and
configured to allow the implementation of the check operation described
hereinabove. Said check means 17 comprises an image-capture device 16
for capturing, when the dispensing means 12 operates and dispenses said
20 treatment substance, at least one image of a spatial area including the
opening 5 of the container 1. Advantageously, said image-capture device
16 is configured in such a way that the dispensing orifice 13 of the
dispensing means 12 and the opening 5 of the container 1 are then located
24
inside said spatial area, and hence in the so-captured image(s). The check
means 17 also comprises an image-analysis system 18 that it specifically
designed, configured, set, to determine, by analysing said at least one
captured image, whether or not at least a predetermined quantity (as
5 defined hereinabove) of said treatment substance has been introduced into
the cavity 4 of the container 1 through the opening 5 of the latter.
Advantageously, and in particular in the case where the dispensing means
12 of the treatment installation 2 is designed, configured, set, to dispense a
quantity of treatment substance that is higher than said predetermined
10 quantity, said image-analysis system 18 is designed, configured, set, to
determine, by analysing said at least one captured image, whether or not
substantially all the quantity of treatment substance dispensed by the
dispensing means 12 has been introduced into the cavity 4 of the container
1, through the opening 5 of the latter.
15 Therefore, thanks to the implementation of such an optical check of the
correct dispensing of the treatment substance into the glass container 1, the
treatment method and installation 2 make it possible to ensure in a simple
and efficient manner that said container 1, the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of
which is to be treated, receives at least a sufficient and necessary
20 predetermined quantity of treatment substance to ensure a sufficient
treatment of said container 1. When they are dealkalization treatment
method and installation 2, these latter thus make it possible to obtain a
pharmaceutical glass container 1 that is particularly safe from a health point
25
of view. Moreover, by making it possible to check that all the treatment
substance dispensed has been actually introduced into the container 1 to
be treated, the treatment method and installation 2 advantageously allows
ensuring that the glass container 1 has been suitably treated without
5 prejudice to its mechanical strength.
It is conceivable that the operation of dispensing the treatment substance is
designed to dispense the latter in continuous, that is to say in an
uninterrupted manner, in a plurality of glass containers 1 moving
successively facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12.
10 In this case, the check operation will advantageously be itself carried out in
continuous, simultaneously to said dispensing operation. It is however
preferable that the dispensing operation is carried out only when a container
1 is positioned at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the
dispensing orifice 13 of said dispensing means 12. Therefore, the treatment
15 substance dispensing operation is carried out in a discontinuous manner,
that is to say as discrete doses (and not an uninterrupted flow) of treatment
substance, only in the presence of a container 1 to be treated at the
dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
latter. A costly and messy loss of treatment substance by dispersion of the
20 latter on the conveyor 14 and on the ground is thus advantageously
avoided. In this respect, provision may be made for the triggering of the
dispensing means 12 to be set in order to synchronise with a known speed
of movement of the containers 1 facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
26
dispensing means 12. The dispensing of the treatment substance will hence
be triggered on the basis of a supposed presence of a container 1 facing
the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12. As an alternative, in
order to allow a better accuracy of synchronization, the treatment method
5 can advantageously comprise a detection step for detecting the actual
presence of a container 1 on the conveyor 14 at the dispensing means 12,
and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter, and to then
trigger the treatment substance dispensing operation. More preferentially,
the treatment method comprises a detection step for detecting the arrival
10 upstream from the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12 (in
consideration of the direction of movement of the container 1 relative to the
dispensing means 12) and to then synchronize the dispensing operation
triggering with the arrival of the container 1 at the dispensing means 12, and
preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter, knowing the distance
15 separating the container 1 from the dispensing orifice 13 at the time of
detection and the speed of movement of the container 1 with respect to the
dispensing means 12 or to its dispensing orifice 13. It is therefore
advantageously possible to anticipate the arrival of a container 1 to be
treated to further refine the accuracy of dispensing of the treatment
20 substance.
Reciprocally, the treatment installation 2 can be designed and configured to
ensure an uninterrupted operation of the dispensing means 12, in such a
way that the latter can dispense the treatment substance in continuous, that
27
is to say in an uninterrupted manner, into a plurality of glass containers 1
that move successively at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing
the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. In this case, the treatment installation
2 will moreover be advantageously configured to ensure an uninterrupted
5 operation of the check means 17. However, preferably, the treatment
installation 2 is designed and configured to ensure that the dispensing
means 12 is operated only when the container 1 is positioned at the
dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
latter. In this respect, the treatment installation 2 can be configured, set, to
10 ensure that the dispensing means 12 is operated discontinuously and
synchronously with a known speed of movement of the containers 1 at the
dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
latter. As an alternative, in order to allow a better accuracy of
synchronization as mentioned hereinabove, the treatment installation 2 may
15 advantageously comprise, on the one hand, a detection means configured
to detect the actual presence of a container 1 on the conveyor 14 at the
dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
latter, and on the other hand, a piloting unit that is connected to said
detection means and to control means of the dispensing means 12 to put
20 said dispensing means 12 in operation when the container 1 is so detected
at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13
of the latter. Even more advantageously, the treatment installation 2
comprises a detection means 19 configured to detect the arrival of the
28
container 1 on the conveyor 14 upstream from the dispensing means 12,
and preferably upstream from the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. The
treatment installation 2 also comprises a piloting unit 20 that is connected
to said detection means 19 and to said control means of the dispensing
5 means 12 and configured to synchronize the putting in operation of said
dispensing means 12 with the arrival of the container 1 at the dispensing
means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. Such
a synchronization may typically be obtained using a timer (not illustrated),
the installation 2 will advantageously be fitted with, and in particular from
10 the knowledge of the distance between the area of detection of the container
1 by the detection means 19 and the position of the outlet port 12, and
preferably the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter, the speed of movement of
the container 1 on the conveyor 14, as well as the size of the container 1.
