HK1148616B - Operating device preferably for machines for controlling and inspecting containers and/or their contents, and corresponding machine - Google Patents

Description

Operating device, preferably for use in a machine for controlling and inspecting containers and/or their contents, and corresponding machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an operating device and a corresponding checking machine, preferably for use in a machine for controlling and checking containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a synchronization device and a corresponding machine for use in a machine for controlling and inspecting containers and/or their contents, preferably in the pharmaceutical sector.

Background

As is known, certain products are packaged and sealed in containers.

In particular in the pharmaceutical sector, certain products are placed and sealed in containers, such as bottles or vials made of glass or synthetic material like, for example, plastic or similar material. The containers, once sealed and sent out of the filling and sealing system, are subjected to various checks and verifications.

The inspection may, for example, identify any foreign particles inside the container and/or its contents and/or defects in the closure and/or lid, cracks, fissures of the container and/or record the chemical-physical properties of the substance contained in the container.

Said check and inspection relates generally to the condition of the container and/or the product contained therein. Furthermore, it is clear that the container can even be inspected before filling the container.

Said inspection is carried out using a dedicated machine which allows this operation to be carried out while the containers are moving along the production line.

More particularly, a machine or system of known type generally comprises:

-a loading unit for containers to be inspected;

a rotary support device constituted by a cylinder (also called carousel) provided radially with a plurality of seats arranged side by side, each seat being adapted to receive one container to be inspected from a loading unit;

-means for recording the characteristics of the container to be checked, arranged on the periphery of the cylinder and facing said seat;

-an operating or synchronization device adapted to maintain a relative angular speed equal to zero between the bottles positioned on the rotating support and the recording means, said device being adapted to maintain said relative speed equal to zero for a period of time necessary for recording the characteristics to be checked;

-an unloading unit for the inspected containers, suitable for collecting the inspected containers from the rotating support in order to transfer them outside the system or to recycle them.

It is important to note that, in order to correctly perform the above-mentioned recording operation, it is necessary to keep the bottle stationary with respect to the recording device for the time required to record the parameter to be checked.

The known synchronization device (also called mechanical oscillator) is mechanical and adapted to convert a continuous rotary motion of the input into a reduced continuous rotary motion on the output shaft and into a reciprocating motion of the carrier.

More precisely, the apparatus comprises a rotating shaft driven by an electric motor which, through a mechanical system of gears and cams, rotates the pins of the fixed cylinder and, at the same time, moves the movable carriage of the fixed recording device in a reciprocating motion.

More particularly, the above-described mechanical system with pairs of cam and roller probes (roller felers) ensures that the mobile carriage moves along an arc and maintains a relative speed with respect to the rotation pin equal to zero for a given time interval. In other words, the mechanical system ensures that the angular velocities of the cursor and of the mobile carriage are the same for a given circular arc amplitude of the cylindrical trajectory.

The motion law and the amplitude of the vibration of the movable support are determined by the profile of the cam.

A first drawback deriving from the mechanical synchronization devices of the known type used in systems for checking pharmaceutical products lies in particular in the fact that said devices are complex, heavy and bulky.

Another drawback is that the dynamic movements present in the above-mentioned devices cause mechanical slack and it is therefore difficult to control the movement of the sensor accurately and in a repetitive manner.

A further drawback is that the mechanical parts of said mechanical synchronization devices generate friction and are therefore subject to wear, which considerably shortens the working life of the mechanical parts themselves and thus of the devices containing them.

A further disadvantage is represented by the fact that the mechanical synchronization devices require lubrication.

Another drawback consists of the fact that the above-mentioned friction generates almost negligible power losses.

A further disadvantage is that the speeds and accelerations that can be reached by the sensors are limited.

Another drawback is that the elasticity of the components of the mechanical synchronization device causes mechanical resonance phenomena and therefore undesired oscillations and vibrations of the sensor even during the recording phase.

