Apparatus and method for examining containers for impurities
A device for inspecting containers for foreign substances, including at least one sampling head, wherein by means of the at least one sampling head, a quantity of a first fluid is introducible into the at least one container contactlessly via an opening of the sampling head by means of a fluid introduction device and wherein by means of the sampling head, a quantity of a second fluid to be inspected for foreign substances is contactlessly removable from the at least one container, a measuring cell for optically inspecting the second fluid is at least partially arranged in the sampling head, preferably wherein an analysis device for analyzing the second fluid for foreign substances is arranged, which is connected to the measuring cell, in particular by means of an optical connection, in particular wherein the analysis device and the measuring cell are designed to determine foreign substances by means of UV spectroscopy of the second fluid and/or that a sorting device is arranged, which is designed to sort out containers deviating from a previously defined result on the basis of a result from the analysis device, in particular wherein the sorting device is designed to feed the containers again at least once for the inspection for foreign substances.
1 . A device for inspecting containers for foreign substances, the device comprising:
a sampling head, wherein by way of the sampling head, a quantity of an associated first fluid is introducible into an associated container contactlessly via an opening of the sampling head by a fluid introduction device in the sampling head,
wherein, by way of the sampling head, a quantity of an associated second fluid to be inspected for foreign substances is contactlessly removable from the associated container,
wherein a measuring cell for optically inspecting the associated second fluid is at least partially arranged in the sampling head and fixed relative to the fluid introduction device wherein the opening of the sampling head is fluidically connected to the measuring cell via at least two lines.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sampling head is detachably arranged in a holding device.
3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the holding device includes at least two optical accesses which are used for optical access to the measuring cell.
4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid introduction device includes a valve device, having a plurality of valves for providing pressure pulses for the associated first fluid for introduction into the associated container.
5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the measuring cell includes an outlet for discharging the associated second fluid, which can be connected to a vacuum device.
6 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the opening of the sampling head is designed as a funnel, which is fluidically connected to the measuring cell, in an area adjacent to the opening of the associated container.
7 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein the fluid introduction device is arranged off-center in the funnel.
8 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid introduction device is designed to introduce the associated cleaning fluid into the measuring cell and/or into at least one line leading to the measuring cell at at least two axial ends of the measuring cell.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a cleaning device for the measuring cell is arranged, wherein the cleaning device includes an introduction device for introducing an associated cleaning fluid into the measuring cell.
10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sampling head is stationary.
11 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein the sampling head has an at least two-part structure and wherein at least two parts of the at least two-part structure are detachably attachable to one another.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a conveyor device for the containers is arranged in such a way that the containers are guided past the sampling head and/or
wherein a fluid provision device is arranged, which is designed to provide the first associated fluid in the form of a gas or gas mixture.
13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein an analysis device for analyzing the associated second fluid for foreign substances is arranged, which is connected to the measuring cell.
14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the analysis device and the measuring cell are designed to determine foreign substances by way of an UV spectroscopy of the associated second fluid.
15 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein a sorting device is arranged, which is designed to sort out containers of the associated container deviating from a previously defined result on the basis of a result from the analysis device.
16 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the sorting device is designed to feed the containers again at least once for the inspection for foreign substances.
17 . A method for examining containers for foreign substances by means of a device according to claim 1 , comprising the steps
a) feeding a container to the sampling head of the device in a suitable position for sampling,
b) introducing a quantity of a first fluid into the container by means of the sampling head,
c) removing a quantity of a second fluid from the at least one container for inspection for foreign substances by means of the sampling head,
d) feeding the removed quantity of the second fluid into the measuring cell,
e) performing a spectroscopic analysis of the second fluid in the measuring cell, and
f) determining foreign substances in the container based on a result of the spectroscopic analysis.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the container is subjected to the inspection for foreign substances again at least once if at least one result is not clear and/or several results are contradictory.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein at least one further method for examining foreign substances on the container is carried out before or after carrying out steps a) through f).