For example, the detection means 19 is an optical barrier (or light barrier)
15 and comprises either a light beam emitter (for example, a visible or infrared
laser beam) positioned opposite a photoelectric cell, or a detection cell 21
comprising both a light beam emitter (for example, a visible or infrared laser
beam) and a photoelectric cell and a light reflector 22 positioned opposite a
photoelectric cell, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The detection cell 21 and
20 the reflector 22 are advantageously located on either side of the moving
path of the container 1, at a known distance from the dispensing means 12,
and preferably from the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. The detection cell
41 emits a light beam (represented in dotted line in Figure 3), which, in the
29
absence of container 1, is reflected by the reflector 22 and detected by the
photoelectric cell of the detection cell 41. In the presence of a container 1,
the light beam is interrupted (or at least disturbed) by the container 1, in
such a way that the photoelectric cell does not detect the light beam (or
5 detects a disturbed light beam), which signs the presence of a container 1.
In this case, the piloting unit 20 triggers the dispensing means 12 operation
through the control means of the latter, either immediately (case of detection
of the effective presence of a glass container 1 at the dispensing means 12,
and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter), or according to
10 a predefined timing (case of detection of the presence of a glass container
1 upstream from the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the
dispensing orifice 13 of the latter). In a particularly advantageous manner,
such a detection means 19 of the optical barrier type will be designed and
arranged in such a way that the light beam emitted is interrupted by the neck
15 10 or the ring 11 of a glass container 1, and not by the body of the latter, in
order to allow a finer synchronization of the operation of the dispensing
means 12, and hence a more accurate dispensing of the treatment
substance into the cavity 4 of the container 1, when the latter arrives at the
dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
20 latter. Obviously, other known and suitable detection means, not necessarily
optical, may be contemplated (proximity sensors, weight sensors, etc.).
The image-capture device 16 of the treatment method and installation is
typically a technical device capable of capturing at least one image, the
30
analysis of which may be made using hardware and/or software imageprocessing computer means. The image-capture device 16 comprises for
that purpose at least one photographic sensor, preferably of the CMOS
type, designed to capture at least one image that the image-processing
5 computer means will then be able to analyse. Said photographic sensor may
be that of a camera or a video camera, or any other suitable image-capture
means comprising such a photographic sensor. Advantageously, said
image-capture device 16, and in particular the photographic sensor(s) the
latter comprises, is designed to capture said at least one image in the visible
10 domain, and preferably in black and white (greyscale), in order in particular
to simplify the analysis thereof. The analysis of said image and the
subsequent determination of the smooth running of the treatment substance
dispensing by the dispensing means 12 are moreover advantageously
simplified and more reliable when said image-capture device 16 is designed
15 to capture said at least one image with the highest possible definition (or
resolution), and for example an image resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with a
pixel size of 4.8 x 4.8 µm.
Determining if the treatment substance is correctly dispensed by the
dispensing means 12 of the treatment method and installation 2, that is to
20 say determining whether or not at least said predetermined quantity of
treatment substance and/or substantially all the dispensed treatment
substance has been correctly dispensed into the cavity 4 of the container 1,
may advantageously be carried out using an image-analysis software or
31
computer algorithm, executed by a computer or any other suitable device.
In particular, the recognition notably of the opening 5 of the container 1 and
of the treatment substance on a captured image may be based on a
software detection of colour level (and preferably, greyscale) differences
5 between the pixels of said image. Such image-analysis software or
computer algorithm, and computer or other suitable device for executing
said software or algorithm, are advantageously included in the imageanalysis system 18 of the check means 17 of the treatment installation 2.
Advantageously, the treatment method comprises an operation of
10 discarding the container 1 in the case where it is determined, during the
dispensing operation check, that at least the predetermined quantity of
treatment substance has not been introduced into the cavity 4 of the
container, through the opening 5 of the latter. Therefore, any container 1
that will have not received, during the dispensing operation, enough
15 treatment substance to ensure the desired performance level of treatment
of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of said glass container 1 is therefore
physically discarded. This container 1 will thus advantageously not be
grouped with other containers 1 that would have actually received the
determined quantity of necessary treatment substance. The discarded
20 container 1 may potentially be subsequently subjected again to said
dispensing operation or be scrapped for a subsequent recycling as cullet.