A further drawback is represented by the fact that the ratio between the time taken to check the container and the time required for the cylindrical support to run for one revolution, determined by the transmission ratio between the mechanical parts of the kinematic chain of the synchronization device which transmits the motion to the sensor, is constant.

Another disadvantage is that the components of the mechanical synchronization device must be constructed with high precision and with minimum tolerance values in order to ensure the best possible synchronization between the movements of the support and of the rotation pin.

A further drawback associated with one of the aforementioned ones is represented by the fact that the mechanical synchronization devices are expensive.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In particular, a first object of the present invention is to construct an operating device, preferably for a machine for controlling and inspecting containers and/or their contents, and a corresponding machine.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a synchronization device and a corresponding machine particularly suitable in systems or machines for inspecting and inspecting containers and/or products contained therein in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Another object of the present invention is to construct an apparatus and a machine that allow the automatic and continuous, uninterrupted inspection of the containers and/or their contents.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a device which has a substantially compact structure and therefore has a smaller overall size compared to similar devices of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to construct an apparatus and a machine that are able to eliminate or at least minimize the use of mechanical transmission components of the sensors used to move the inspection containers.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a device and a machine characterised by reduced friction and therefore reduced wear and power losses, which require less maintenance than similar devices of known type.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct an apparatus that is capable of moving in a precise and repeatable manner a support suitable for supporting a sensor of a test receptacle.

A further object of the present invention is to construct an apparatus and a machine that are able to achieve very high carriage positioning speeds and thus very high sensor speeds.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a machine which allows to check a greater number of containers per unit of time than comparable machines of known type.

A further object of the present invention is to construct an apparatus and a machine that are efficient and reliable.

Another, but not least, object of the present invention is to construct a device that is lightweight, simple from a design and implementation point of view, economical and easy to construct and assemble.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a handling device and a corresponding machine of the kind described and defined in the independent claims.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

Particular embodiments of the proposed solution enable to advantageously construct an apparatus and a machine in which the frequency and/or amplitude of the reciprocating movement of the mobile support per revolution of the rotation pin (and therefore of the recording means) can be varied at will in a practical and straightforward manner.

Still advantageously, the proposed solution enables to construct an apparatus and a machine that can intervene to vary the ratio between the time required to check the containers and the time taken for each revolution of the carousel.

Still advantageously, the proposed solution enables to operate a plant in which the maintenance operations for replacing any malfunctioning part are easier than those required for similar plants of known type.

Drawings

The objects and advantages described above will be emphasized in more detail in the description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, provided as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1-3 show schematic plan views of the device of the invention, with the same references to the operating positions;

figure 4 shows a schematic side view, partly in section, of the device shown in figure 1;

figures 5a to 5h each show a schematic plan view of a variant of some of the identically labelled components of the device shown in figure 1;

figures 6a to 6p each show a cross-section of a variant of some of the identically labelled parts of the device of the invention;

figures 7 to 9 each show a plan view of another example of a device implemented according to the invention;

figure 10 shows a schematic side view, partly in cross-section, of the apparatus shown in figure 7;

figure 11 shows a schematic side view, partly in cross-section, of another example of a device carried out according to the invention;

figure 12 shows a perspective view of a machine or system also subject of the present invention;

figure 13 shows a plan view of some of the components of the machine or system shown in figure 12;

figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the machine or system shown in figure 12;

figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of some of the components of the machine or system shown in figure 12;

figure 16 shows a plan section view, along the horizontal plane, of some of the components of the machine or system shown in figure 12;

figure 17 shows a side view in cross section of another example of a machine implemented according to the invention;

figure 18 shows an enlarged view of some parts of the machine shown in figure 17;

figures 19 to 24 each show a plan view of some of the components of the machine shown in figure 12, each illustrating a different operating position.

It is particularly important that corresponding parts in different examples of embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

A given location indicates that it should be transitioned to a new location in different instances of the implementation.

