Inspection device

Abstract

An inspection device (1) has a particle detector (3) adapted to detect particles (5) in a liquid, a seat (6) adapted to position a container (4) housing the liquid in an area of operation (311) of the particle detector (3) and a vibration arrangement (2) for vibrating the container (4). The vibration arrangement (2) comprises a frequency generator (21) adapted to provide an electrical signal and a transducer (22) adapted to transduce the electrical signal provided by the frequency generator (21) into an acoustic wave (221). The seat (6) is adapted to position the container (4) adjacent to the transducer (22). for inspecting a liquid inside a container (4) with respect to the existence of particles (5). The inspection device (1) allows for an accurate and gentle inspection of the liquid filled in the container and for detecting particles in the liquid.

1 . An inspection device for inspecting a liquid inside a container with respect to the existence of particles comprising:
 a particle detector adapted to detect particles inside the liquid;   a seat arranged to position the container in an area of operation of the particle detector; and   a vibration arrangement for vibrating the container, wherein the vibration arrangement comprises
 a frequency generator to provide an electrical signal, and 
 a transducer adapted to transduce the electrical signal provided by the frequency generator into an acoustic wave having a first frequency, 
 a further transducer adapted to transduce a further electrical signal into a further acoustic wave having a second frequency different from the first frequency, 
   wherein the container has a side wall portion and a bottom portion, and the seat is arranged to position the side wall portion of the container adjacent to the transducer of the vibration arrangement and the bottom portion of the container adjacent to the further transducer of the vibration arrangement,   wherein the particle detector is disposed adjacent to the side wall portion of the container and arranged to laterally observe the container, and   wherein the application of the first frequency applied at the side wall portion of the container and the second frequency applied at the bottom portion of the container allows for mobilization of different kinds of particles in the liquid which can then be identified.   
     
     
         2 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave is an ultrasonic acoustic wave. 
     
     
         3 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle detector comprises a camera. 
     
     
         4 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer of the vibration arrangement is a piezoelectric transducer. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is in a range of about 0.5 MHz to about 2 MHz. 
     
     
         8 . The inspection device according to  claim 7 , wherein the second frequency is in a range of about 20 kHz to about 50 kHz. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is a pulsed electrical signal and the acoustic wave transduced by the transducer of the vibration arrangement is a pulsed acoustic wave. 
     
     
         11 . The inspection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the further electrical signal is a pulsed electrical signal and the further acoustic wave transduced by the further transducer of the vibration arrangement is a pulsed acoustic wave. 
     
     
         12 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer of the vibration arrangement and the further transducer of the vibration arrangement are arranged to intermittently provide the acoustic wave and the further acoustic wave to the container. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a vial. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency. 
     
     
         17 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is configured for mobilizing fibers and intrinsic particles in the liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second frequency is configured for moving heavy particles in the liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are configured for mobilizing or dispersing the particles in the liquid inside the container while the liquid is kept calm. 
     
     
         20 . The inspection device according to  claim 3 , wherein the camera is arranged such that a transparent section of the container is in a field view of the camera in order to laterally observe the container and the liquid inside the container. 
     
     
         21 . The inspection device according to  claim 3 , wherein the camera is positioned, in a vertical direction above the transducer, which is positioned adjacent the side wall portion of the container.