In the case where the quantity of treatment substance dispensed during the
dispensing operation is higher than said required predetermined quantity,
32
said operation of discarding the container 1 may advantageously also
concern a container 1 that, although having received said predetermined
quantity into its cavity 4, has however not received all the treatment
substance quantity dispensed by the dispensing means 12. Therefore,
5 containers 1 liable to have received treatment substance on their ring 11 or
on the outer face 7 of their wall 3, and hence notably liable to have for that
reason mechanical and/or esthetical defects as explained hereinabove, will
be advantageously discarded. Advantageously, said discarding operation is
then immediately consecutive to the check operation. Preferentially carried
10 out automatically, the discarding operation can be carried out in a simple
way using a means 23 for discarding the container 1 comprising, for
example, a movable cleat or a pusher, which intercepts the container 1
downstream from the dispensing means 12 and sets it aside from the flow
of containers 1 moving on the conveyor 14 after treatment substance
15 dispensing. Obviously, other suitable discarding means may be
contemplated (gripper arm, trapdoor, etc.) to carry out such an operation.
As an alternative, it may be contemplated that the treatment method does
not comprise such an operation of discarding the container 1, but comprises
for example generating a computer alert, sound or light, to draw attention of
20 a production operator to the presence of a container 1 determined as being
non-compliant. This being said, the operation of discarding the container 1
contemplated hereinabove is preferably insofar as it limits or cancels the
necessity for a human intervention.
33
Reciprocally, in order to advantageously implement the above-mentioned
discarding operation, the treatment installation 2 preferentially comprises a
device 23 for discarding the container 1, which is connected to the imageanalysis system 18 of the check means 17 and that is configured to discard
5 said container 1 when the image-analysis system 18 determines that at
least said predetermined quantity of treatment substance has not been
introduced into the accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1 through the
opening 5 of the latter. As illustrated in the examples of Figures 2 and 3, le
discarding device 23, the operation of which is preferably automated,
10 comprises for example a mobile cleat or a pusher, which is arranged in such
a way as to be able to intercept the container 1 downstream from the
dispensing means 12 and to set it aside from the flow of containers 1 moving
on the conveyor 14 after treatment substance dispensing. The installation 2
can moreover comprise an evacuation conveyor or hooper (not illustrated)
15 to receive and evacuate the so-discarded container 1.
According to an embodiment of the treatment method, a single image of
said spatial area including the opening 5 of the container 1 is captured by
said image-capture device 16 during the dispensing operation.
Advantageously, said image is then captured at the time when the treatment
20 substance dispensed by the dispensing means 12 arrives at a plane of said
spatial area, which is predefined as corresponding to a plane in which is
inscribed the opening 5 of the container 1 to be treated when the latter
arrives at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing
34
opening 13 of the latter. For that purpose, the image-capture device
triggering may be synchronized, for example, using an optical barrier whose
light beam is located in said predefined plane. Therefore, when the
treatment substance arrives at the predefined plane, it interrupts the light
5 beam of the optical beam, which triggers the capture of the image. The
determination of the dispensing operation smooth run can then
advantageously be carried out according to the following principle.
If, on the captured image, a point of intersection between the treatment
substance and the predefined plane (in which is then inscribed the opening
10 5 of the container 1 to be treated) is located upstream or downstream from
the opening 5 of the container 1, it is then deduced that the container 1 is
late or early with respect to the treatment substance, and that the latter will
therefore be dispensed at least in part on the outer face 7 and the wall 3
and/or on the ring 11 of the container 1, and that the treatment substance
15 will thus no be fully dispensed into the accommodation cavity 4 of the
container 1. However, according to the position of this intersection point with
respect to the opening 5 of the container 1 on the captured image, and
knowing advantageously the time required for at least said predetermined
quantity of dispensed treatment substance travels the distance d that
20 separates the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means 12 from the
opening 5 of the container 1, the characteristics (orientation, direction,
speed, etc.) of the moving path of the container 1 with respect to the
dispensing means 12, as well as the size (diameter) of the opening 5 of the
35
container 1, it is then possible to determine whether or not at least said
predetermined quantity of dispensed treatment substance will nevertheless
have the time to go through the opening 5 of the container 1 to reach the
accommodation cavity 4 of the latter.