Detailed Description

Although some specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the following description with reference to the above figures, it is clear that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described, but rather to individual embodiments explicitly described in the different aspects of the invention below, the scope and objects of which are defined in the claims.

Some examples of embodiments of the invention, as described below, relate to systems for inspecting and inspecting a plurality of containers and/or products contained therein. More particularly, the system is a system for inspecting containers containing pharmaceutical products, which uses an operating device carried out according to the invention.

It is clear, however, that the proposed solution can be used in any machine or system, a part of which must perform a particular forward-backward movement (or so-called reciprocating movement), preferably around a centre of rotation, for example in order to follow and check a series of containers guided on a transport line.

An operating device operating in accordance with the present invention is depicted in fig. 1 to 4, where the whole is denoted by 1.

It comprises means (indicated in its entirety by 2) suitable for moving at least one carriage 3 (also called cursor) by reciprocating motion about a first axis 4.

According to the invention, the device 2 comprises one or more permanent magnets 5 arranged along at least a portion of a circular trajectory concentric with the axis 4 and at least one winding 6 controlled by a control unit 7.

In general terms, the handling device 1 comprises at least two parts arranged to reciprocate to obtain controlled oscillation about the axis 4 according to any law of motion.

More generally, the magnets are arranged along at least a portion of a non-linear trajectory (preferably curved and more particularly circular).

In the preferred non-limiting embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the support or cursor 3 is integrally formed with the winding 6, said winding 6 being movable along a second circular guide (not shown) concentric with the guide element 8.

In the particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the permanent magnets 5 are arranged on circular guide elements (8).

More precisely, the permanent magnets 5 are arranged side by side with inverted polarity and generate a permanent magnetic field which interacts with the magnetic field generated by the winding 6 when the winding is activated by the control unit 7.

More precisely, the control unit 7 also changes the direction of movement of the support 3 by suitably changing the voltage and/or current in the windings 6 (e.g. changing the waveform, frequency and amplitude).

This makes it possible to obtain the required forward-backward movement (also called oscillatory movement) around the axis 4, schematically illustrated in figures 1 to 3, which can be of any amplitude, as better explained below.

More particularly, in the example shown, the cursor starts from a first position 15 shown in fig. 1 and reaches a second outer position shown in fig. 3, to return continuously into the position shown in fig. 1, moving inside the angle a visible in fig. 3.

It should be observed that by varying the voltage and current in the winding (for example, by varying the waveform, frequency and amplitude), the same control unit varies the repulsion force between the winding 6 and the permanent magnet 5, thus generating a relative movement between the winding 6 and the magnet 5 of different speed and allowing variable acceleration and braking intensity to be obtained.

Alternatively, the windings 6 can be fixed and the mobile carriage or cursor 3 can be made integral with the circular guide element 8, in which case the circular guide element 8 moves about the axis 4. In other words, in this variant, the ring 8, integral with the cursor 3, moves, while the winding 6 is fixed. This advantageously makes it possible to avoid the use of, for example, electrical sliding contacts necessary for supplying the winding 6 with electrical power, or mechanical stresses on the electrical power supply cables, and to reduce the number of moving parts.

Furthermore, it is clear that the winding 6 and the ring 8 can have any shape, as long as the surfaces are coupled to each other in a reciprocating motion.

Furthermore, it is clear that the winding 6 and the ring 8 can have any size, as long as the surfaces are coupled to each other in a reciprocating motion.

The above is also valid if the surface degenerates into a point or a line. This occurs, for example, when the winding 6 is a parallelepiped. In fact, in this case the winding is combined in a line with a circular element 8 having a polygonal cross section.

If the circular element has a circular cross-section and the winding 6 is a parallelepiped, the two parts are joined in the region of the smallest distance, that is to say at one point.

As for the control unit 7, it preferably comprises a microprocessor unit.

More particularly, said control unit 7 may comprise a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and/or a computer and/or a microprocessor and/or a drive of an electric motor, and may be provided with interface means (not shown), for example comprising a display, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. Said interface means being able to set the operating parameters of the device 1.

