Abstract: An inspection device and a method of checking on correct functioning of the inspection process of containers such as bottles, cans or the like, where a container to be inspected is detected optically at least in part, and the image data thus detected is analyzed with an analysis program to detect defective containers. An especially simple and reproducible function test of the analysis program is made possible by the fact that reference image data is input into the analysis program, this reference image data corresponding structurally to the detected image data and being analyzed by the analysis program with the same parameter settings of the analysis program.

Abstract: A device for use with conveyor means and a detector station, said conveyor means for moving empty beverage containers, suitably bottles of different shapes and sizes, past the detector station, and said detector station for providing characteristic data about the containers, and means which based on such data are capable of determining how the containers are to be handled subsequent to detection.

Abstract: A work unit for conveying bottles between two stations and for rejecting bottles considered faulty, includes a selecting disc, having a vertical axis and featuring radial seats made on its edge, for holding, in cooperation with vacuum ducts, bottles. A first track, concentric with the disc, cooperates with the seats and the vacuum ducts to guide bottles, considered good, from an inlet station to an outlet station. A second track begins in an intermediate point of the first track and extends to intersect the first track, and leads to a discharge station. The second track guides, with the cooperation of removing elements, the bottles considered faulty, from the first track to the discharge station, due to deactivation of the vacuum ducts with respect to the seats situated upstream of the discharge station and containing the faulty bottles.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for monitoring the presence of an analyte in a closed vial wherein a sample contained within the closed vial is conveyed to an analyzer. The analyzer determines a value of a spectral property dependent on analyte concentration at a position within a headspace formed above the sample within the vial. An indicator is used to compare the measured value of the spectral property with a predetermined limit criteria to determine the presence or absence of the analyte. Vials wherein the presence of the analyte is detected are indicated as product vials whereas vials wherein the absence of the analyte is detected are indicated as rejected vials. The rejected vials are conveyed by a transferrer to a rejected vial station. A first portion of the product vials are conveyed by a sampler to a sample collection station. A second portion of the product vials are conveyed to a labeler.

Abstract: In a sorting and separating method for recycling plastics provided in a mixture of plastics as refuse, said mixture of plastics is sorted and separated according to colours. Fractions of plastics thus obtained, separated according to colours, are sorted and separated according to types of plastic.

Abstract: Enclosed is an apparatus for analyzing micro-bubbles inside a high-purity glass tube by using a laser light dispersion. The apparatus includes: an optical base having a sample stage in a substantially horizontal orientation; a glass tube rotably mounted on the optical base in a substantially vertical orientation, the glass tube being rotated and translated in a vertical direction at a predetermined speed via the sample stage; a light generator disposed at one side of the glass tube for selectively irradiating a laser light onto an outer surface of the glass tube at a prefixed angle; and, a detector disposed at the other side of the glass tube for detecting the distribution and amount of micro-bubbles of the glass tube using the laser light passed through the glass tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for selectively removing an article from a stream or line of similar articles travelling in a pathway on a transport system such as a conveyor. The invention utilizes a synchronous electric motor which, in response to a signal to reject a specific article in the stream, rotates an article-contacting member or paddle into the path of the stream of articles travelling along the pathway whereby it contacts and smoothly removes that article from the stream. The use of a synchronous motor to effect the rotation of the paddle is very important to the present invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring sidewall thickness of a container includes a conveyor for moving the container transversely of its axis through an inspection station and simultaneously rotating the container about its axis. A light source and an illumination lens system direct onto the sidewall of the container a line-shaped light beam having a long dimension perpendicular to the axis of the container and parallel to the direction of movement of the container through the inspection station. A light sensor and an imaging lens system direct onto the sensor light energy reflected from portions of the outer and inner sidewall surfaces that are perpendicular to the illumination light energy. An information processor is responsive to light energy directed onto the light sensor by the imaging lens system for determining the thickness of the container between the outer and inner sidewall surfaces.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: The machine according to the invention comprises:

Abstract: An opposed pair of inwardly facing radiant energy detecting sensors (20, 22) is positioned to sight on freshly formed glass containers (C) being conveyed on a side by side pair of conveyors (12, 14) to determine if any of the containers is misoriented from its desired orientation. Each sensor has a sharply focused fiber and lens assembly (24) that is focused to sense radiant energy in a cone of view no greater than 1°. A baffle (32) is positioned between the conveyors and in alignment with the opposed sensors, to isolate the sensors from radiant energy emitted by containers on the away conveyor.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: Handling of liquid containers in horizontal position in the form of beverage packaging, for example, cans or or bottles of any cross-section, comprising a first and a second conveyor with respective belt, especially in connection with detection of features of the container. The belts are movable in a mutually parallel direction, and in a first, container-supporting position form an angle relative to each other, thereby forming an approximately V-shaped conveyor.

Abstract: A device (V) for optical inspection of open beverage cans (D) having a light source (Q, Q′) positioned outside the can, a reflector (R) for reflected light from the inside of the can, arranged between the light source and the opening in the can, a camera (E) which is alighed with the reflector, and an optical device (P) with which the light (11) from the light source (Q, Q′) can be projected from above through the opening (4) in the can directly onto the bottom (B) of the can, whereby the can collar (K) can be illuminated from the bottom (B) of the can on the inside. In this method, the light is bundled and directed through the narrow section of the reflector, then expanded after the reflector and projected directly onto the can bottom (B) centrally as the light spot (13, 13′) displacing the light source (Q, Q′) into the can in order to illuminate the inside wall of the collar from beneath from the light spot and to image it by the reflected light.

Abstract: An opposed pair of inwardly facing radiant energy detecting sensors (20, 22) is positioned to sight on freshly formed glass containers (C) being conveyed on a side by side pair of conveyors (12, 14) to determine if any of the containers is misoriented from its desired orientation. Each sensor has a sharply focused fiber and lens assembly (24) that is focused to sense radiant energy in a cone of view no greater than 1°. A baffle (32) is positioned between the conveyors and in alignment with the opposed sensors, to isolate the sensors from radiant energy emitted by containers on the away conveyor.

Abstract: An opposed pair of inwardly facing radiant energy detecting sensors (20, 22) is positioned to sight on freshly formed glass containers (C) being conveyed on a side by side pair of conveyors (12, 14) to determine if any of the containers is misoriented from its desired orientation. Each sensor has a sharply focused fiber and lens assembly (24) that is focused to sense radiant energy in a cone of view no greater than 1°. A baffle (32) is positioned between the conveyors and in alignment with the opposed sensors, to isolate the sensors from radiant energy emitted by containers on the away conveyor.

Abstract: A glass bottle production line comprising a bottle mold which has a plurality of mold cavities arranged in a predetermined order for forming bottles from glass parisons and for transferring the bottles to a conveyor in a predetermined sequence corresponding to the predetermined order of the mold cavities. The conveyor has a hot end portion and a cold end portion for receiving bottles from the bottle mold at an elevated temperature at the hot end portion and conveying the bottles to the cold end portion. A hot bottle inspector located at a fixed inspection station along the conveyor at the hot end portion non-touchingly inspects the bottles as the bottles are conveyed past the inspection station by the conveyor. A mold transfer signal and bottle detection signal are processed to determine the mold cavity used to produce the bottle detected at the inspector's station.