5 If said intersection point between the treatment substance and the
predefined plane is located at the opening 5 of the container 1, it is deduced
therefrom that at least part of the quantity of dispensed treatment substance
will be actually dispensed into the accommodation cavity 4 of the container
1. According to the position of this intersection point with respect to the
10 opening 5 of the container 1 on the captured image, and knowing
advantageously the time required in for at least said predetermined quantity,
and preferably all the quantity, of dispensed treatment substance travels the
distance d that separates the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means
12 from the opening 5 of the container 1, the characteristics (orientation,
15 direction, speed, etc.) of the moving path of the container 1 with respect to
the dispensing means 12, as well as the size of the opening 5 of the
container 1, it is then possible to determine whether or not said
predetermined quantity and/or all the quantity of dispensed treatment
substance will have the time to go through the opening 5 of the container 1
20 to reach the accommodation cavity 4 of the latter.
Symmetrically, the image-capture device 16 of the check means 17 of the
treatment installation 2 can thus by designed, configured, set, to capture a
single image of such a spatial area including the opening 5 of the container
36
1 when the dispensing means 12 is in operation and dispenses said
treatment substance. The image-analysis system 18 of said check means
17 is then advantageously designed, configured, set, to determine, by
analysing the captured image and advantageously according to the above5 described principle, whether or not at least said predetermined quantity
and/or all the quantity of dispensed treatment substance has been
introduced into the cavity 4 of the container 1 through the opening 5 of the
latter.
However, determining a compliant dispensing of the treatment substance
10 from the capture and analysis of a single image may turn out to be relatively
complex to implement, in particular as regards the accuracy of triggering of
the image capture and the analysis of the latter based on a high number of
parameters. Moreover, there exists a risk that the single image, although
being captured at the right time, has not a sufficient quality (blurred,
15 insufficient exposure, etc.) to allow, by analysis, a reliable and repeatable
determination of the smooth running of the treatment substance dispensing
operation.
That is why, according to another embodiment, it preferentially captured,
using said image-capture device 16, a plurality of images (typically between
20 2 and 10 images, for example 6 images) of said spatial area including the
opening 5 of the container 1, preferably during at least the whole duration
of said dispensing operation. To advantageously implement such a
preferential embodiment of the treatment method, the image-capture device
37
16 of the installation 2 is then preferentially configured to capture such a
plurality of images of said spatial area including the opening 5 of the
container 1, advantageously during at least the whole duration of dispensing
of the treatment substance by the dispensing means 12 of said installation
5 2. In this case, the image-capture device 16 of the treatment method and
installation 2 advantageously comprises a technical means capable of
capturing images in a substantially continuous manner, such as in particular
at least one video camera provided with the above-mentioned photographic
sensor. Determining the compliance / non-compliance of the treatment
10 substance dispensing into the cavity 4 of the container 1 to be treated will
hence advantageously be based on the analysis of several images,
captured successively while the treatment substance is dispensed by the
dispensing means 12 towards the container 1. Advantageously, said
plurality of captured images will include at least one image that will have
15 been captured at the time when the treatment substance dispensed by the
dispensing means 12 arrives at a plane of said spatial area, which is
predefined as corresponding to a plane in which is inscribed the opening 5
of the container 1 to be treated when the latter arrives facing the dispensing
means 12, as explained hereinabove. According to the number of images
20 captured by the image-capture device 16, it will be advantageously possible,
by analysis of these images, to follow with a more or less fine time step the
progress of the treatment substance dispensing operation. Determining the
38
compliance / non-compliance of the treatment substance dispensing is
therefore easier and more reliable.
As in the embodiment in which a single image is captured, determining the
correct introduction of the treatment substance into the cavity 4 of the
5 container 1, based on a plurality of captured images, may advantageously
be carried out in particular based on the knowledge of the size (diameter)
of the opening 5 of the container 1 (the diameter of the opening 5 of the ring
11 of the containers 1 to be treated being in practice systematically
measured, checked, in line) and on the characteristics (orientation,
10 direction, speed, etc.) of the moving path of the container 1 with respect to
the dispensing means 12. It is possible to rely on the capture of at least two
distinct images, one being captured at the time when the treatment
substance dispensed by the dispensing means 12 arrives at a predefined
plane of said spatial area, which is positioned at known fixed distances from
15 the dispensing means 12 and from the plane in which is inscribed the
opening 5 of the container 1 to be treated when the latter arrives facing the
dispensing means 12, the other being captured at the time when the
treatment substance finishes passing through said predefined plane.
Determining the correct introduction of the treatment substance may then
20 implement a calculation of the time separating the respective captures of
these two images, and/or a calculation of the time separating the triggering
of the treatment substance dispensing operation and the capture of the first
of said images, and/or a calculation of the time separating the triggering of
39
the treatment substance dispensing operation and the capture of the second
of said images.
Obviously, other principles of image analysis and subsequence
determination, from such an analysis, of whether or not at least said
5 predetermined quantity and/or substantially all the quantity of the treatment
substance dispensed by the dispensing means 12 has been introduced into
the cavity 4 of the container 1 through the opening 5 of the latter, may be
implemented without thereby departing from the framework of the invention.