More particularly, the operator, using the above-mentioned interface means, can set the speed or type of movement of the cursor 3, for example to make the cursor perform uniform and/or non-uniform oscillations, but with variable accelerations and/or speeds. Alternatively, the operator may determine the time or duration of the forward-backward cycle, or the number of cycles of the forward-backward cycle per unit time, or the amplitude of the oscillation, etc.

Each of figures 5a to 5h represents a different embodiment of the apparatus as described above.

In particular, the embodiment differs from the other embodiments by the number of windings indicated by 6 and the position adopted by each winding 6 with respect to the element 8 and therefore with respect to the magnet 5.

More particularly, in fig. 5a, the device comprises eight windings arranged opposite to the outer surface of the circular element.

In fig. 5b, the device comprises a single winding arranged inside the circular element.

In fig. 5c, the device comprises eight windings all arranged opposite the inner surface of the circular element.

In fig. 5d, the device comprises a single winding arranged opposite both the inner and the outer surface of the ring element.

In fig. 5e, the device comprises eight windings, each winding being arranged opposite to both the inner and the outer surface of the ring element.

In fig. 5f, the device comprises a single ring winding arranged opposite to the outer surface of the ring element.

In fig. 5g, the device comprises a single annular winding arranged opposite to both the inner and outer surface of the annular element.

In fig. 5h, the device comprises a single ring-shaped winding arranged opposite only the inner surface of the ring-shaped element provided with permanent magnets.

Furthermore, it is clear that the element 8 provided with permanent magnets can have different geometries, as long as it is not rectilinear. More particularly, said element 8 may for example extend over a portion of the circumference.

Furthermore, it is clear that the elements 8 provided with permanent magnets 5 and windings 6 may have different cross sections.

By way of example, fig. 6a to 6p show some different cross-sections of the windings, denoted by 6, and the carrier element 8 of the magnet 5.

In the above-mentioned figures, the windings 6 and the element 8 provided with permanent magnets 5 have a mixed wire (mixilinear) shaped cross-section as in fig. 6a or 6o, or a polygonal cross-section as in fig. 6b, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6l, 6m, 6n, 6p, or a circular cross-section as in fig. 6a, 6c, 6e, 6o, or a combination of said cross-sections.

It is clear that in other embodiments of the invention the cross-section of the windings and the support can be switched with reference to fig. 6a to 6 p. In other words, with reference to fig. 6a to 6p, the geometry of the winding 6 may be that of the element 8, and the cross-section of the element 8 may be that of the winding indicated by 6.

A further constructive variant of the device of the present invention, as indicated as a whole by 100 in fig. 7 to 10, differs from the previous one in that the control unit 7 cooperates with means 9 suitable for registering the rotation speed of the rotation pin 10, so as to control the means 2 in such a way as to maintain, for a given time interval, the relative speed between the carriage 3 and the rotation pin 10 equal to zero.

In other words, the control unit 7 acts on the device 2 so as to ensure that the support element 3 moves in a reciprocating motion, maintaining the same angular speed of the cursor and of the support for a given angle B.

Obviously, the operator can set the angle a and the angle B by means of the control unit 7.

It should also be noted that in the particular non-limiting embodiment described herein, the first shaft 4 and the second shaft 11 are coincident with the axis of the pin 10, in addition to being parallel to each other. Rather, in the example shown, they all coincide.

As regards the means 9 suitable for recording the rotation speed of the rotation pin, it comprises a transducer, preferably consisting of an encoder or a speedometer motor.

As regards the rotation pin 10, which is set in rotation by a power means 12, said power means 12 comprise, in the non-limiting example illustrated herein, a gear motor unit with an electric motor.

A further structural variant of the device of the subject of the invention, indicated as a whole by 200 in fig. 11, differs from the above-described device in that it also comprises second means 14 controlled by the control unit 7, suitable for moving the pin 10 in a rotary motion about the second axis 11.