Abstract: A system and method inspects containers and cans and includes a conveyor for advancing a plurality of containers into an inspection area. A sensor senses when a can has advanced into the inspection area. At least one light source illuminates the exterior of the can and interior of the can through the top opening after sensing that a can has advanced into the inspection area. The top camera has a field of view looking down into the top opening for obtaining a pixel image of the top and interior of the can and opposing side cameras obtain pixel images in elevation of the container. A processor processes the pixel images and calculates eccentricity, diameter of the opening, and flange width measurements based on the pixel image of the top and the interior of the container. The processor calculates height and flange angle measurements based on the pixel images obtained in the elevation of the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for selectively removing an article from a stream or line of similar articles travelling in a pathway on a transport system such as a conveyor. The invention utilizes a synchronous electric motor which, in response to a signal to reject a specific article in the stream, rotates an article-contacting member or paddle into the path of the stream of articles travelling along the pathway whereby it contacts and smoothly removes that article from the stream. The use of a synchronous motor to effect the rotation of the paddle is very important to the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting surfaces of spheres such steel balls, on which sequentiality of cleaning and screening steps is attained without danger of rusting, and inspection accuracy and efficiency are enhanced, comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the spheres on a rotary disc with rotating brushes, a mechanism for inspecting and screening the cleaned spheres in oil in terms of non-defective and defective, and a removal device for removing both spheres separately. The mechanism includes a driving roller revolving and carrying thereon each sphere, a set of control rollers making tangential contact with the sphere thrusted along the outer circumference of the driving roller, a sensor for inspecting the surface of sphere while imparting a twist toward the sensor to the sphere by rotations of the driving roller and control rollers, and an oil tank holding therein the elements above.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles includes a feed conveyor for launching the articles across an airspace toward a first destination. A light source shines light energy on the articles in the airspace. A collector collects light energy reflected from the articles. A deflector is provided for deflecting selected articles toward an alternative destination as the articles fly across the airspace. A control system is operably connected to the collector and the deflector for actuating the deflector in response to a sensed parameter, such as an electromagnetic radiation frequency spectrum, of the light energy collected in the collector. Preferably, this system is utilized with a retro-reflector located on an opposite side of the airspace from the light source and the collector. This system also preferably includes the use of a multi-plexer which allows a single analyzer unit to be utilized to analyze light signals from each of a large plurality of collector units of the collector.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a surface of a container includes: providing a plastic container having a longitudinal axis and a surface; directing ultraviolet radiation from a source to an area of the surface; sensing a portion the ultraviolet radiation that is reflected from the surface of the plastic container; and generating a signal from the sensed portion of the ultraviolet radiation representing a defect in the surface plastic container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sorting plastic materials on a recycling operation wherein near and infrared energy illuminates particles of flake plastic including such as PET, PVC and PS transported along a conveyer line and the contaminant ingredients are identified and ejected from the stream of preferred particles. More accurate sorting, and thus a higher quality sort may be performed where the contaminant materials and the preferred materials are identified by comparing ratios of levels of signals of energy transmitted through or reflected from the particles, the levels of signal being obtained by filtering the energy from the particles through bandpass filters, one filter of which is centered on the absorptive peak of a contaminant and another filter is centered on a frequency exhibiting the energy level of the preferred material equal to that occurring at the center of the filter for the contaminant absorptive peak.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein assayed specimens can be transferred in any order to a specimen-container housing rack automatically and very efficiently, without any restrictions whatsoever on the order in which the specimen containers are placed in the specimen-container racks and assayed, even if different types of specimen vessel are present.

Abstract: Method and apparatus by which misshapen crown caps on beverage containers, such as bottles traveling along high-speed bottling lines, may be detected. Bottles are arranged to travel directly beneath a magnetic proximity sensor head placed at a station along a conveyor. A photodetector indicates when a crown cap is properly positioned with respect to the magnetic proximity sensor. In the presence of a crown cap, the sensor head generates a signal having characteristic shapes indicative of properly shaped caps or those that are misshapen. The signal is monitored via algorithms for the presence of the characteristic shapes anticipated for properly shaped and misshapen crown caps and commands are generated in response to detecting reject crown caps.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for fill level monitoring in which the height of contents in a container (10) is monitored. The apparatus comprises an ultrasound reciever (30) and signal processing means (50-56) adapted to receive signals from the receiver, the arrangement being such that the signal processing means (50-56) identifies a first signal (32), in use, which is representative of a wavefront (26) transmitted through the contents of the container (10) independently of the height of the contents in the container (10), and a second signal (34) that is representative of a wavefront (24) that is reflected from the interface (22) between the surface of the contents in the container (10) and the environment above the contents, and in which the signal processing means (50-56) uses the difference in travel time for the two wavefronts (24, 26) to provide a measurement of the level of the contents in the container (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing objects to be longitudinally oriented one particular way round includes a selective turning device upstream of a take-off conveyor. A retractable selection conveyor is placed between the selective turning device and the take-off conveyor. Applications include oriented distribution of containers which have a neck.