In this preferential embodiment implementing the capture of a plurality of
10 images, the check operation of the treatment method, and in particular the
capture of images by the image-capture device 16, is preferably triggered
only when the container 1 to be treated is positioned at the dispensing
means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. In
other words, the image-capture device 16 advantageously captures no
15 image in the absence of container 1 to be treated at the dispensing means
12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. The
implementation of said check operation is therefore simplified, insofar that
the quantity of images to be analysed is limited. Even more preferentially,
the treatment substance dispensing operation is carried out only when the
20 container 1 is positioned at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing
the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter, as contemplated hereinabove, and the
check operation triggering is then synchronized with the triggering of said
dispensing operation. As an alternative, the substance dispensing operation
40
could on the contrary be carried out in a substantially uninterrupted manner,
that is to say in the presence or not of a container 1 at the dispensing means
12. However, it would remain advantageous that the check operation is
carried out, triggered, only when the container 1 is positioned at the
5 dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the
latter.
Symmetrically, as regards the treatment installation 2, the latter is then
preferentially designed and configured to ensure that the check means 17,
and in particular the image-capture device 16 of the latter, is operated only
10 when the container 1 to be treated is located at the dispensing means 12,
and preferably facing the dispensing orifice 13 of the latter. Even more
preferentially, the treatment installation 2 is designed and configured to
ensure that the dispensing means 12 is operated only when the container 1
is positioned at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the
15 dispensing orifice 13 of the latter, as contemplated hereinabove, and to
further ensure that the check means 17 is operated synchronously with the
putting in operation of the dispensing means 12. As an alternative, the
treatment installation 2 could on the contrary be designed and configured
so that the dispensing means 12 dispenses said treatment substance in a
20 substantially uninterrupted manner, that is to say in the presence or not of
a container 1 at the dispensing means 12. However, it would remain
advantageous that said treatment installation 2 is designed and configured
to ensure that the check means 17, and in particular the image-capture
41
device 16 of the latter, is operated only when the container 1 to be treated
is positioned at the dispensing means 12, and preferably facing the
dispensing orifice 13 of the latter.
Advantageously, the analysis of the captured image(s) is carried out in real
5 time, or at least immediately following the capture thereof, in order to allow
the fastest determination possible of compliance or not of the treatment
substance dispensing and the triggering, as the case may be, of an
operation of discarding, as described hereinabove, a container 1 that would
not have received in its cavity 4 the expected treatment substance quantity.
10 The image-capture device 16 of the treatment method and installation is
preferentially chosen able to capture one or several images with a time
resolution of at least 50 images per second (or fps), preferably at least 100
images per second, preferably at least 500 images per second, more
preferably at least 800 images per second. Typically, the photographic
15 sensor of the image-capture device 16 can then be that of a so-called "high
speed" or "low motion" video camera. It is therefore advantageously
possible to check accurately and efficiently the correct dispensing of the
treatment substance at very high speeds of movement of the container 1
with respect to the dispensing means 12, and that for containers 1 of any
20 shape and size, including containers with very small ring opening and/or for
very high treatment substance dispensing speeds. Therefore, the treatment
method and installation 2 particularly suit to an industrial context of glass
container manufacture and treatment. For example, for a time resolution of
42
about 900 images per second, it is advantageously possible to check in an
efficient and reliable manner the dispensing of the treatment substance in a
glass container 1 of the vial type, the opening 5 of the ring 11 of which has
a diameter of 12 mm, said container 1 being in motion relative to the
5 dispensing means 12 along a rectilinear path T, at a speed of about 40
metres per minute (which defines a time window of at most about 18 ms for
the efficient dispensing of the treatment substance into the cavity 4 of the
container 1).
As illustrated in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the image-capture device 16
10 further preferentially comprises an intense light source 24 (preferably white),
advantageously placed in such a way that the container 1 is positioned
between the photographic sensor(s) and the light source 24, in order to
optimize the operation of the photographic sensor(s) and the quality of the
captured images, in particular at high treatment rates and for a high time
15 resolution of the photographic sensor(s).
Preferentially, the glass constituting the wall 3 of the container 1 is
transparent in a domain of vision of the image-capture device 16. When said
domain of vision corresponds to the visible domain, it can hence be a
colourless glass (white glass) or a coloured glass (yellow or amber glass,
20 for example). In this case, said check operation can advantageously
comprise capturing, by said image-capture device 16, during said
dispensing operation, at least one image (and preferably a plurality of
images) of a spatial area including, by transparency, at least a portion of the
43
accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1, and preferably the whole
accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1. The check operation may
comprise determining, by analysing the so-captured image(s), a
consequence of the introduction of the treatment substance into the
5 accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1. Symmetrically, the imagecapture device 12 of the treatment installation 2 may be advantageously
configured to capture at least one image of such a spatial area including at
least a portion of the accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1, and
preferably the whole accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1, when the
10 dispensing means 12 of the installation 2 is in operation and dispenses said
treatment substance. The image-analysis system 18 of the check means 17
may then be advantageously configured to determine, by analysing the socaptured image, a consequence of the introduction of the treatment
substance into the accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1.