In this case, it is advantageous that the control unit 7 acts simultaneously on both the means of moving the pin 10 and on the means of moving the cursor, so as to further ensure and make more precise the control and synchronization of the rotation (of the pin 10) and of the vibration (of the support 3).

Furthermore, it should be noted that in this case the first and second axes 4 are parallel to each other. Rather, in the examples set forth herein, they are coincident. It is clear that in other embodiments of the invention they may be parallel rather than coincident.

As regards the second means 14, it preferably comprise an electric motor controlled by the control unit 7, equipped with a shaft with a kinematic system suitable for rotating the pin 10. The powered motion system typically includes a mechanical gear motor.

Fig. 12 shows a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of a system or machine for inspecting and checking containers and/or their contents, indicated as a whole by 500, which is also the subject of the present invention.

A machine, indicated as a whole by reference numeral 500, is adapted to verify the status and the content of a container 501 containing, for example, a pharmaceutical product. As better explained below, an operating device of the type described above is provided.

More particularly, as shown in detail in fig. 13, the machine 500 comprises:

a loading unit for containers to be inspected, indicated in its entirety by 502;

a rotatable support means 503 provided with a plurality of seats 504 positioned side by side, each seat 504 being suitable for receiving a container 501 to be inspected from a loading unit 502;

means 505 for recording the characteristics to be checked of said container 501, facing at least one of the above seats 504;

operating the apparatus 1, better seen in fig. 14, which is adapted to maintain equal to zero the relative speed between the container 501 positioned on the support 503 and the recording means 505 when the support 503 is rotated, said apparatus 1 being adapted to maintain equal to zero said relative speed within the time intervals and/or angles necessary for recording the characteristics of the bottle 501 to be checked;

an unloading unit 506 for the inspected containers 501, suitable for collecting the inspected containers from the rotating support 503 in order to transfer them outside the machine or to recycle them.

The operating device 1 is adapted to maintain the same angular speed of both the supporting means 504 rotating about the axis 11 and the recording means 505 moving in a reciprocating motion about the axis 4.

More particularly, for angles that can be set by the operator, it is possible to keep the angular speed constant and to reach a parameter that ensures correct measurement, checked by the recording means 505.

According to the invention, the operating device is constituted by one of the operating devices as described above.

More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein, the device comprises a winding 6 integral with the frame 510 of the system and a support element 3 of permanent magnets consisting of a ring element 8.

In the example, the support element 3 is constituted by a ring-shaped element which is rotatably coupled by means of a bearing 509 to a pin 511 fixed to the frame 510. The recording means 505 are integral with the element 3.

As regards the rotary support means 504, it preferably comprises a cylinder 513 or a first disc (also called carousel) provided radially with a plurality of seats 504 (visible in fig. 13) positioned side by side, each seat 504 being suitable for receiving a container 501 to be inspected from the loading unit 502, as can also be seen in fig. 16. The device 504 also comprises a pressing device (not illustrated herein) suitable for pressing the container 501 against the wall of the seat 504.

Said cylinder 513 is integral with the rotation pin 515 and is moved by a power means 516 consisting of a gear motor means with an electric motor. In the preferred embodiment of the invention set forth herein, the device 516 is not controlled by the control unit 7.

The recording means 505 are arranged along the periphery of the cylinder 513 and, as mentioned above, they face the above-mentioned seat 504, as also shown in fig. 16.

The recording means 505 are constituted by sensors.

In a non-limiting example of the embodiments set forth herein, the sensor comprises an optical sensor, and more particularly, a camera.

It is clear, however, that the sensor may be any kind of sensor, such as a temperature sensor or other kind of sensor, and that different techniques, such as ultrasound techniques, may be applied.

As for the loading unit 502, it basically comprises a second disc 518, called loading starwheel, rotatably coupled to a respective pin 519, and the unloading unit 506 comprises a third disc 520, called unloading starwheel, rotatably coupled to a respective pin 521.