Abstract: A laboratory primary sample distributor equipped with a sorter device removing receptacles containing lab samples fitted with destination coding and arriving on a conveyor belt after having code-reading, and with a sorter gripper that transfers the receptacles into one of several destination transport means intended for different destinations. The sorter gripper is designed to simultaneously pick up several receptacles.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method in handling of returnable packages, such as bottles and/or cans. The device (10) comprises a rotatable magazine (12) for transferring returnable packages, such as bottles or cans, from a feed station (B.sub.1) further. The device that transfers the returned package from the package feed station (B.sub.1) is a rotatable magazine (12), which includes package spaces (A.sub.1, A.sub.2). The solution of equipment comprises, in the magazine (12), an outer wall, which moves to ahead of the feed gate (B.sub.1) when the magazine is rotated. The identification station (B.sub.2), in which the returned package, such as a can or a bottle, is identified, is placed after the feed station (B.sub.1). The equipment includes means by which a returned package placed in a package space (A.sub.1 or A.sub.2) in the magazine (12) is transferred, by rotating the magazine, from the feed station (B.sub.1) into the identification station (B.sub.2), in which the returned package is identified.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for inspecting the profile and wall of a bottle which is delivered by a conveyor sequentially to two inspection stations. A pair of light sources, when fully illuminated, define two images of the bottle on a CCD camera image, so that the wall can be inspected. Portions of the light sources are darkened so that two different images of the bottle will be imaged on the CCD camera image so that the profile can be inspected.

Abstract: An optoelectronic system for reading reliefs, such as a mould number, on a transparent container. The optoelectronic system associates a light source and a reception system, the light source illuminating the entire periphery of part of the body of the container and the reception system being capable of reproducing a complete image of the periphery of that part of the body of the container.

Abstract: A photoelectric sensing unit, especially useful for determining the passage of clear bottles or other low contrast targets on a conveyor, contains two sensors and a signal processing unit to determine the signal differential. The signal differential is compared to a selected value and sensor output is enabled or disabled. High noise immunity, resistance to target reflection, and output reliability result. The unit may correct the selected value to account for environmental change and/or unit component performance. The unit can also figure the speed of passage of the bottles.

Abstract: A device for a reverse vending apparatus which has a conveyor (102, 201) for moving containers of different shapes and sizes, e.g., cans or bottles of glass or plastic, past a detector station (100) in order to produce characteristic data about the containers (B). Such data determines how the containers shall be handled thereafter, e.g., sorted out, compacted, further treated or recycled. At the downstream end of the conveyor (201) there is located a bottle raiser (301) for putting transported bottles (B) which arrive bottom (B2) first into a standing position, and wherein the bottle raiser comprises a, preferably curved, guide duct or shaft (302) which guides the bottle in standing position down towards a shock-absorbing rest (303). The device also comprises a bottle stabilizer (304-307, 309-310) which on the basis of said data is held with the aid of a motor (305) in a first position (FIG.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electromagnetic source which transmits electromagnetic radiation to an object. The electromagnetic radiation then either passes through the object or is reflected by the object depending upon the electromagnetic source and the type of the object. The reflected or penetrating radiation, depending upon the type of application, is picked up by a receiver. The receiver then sends the penetrating or reflected signal into a splitter which divides it into a first and second stream or a third and fourth stream, if necessary. After each of these streams, the split signal can then be run through a filter before it is analyzed by a sensor. The sensor reading is then fed into a microprocessor which compares, combines, and evaluates the various readings.