15 That way, it is in particular possible to characterize at least in part a
behaviour of the treatment substance when the latter reaches the cavity 4
of the container 1, such as for example a path followed by the treatment
substance through the cavity 4 or a distribution of said treatment substance
at the surface of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1. It is also
20 potentially possible to characterize a visible change in the appearance of all
or part of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 in reaction to the introduction of the
treatment substance (opacification of the wall 3, etc.). In the case where the
treatment substance would be intended to allow an immediate treatment of
44
the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1, that is to say as soon as at
least part of said treatment substance has been introduced into the cavity 4
of the container 1, the analysis of the so-captured image can then
advantageously determine the existence or not of a visible phenomenon
5 associated with said treatment, and potentially to quantify the intensity
thereof. For example, in the case described hereinabove, in which the
treatment substance is designed to allow a dealkalization treatment of the
glass of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 by reaction of the
treatment substance under the heat of said inner face 6, brought to a
10 suitable treatment temperature, when the last treatment substance is
dispensed into a container 1, the check operation may then advantageously
comprise determining the presence or not within the cavity 4 of the container
1 of fumes characteristic of the hot reaction of the treatment substance.
Therefore, said check operation thus advantageously allows checking not
15 only the smooth running of the treatment substance dispensing operation,
but also, in certain cases, and at least partially, the smooth running of the
treatment of the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 by said treatment
substance. For example, by determining by image analysis an absence or
insufficiency of characteristic fumes inside the cavity 4 of the container 1,
20 whereas it is determined that the desired quantity (predetermined or total)
of treatment substance has actually been dispensed into said cavity 4, the
check operation advantageously allow identifying that the temperature of
the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the container 1 was not sufficient to allow a
45
good reaction of the treatment substance and hence a sufficient treatment
of the container 1. The latter can then be considered as non-compliant and
be discarded.
As an alternative, or preferably as a complement, the check operation may
5 advantageously comprise
- capturing, by said image-capture device 16, during said dispensing
operation, at least one image (and preferably capturing successively a
plurality of images) of a spatial area in which is included the treatment
substance when the latter is dispensed by the dispensing means 12,
10 and
- determining, by analysing said at least one so-captured image, the
value of a parameter of the dispensing operation chosen in particular
among a volume of the dispensed treatment substance, a mass of the
dispensed treatment substance, an apex angle value θ of a treatment
15 substance dispensing cone C, and a combination of all or part of these
parameters.
Reciprocally, as an alternative or preferably as a complement, the imagecapture device 16 of the treatment installation 2 is advantageously
configured to capture at least one image (and preferably to capture
20 successively a plurality of images) of a spatial area in which is included the
treatment substance when the latter is dispensed by the dispensing means
12. The image-analysis system 18 of the treatment installation 2 is then
advantageously configured to determine, by analysing said at least one so-
46
captured image, the value of an operating parameter of the dispensing
means 12, chosen in particular among a volume of the dispensed treatment
substance, a mass of the dispensed treatment substance, an apex angle
value θ of a treatment substance dispensing cone C, and a combination of
5 all or part of these parameters.
Advantageously, at least the dispensing orifice 13 of the dispensing means
12 and the opening 5 of the container 1 are then included in said spatial
area, and hence in the so-captured image(s). The analysis of the socaptured image(s) and subsequent determination of said parameters will be
10 typically carried out using an image-analysis software or algorithm designed
and configured to detect, measure and extrapolate if need be the shape and
sizes of a dose formed of all or part of the quantity of treatment substance
dispensed by the dispensing means 12 and visible in the images captured
by the image-capture means 16. Obviously, other parameters than those
15 mentioned hereinabove can also be advantageously determined.
Thus, optical check of the treatment substance dispensing may
advantageously allow a real-time warning of any potential variation over
time in the value of at least one of the above-mentioned parameters of
treatment substance dispensing. Such an optical control may therefore
20 provide real time feedback on the operation of the dispensing means 12, in
such a way as to ensure a perfect stability, repeatability, of the operation of
the latter over time. For example, if a certain deviation over time of the
quantity of treatment substance really dispensed by the dispensing means
47
12 with respect to a quantity of treatment substance defined as a set point
is determined, it will be advantageously possible to immediately control in
return a change of operation of the dispensing means 12 in order to correct
said deviation. The reliability of the treatment method and installation 2 will
5 thus be improved, and the assurance of obtaining a sufficiently treated glass
container will be further strengthened.