Both the second and third discs 518 and 520 are provided with a plurality of seats 522 side by side, each seat 522 being adapted to receive one bottle 501.

More particularly, the second puck 518 is adapted to receive a container 501 from an inlet conveyor (not illustrated herein) and seat it in a seat 504 of the turntable 513.

The third carousel 520 is adapted to pick up containers (so-called bottles) 501 from the carousel 510 and deposit them on at least one conveying and sorting unit provided with several unloading channels 523 visible in fig. 12.

More precisely, suitable actuator devices are able to transfer the containers 501 to the different unloading channels 523 according to the parameters recorded by the sensors.

Fig. 18 and 19 illustrate another embodiment of a machine constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, which is indicated generally by 600.

The machine 600 differs from the previous one in that the element 8 is integral with the frame 510 and the winding 6 moves with respect to the axis 4 and supports the recording means 505.

In practice, depending on the operation of the system design, the containers guided by the power transmission means are introduced into seats radially arranged on the rotating second disc 518 and the containers are successively transferred into the seats 504 in the carousel for inspection.

After reaching said position, the container 501 remains rotated about the axes 4, 11 and, after inspection, it reaches the level of the unloading unit 506, where it is collected by said unloading unit 506 and conveyed to one of the outlets according to the recorded characteristics.

When the bottle to be inspected arrives in the vicinity of the recording means 505, the control unit 7 activates the winding 6 to generate a magnetic field and moves the recording means 505 accelerating it until the same angular velocity as the turntable is reached, as shown in fig. 19 and 20.

The control unit 7 then maintains constant the angular speed reached by the cursor 3, and therefore by the recording means 505, for the set time or angle, thus allowing to check the parameters of the bottles.

Once the verification has been carried out, the control unit decelerates the cursor until it stops (as shown in fig. 21 and 22), continuously switches the direction of movement (as shown in fig. 23), and returns the recording device to the initial position (as shown in fig. 24).

It should be noted that in the example shown, the recording device is composed of three pairs of cameras 530, allowing six containers to be inspected during each forward-backward cycle.

In other words, the inspection of the containers positioned on the carousel is performed automatically by one or more sensors following the bottles along a portion of the rotation of the carousel, ensuring that in this portion the relative speed between the bottles and the sensors is equal to zero.

At the end of this portion, the sensor decelerates until its speed equals zero, then reverses its direction and returns to the starting point, ready to accelerate again and reach and align with the successive container to inspect it. Once verified, the containers meeting the set parameters enter the conveying and sorting unit, otherwise they are discarded or recycled.

It is clear that in the system which is the subject of the invention, the operating device may also not directly control the power means which move the turntable. In this case, the operating device (so-called synchronization device) comprises means 9 for recording the angular velocity of the turntable, which cooperate with the control unit 7 to move the sensor 505 in a reciprocating motion.

As will be clear from the above description, the proposed solution enables to achieve the aforementioned objects and to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it may be modified in subsequent stages of practice, all falling within the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims, and thus covered by this patent.

Furthermore, it is noted that features mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference signs, which are merely intended to facilitate the understanding of the claims themselves and are not to be construed as limiting the claims in any way.

Furthermore, it is important to underline that all the components can be replaced by other technically equivalent components and that any material can be used, provided it is compatible with the intended use and that the individual elements can be of any size, according to requirements.

Claims (24)

1. Operating device (1, 100, 200) comprising means (2) adapted to move at least one support (3) in a reciprocating motion (A) around a first axis (4), wherein said means (2) to move at least one support (3) comprise at least one winding (6) and one or more permanent magnets (5) arranged along at least one portion of a circumference concentric with said first axis (4), said at least one winding (6) being controlled by a control unit (7), wherein said control unit (7) suitably varies the voltage and/or current in said at least one winding (6) in order to vary the direction of motion of said at least one support (3), said at least one support (3) being integral with said at least one winding (6) or with said one or more permanent magnets (5), characterized in that said at least one support is able to be arranged around a rotation pin (10), wherein the first axis (4) and the axis (11) of the rotation pin (10) are parallel to each other and coincide with each other, the rotation pin (10) being rotated by a separate power means (12), the rotation pin being rotatable independently of the at least one bracket (3); the device also comprises means (9) adapted to register the rotation speed of the rotation pin (10) and cooperating with the control unit (7), wherein the control unit (7) controls the means (2) adapted to move the at least one carriage in such a way as to maintain the relative speed between the at least one carriage (3) and the rotation pin (10) equal to zero at given time intervals and/or at given angles (B).