Abstract: A device for conveying, lifting and rotating containers (521; 522; 523), (510) are conveyed in lying position past a detector (515) in order to inspect characteristic data regarding the containers, and means (124; 538) which, on the basis of such data, determines how the containers are to be handled. Along a first and a second longitudinal side (510'; 510") of the conveyor (510) there are provided respectively a first and a second rotatable roll (511, 512), wherein the rolls can be made to rotate with the aid of respective first and second roll driving motors (513, 514) about their longitudinal axis in the same direction of rotation.

Abstract: A glassware manufacturing system in which hot glass containers from an individual section machine are directed by an endless conveyor through a container inspection station. A container to be removed from the conveyor is identified by the inspection equipment for calibration purposes. An air jet is controlled by the inspection equipment for selectively removing the container from the conveyor into a trap, within which a progressively increasing force is applied to the container for arresting motion of the container without physical damage. The container may then be removed from the trap by an operator for manual inspection to calibrate the inspection equipment.

Abstract: To sort materials, in particular plastic parts, the items are carried at known conveying speed past a material recognition system which uses non-contact scanning, for example NIR spectroscopy, of each item to determine its material type and delivers a signal that identifies the type of material, which signal is used in sorting the items according to material type. To ensure that the determination of material type is done at a spot on the item that is not disturbed by a label, metal stamp or the like, the items are also conveyed past an imaging system which takes pictures of the items from which, using electronic image-processing techniques, features of colour and/or shape of the items are determined, from which in turn position data are derived about spots on the item at which an undisturbed determination of material type is possible. With the aid of these position data the determination of material type is then confined to such undisturbed spots.

Abstract: A bottle inspection method is provided which is capable of compensating for random variations in the orientation and position of objects being inspected, such as glass bottles on a conveyor. The inspection device creates an image of the object and then analyzes the image to determine the amount of variation in orientation and position. The desired measurements are made from the image and then adjusted relative to the variation previously determined. Also provided is an improved housing for the imaging devices which eliminates the need for clear panels which are prone to dirtying.

Abstract: To determine whether stress cracks are present in the bottom area of a plastic bottle which make it unfit for further use, the bottle bottom is scanned in the potential crack region by the measuring beam of a laser distance-measuring instrument. From its output signal, the prevalence and depth of the cracks can be identified sufficiently to enable a decision to be made on the removal of the bottle from circulation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of a material, such as composition and/or color, has an electromagnetic radiation source having a first amount of circular polarization. The electromagnetic radiation from the source has the capability of passing through the material. A processor determines the characteristic of the material based on changes in the electromagnetic radiation caused by passing through the material. Changes in electromagnetic radiation include changes in rotation. Additionally, the processor may determine what, if any, electromagnetic radiation was blocked by the material and the amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the material.

Abstract: An automatic vessel supplying and labeling apparatus takes out a desired vessel from racks, supplies it to a predetermined position, supplies a desired label, corresponding to the vessel, to the position, and applies the label to the vessel in the predetermined position. A judging unit checks the label information on the vessel, and judges whether the label is correctly applied to the vessel, and the vessel is sorted into one of two places, one place for collecting vessels with correctly applied labels and the other for collecting vessels with not correctly applied labels in accordance with the result of judgment. The label is applied to the vessel after a sensor detects the label supplied to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A sorting system (10) propels a stream of randomly arranged PET and PVC articles (12, 14) through an inspection zone (20) including a first light polarizer/analyzer combination (24, 26), an article-detecting gap (G), and a second light polarizer/analyzer combination (28, 30). The first and second polarizer/analyzer combinations are oriented to extinguish normally incident light in the absence of articles in the inspection zone and are offset 45 degrees relative to each other such that at least one polarizer/analyzer combination detects a principal axis of birefringence of PET articles. The gap is employed to detect the presence of an article in the inspection zone. A video camera (22) includes first, second, and third CCD arrays (58, 60, 62) positioned to receive respective light rays (48, 64, 50) from the first light polarizer/analyzer combination, the gap, and the second light polarizer/analyzer combination and to generate first, second, and third video signals representative of the light each receives.