As already mentioned hereinabove, the image-capture device 16 can
possibly comprise a plurality of photographic sensors, in particular in the
case where, during the check operation, it is desired to capture at least one
10 image of the spatial area including the opening 5 of the container 1 and at
least one image of a spatial area including at least a portion of the
accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1, and preferably the totality of the
accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1. In this case, the photographic
sensors can be positioned at different places with respect to the dispensing
15 means 12 and the container 1 to be treated, in such a way as to optimize
the image capture. In the case where, during the treatment substance
dispensing check operation, a plurality of images is captured, the
photographic sensors may each belong to a separate video camera (or any
other suitable technical means). The corresponding spatial areas may then
20 be either two-dimensional or three-dimensional. However, preferentially,
said image-capture device 16 of the treatment method and installation
comprises a single photographic sensor. The latter is thus positioned in
such a way as to be able to capture at least one image of a spatial area
48
including the opening 5 of the container 1, and advantageously in such a
way as to also capture, preferably simultaneously, an image of a spatial
area including at least a portion, and more preferably the totality, of the
accommodation cavity 4 of the container 1. In this case, the corresponding
5 spatial area(s) are hence essentially two-dimensional. The design, setting
and implementation of the check operation / check means 17 is therefore
advantageously simplified and more reliable, and the cost is better
controlled. Moreover, the check means 17 of the treatment installation 2 is
therefore more compact, and may be easily integrated in the immediate
10 proximity of the dispensing means 12.
It is to be noted that the treatment method and installation 2 according to
the invention, which thus implement an optical check operation, are
therefore suit particularly to the cases in which it is not conceivable to control
by mechanical means a quantity of treatment substance introduced into the
15 cavity 4 of a container 1, as for example using a force sensor that would be
placed under the bottom 8 of the container, to measure a mass variation of
the latter during the dispensing operation, and that, in particular, due to a
too small mass of treatment substance dispensed, to a too high speed of
movement of containers 1 during the dispensing operation, to a too high
20 temperature of the container 1 to be treated and/or also to an instantaneous
reaction of the treatment substance as soon as the latter enters said cavity
4 (as may be the case with a dealkalization substance).
49
Moreover, it is understood that such an optical check of the treatment
substance dispensing could advantageously allow verifying and correcting,
if need be, at the beginning of the campaign of treatment of glass containers
1, the spatial arrangement of the dispensing means 12 with respect to the
5 flow of containers 1 circulating on the conveyor 14, and in particular with
respect to the opening 5 of these latter, and the setting of the quantity of
treatment substance the dispensing means 12 must dispense.
As explained hereinabove, the invention is obviously not limited to such a
dealkalization treatment. Indeed, the treatment installation and method
10 could also be treatment installation and method for doping, chemically
hardening, etc., the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of the glass container 1,
according in particular to the nature of the treatment substance used, and
that particularly when the aim is to ensure in a simple and efficient manner
that the container 1, the inner face 6 of the wall 3 of which is to be treated,
15 receives at least a predetermined sufficient and necessary quantity of
treatment substance to ensure a sufficient treatment of said container 1.
POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The invention finds its industrial application in the design, making and
20 implementation of installations and methods for treating the inner face of the
wall of glass containers, and in particular pharmaceutical and diagnostic
containers.
50
We claim
1. A method for treating the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of a glass container
(1), which wall (3) delimits an accommodation cavity (4) for a product
and an opening (5) providing access to said accommodation cavity (4),
5 said method comprising:
- an operation of dispensing a treatment substance into said cavity (4),
using a dispensing means (12) an orifice (13) of which for dispensing
said treatment substance is located at a distance from the opening
(5) of the container (1) and outside the latter, said container (1) being
10 in motion relative to said dispensing means (12), and
- a check operation comprising capturing, by an image-capture device
(16), during said dispensing operation, at least one image of a spatial
area including the opening (5) of the container (1), and determining,
by analysing the so-captured image, whether or not at least a
15 predetermined quantity of said treatment substance has been
introduced into the cavity (4) of the container (1) through the opening
(5) of the latter.
2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the check
operation comprises determining, by analysing the so-captured image,
20 whether or not substantially all the quantity of treatment substance
dispensed by the dispensing means (12) during said dispensing
operation has been introduced into the cavity (4) of the container (1),
through the opening (5) of the latter.
51
3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
image-capture device (16) is able to capture one or several images with
a time resolution of at least 50 images per second, preferably at least
100 images per second, preferably at least 500 images per second,
5 more preferably at least 800 images per second.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a
plurality of images of said spatial area including the opening (5) of the
container (1) is captured using said image-capture device (16), during at
least the whole duration of said dispensing operation.
10 5. The method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said
dispensing operation is carried out only when the container (1) is
positioned at the dispensing means (12), and preferably facing the
dispensing orifice (13) of said dispensing means (12), the check
operation triggering being synchronized with the dispensing operation
15 triggering.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a
method for dealkalization treatment of the glass in the vicinity of the
surface of the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of the container (1).
7. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein said operation of
20 dispensing the treatment substance into the accommodation cavity (4)
of the container (1) is carried out while the inner face (6) of the wall (3)
of said container (1) is at a temperature of at least 350°C, preferably
between 350°C and 700°C, said treatment substance being designed to
52
react under the heat of the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of the container
(1) to cause a dealkalization of the glass.
8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, which
comprises an operation of discarding the container (1) in the case where
5 it is determined, during said check operation, that at least said
predetermined quantity of treatment substance has not been introduced
into the cavity (4) of said container (1).