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more permanent magnets (5) are arranged side by side with inverted polarity and generate a permanent magnetic field which interacts with the magnetic field generated by the at least one winding (6) when the at least one winding is activated by the control unit (7).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (7) comprises one or more of a micro-processing unit, a programmable logic controller, a computer and a drive for an electric motor.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (7) further comprises interface means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the interface device comprises one or more of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse.

6. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said angle (B) within which the angular speed of said at least one bracket (3) and said rotation pin (10) is the same and the amplitude (A) of said oscillation can be set by said control unit (7).

7. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said means (9) adapted to record the rotation speed of said rotation pin (10) comprise a transducer.

8. The apparatus (100) of claim 7, wherein the transducer comprises an encoder and/or a speedometer motor.

9. The apparatus (100) of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power device comprises an electric motor.

10. The apparatus (200) according to claim 9, wherein the power means is controlled by the control unit (7).

11. A machine (500, 600) for inspecting and inspecting containers (501) and/or their contents, comprising:

-a loading unit (502) for containers to be inspected;

-rotatable support means (503) provided with a plurality of seats (504), each seat (504) being adapted to receive one container (501) to be inspected from said loading unit (502);

-recording means (505) for recording characteristics of the container (501) to be inspected;

-operating means adapted to maintain a relative speed equal to zero between said recording device (505) and said container (501) positioned on said supporting device (503), said means being adapted to maintain said relative speed equal to zero for a period of time and/or at an angle necessary to record the characteristics of said container (501) to be checked, when said supporting device is rotated;

-an unloading unit (506) suitable for collecting the inspected containers (501) coming from the rotary support means (503) in order to transfer them outside the machine or to recycle them;

characterized in that said operating device is realized according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said at least one support (3) being integral with said recording means (505).

12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that said at least one winding (6) is integral with a frame (510) of the machine.

13. Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said recording means (505) are integral with said one or more permanent magnets (5).

14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that said at least one support element (3) of the permanent magnet (5) comprises an annular element (8) rotatably coupled to a pin (511), said pin (511) being fixed to a frame (510) of the machine by means of a bearing (509).

15. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that said recording means (505) are integral with said at least one winding (6).

16. Machine according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said rotary support means (504) comprise a cylinder (513), said cylinder (513) being radially provided with said seats (504) positioned side by side.

17. Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that said cylinder (513) is integral with a rotation pin (515) and is driven by said power means (516).

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the power device includes a gear motor unit with an electric motor.

19. Machine according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said recording means (505) are arranged along the periphery of said support means (513) and facing said seat (504).

20. The machine according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said recording means (515) consist of a sensor.

21. Machine according to claim 20, characterized in that said sensor is of the optical type and/or an ultrasonic sensor.

22. Machine according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said loading unit (502) comprises a second disc (518), said second disc (518) being rotatably coupled to a respective pin (519) and being provided with a plurality of seats positioned side by side.

23. Machine according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said unloading unit (506) comprises a third disc (520), said third disc (520) being rotatably coupled to a respective pin (521) and being provided with a plurality of seats positioned side by side.

24. The machine according to any of the claims from 11 to 15, characterised in that the operating device further comprises means (9) adapted to register the rotational speed of the rotation pin (10) of the device, the means (9) adapted to register the rotational speed of the rotation pin (10) of the device registering the rotational speed of the rotatable support means (503).