Abstract: An automatic label applicator includes means for scanning a group of touching objects to determine their unique coordinates, and means responsive to the coordinates for automatically applying labels to the objects. A robotic arm is controllably movable in horizontal and vertical directions to align the applicator with individual objects disposed in a stack of objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sorting post-consumed bottles exactly and efficiently and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The sorting apparatus comprises a supply section, a separating section, a detecting section comprising a first image pickup camera for detecting the size and contour of each post-consumed bottle and a second image pickup camera for high speed detection of color by a defined image pickup utilizing data from the first image pickup camera, a sorting section for sorting and discharging only post-consumed bottles already classified to sorting containers preliminarily placed in accordance with data received from the detecting section, and a control section for controlling a series of operations timely. Since the scope of the image pickup for detecting color of the post-consumed bottles is defined in accordance with the data from the detecting section, picture processing at a high speed is achieved resulting in remarkable sorting performance.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting non-round annular containers includes elongated capacitive sensors, cooperating oscillators, which convert the sensor signal to a voltage corresponding thereto, and an electronic processor which receives the voltage and determines thickness. A displaceable electromechanical member is operatively associated with the sensor and emits an electrical signal corresponding to the degree of displacement of the sensor by a container being inspected. The electronic processor corrects the thickness determination by an adjustment of container diameter at the specific location where thickness is being monitored in order to compensate for container diameter variations due to the non-round characteristic of the container. In a preferred embodiment, linkage members secured to the rear of the sensor at a plurality of locations cooperate with a single displaceable element which converts the mechanical displacement of the sensor into a corresponding electrical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying information contained in deviations in the surface of an article, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles, has a source for radiating the article to provide a reflection from the deviations. An observing device observes the deviations in the reflection characteristics. A computer algorithm identifies the deviations and determines whether they correlate to a known pattern of surface deviations. The deviations are in the form of a plurality of lines having a predetermined uniquely identifiable spacing, providing a pattern which may be easily detected by its reflection characteristics and compared to a known pattern of surface deviations. The plurality of lines may be arcs orientated relative to a point on the surface of the article to provide an origin for the arcs, thereby permitting the article to be rotated about its origin for easy location and measurement.

Abstract: This invention is provided to automate an adjusting job of a restaurant and to realize automatic sorting of tableware and to improve an operating efficiency of a restaurant job. Resonance tags are mounted on bottoms of plates of the tableware in which meals are dished up. The plates are placed on a tray, and the tray is placed on a tray placing position of an adjusting apparatus. A tag reader is buried in a lower portion of the tray placing position, and transmitting antennas and a reception antenna are superposed to form the tag reader. In this case, when radio waves of a plurality of frequencies are oscillated from the transmission antennas, different echo waves are oscillated from the resonance tags of the plates. When the echo waves are received by the reception antenna, the plates are sorted by the resonance frequencies of the resonance tags set to the respective plates.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a device for the transfer (13) of containers (12) which takes containers (12) from a magazine for containers (11) to convey them in succession to a delivery station (16) passing through means for labelling (14) and means for checking the labels (25) controlled by a control and data acquisition system (2) so as to univocally label each single container with the data related to a corresponding single patient to a corresponding single sanitary event.

Abstract: First, second and third linear conveyors are arranged in alignment with each other in the stated order. Bottles to be inspected are conveyed standing on their bottoms on the first linear conveyor through an inspection station followed by an ejector for those bottles which fail to match specified characteristics of an acceptable bottle model. The second conveyor has spaced apart parallel translating conveyor belts for frictionally gripping the bottles by their bodies between them to make their mouth ends and bottoms clear for inspection. The bottle discharge end region of the first conveyor and the bottle inlet end region overlap to achieve an overall shorter machine. The second conveyor has a bottle discharge region that overlaps the bottle inlet end region of the third conveyor to achieve a shorter machine.