9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
glass of the container (1) is transparent in a domain of vision of the
10 image-capture device (16), said check operation comprising capturing,
by said image-capture device (16), during said dispensing operation, at
least one image of a spatial area including at least a portion of the
accommodation cavity (4) of the container (1), and preferably the totality
of the accommodation cavity (4) of the container (1), and determining,
15 by analysing the so-captured image, a consequence of the introduction
of the treatment substance into the accommodation cavity (4) of the
container (1).
10.The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
check operation comprises capturing, by said image-capture device
20 (16), during said dispensing operation, at least one image of a spatial
area in which is included the treatment substance when the latter is
dispensed by the dispensing means (12), and determining, by analysing
the so-captured image, the value of a parameter of the dispensing
53
operation chosen among a volume of the dispensed treatment
substance, a mass of the dispensed treatment substance, an apex angle
value θ of a treatment substance dispensing cone (C), and a
combination of all or part of these parameters.
5 11.The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
image-capture device (16) comprises a single photographic sensor.
12.An installation (2) for treating the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of a glass
container (1), which wall (3) delimits an accommodation cavity (4) for a
product and an opening (5) providing access to said accommodation
10 cavity (4), said installation (2) comprising:
- a dispensing means (12) for dispensing a treatment substance into
said cavity (4), said dispensing means (12) being provided with an
orifice (13) for dispensing said treatment substance and being
designed so that said dispensing orifice (13) is located at a distance
15 from the opening (5) of the container (1) and outside the latter and to
dispense said treatment substance while said container (1) is in
motion relative to said dispensing means (12), and
- a check means (17) comprising an image-capture device (16) for
capturing, when the dispensing means (12) dispenses said treatment
20 substance, at least one image of a spatial area including the opening
(5) of the container (1), and an image-analysis system (18) for
determining, by analysing the captured image, whether or not at least
a predetermined quantity of said treatment substance has been
54
introduced into the cavity (4) of the container (1) through the opening
(5) of the latter.
13.The installation (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein said
image-analysis system (18) is configured to determine, by analysing the
5 captured image, whether or not substantially all the quantity of treatment
substance dispensed by the dispensing means (12) has been introduced
into the cavity (4) of the container (1), through the opening (5) of the
latter.
14.The installation(2) according to any one of claims 12 and 13, wherein
10 said image-capture device (16) is able to capture one or several images
with a time resolution of at least 50 images per second, preferably at
least 100 images per second, preferably at least 500 images per second,
more preferably at least 800 images per second.
15.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said
15 image-capture device (16) is configured to capture a plurality of images
of said spatial area including the opening (5) of the container (1), during
at least the whole duration of dispensing of the treatment substance by
the dispensing means (12).
16.The installation (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein said
20 installation (2) is designed and configured to ensure that the dispensing
means (12) is operated only when the container (1) is positioned at the
dispensing means (12), and preferably facing the dispensing orifice (13)
of the latter, said installation (2) being further designed and configured
55
to ensure that the check means (17) is operated synchronously with the
putting in operation of the dispensing means (12).
17.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein said
installation (2) is an installation (2) for dealkalization treatment of the
5 glass in the vicinity of the surface of the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of
the container (1).
18.The installation (2) according to the preceding claim, which is designed
to dispense said treatment substance while the inner face (6) of the wall
(3) of said glass container (1) is at a temperature of at least 350°C, and
10 preferably between 350°C and 700°C, said treatment substance being
designed to react under the heat of the inner face (6) of the wall (3) of
the container (1) to cause a dealkalization of the glass.
19.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 18, which
comprises a device (23) for discarding said container (1), which is
15 connected to said image-analysis system (18) and configured to discard
said container (1) when the image-analysis system (18) determines that
at least said predetermined quantity of treatment substance has not
been introduced into the accommodation cavity (4) of the container (1).
20.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein said
20 image-capture device (16) is configured to capture at least one image of
a spatial area including at least a portion of the accommodation cavity
(4) of the container (1), and preferably of the totality of the
accommodation cavity (4) of the container (1), when the dispensing
56
means (12) dispenses said treatment substance, and wherein said
image-analysis system (18) is configured to determine, by analysing the
captured image, a consequence of the introduction of the treatment
substance into the accommodation cavity (4) of the container (1).
5 21.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein said
image-capture device (16) is configured to capture at least one image of
a spatial area in which is included the treatment substance when the
latter is dispensed by the dispensing means (12), and wherein said
image-analysis system (18) is configured to determine, by analysis of
10 the so-captured image, the value of a parameter of the dispensing
means (12) operation chosen among a volume of the dispensed
treatment substance, a mass of the dispensed treatment substance, an
apex angle value (θ) of a treatment substance dispensing cone (C), and
a combination of all or part of these parameters.
15 22.The installation (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein said
image-capture device (16) comprises a single photographic sensor.