Abstract: A method of determining the position and the orientation of at least one interface comprises illuminating the interface that is determined with at least one non-polarized diffuse light source point, using an image-forming device to acquire an image enabling polarization information determined about the reflection(s) of the source point on the interface to be determined, and in the image, locating any reflection of the light source point as reflected by the interface. For each located reflection, the light ray reaching the image-forming device together with at least its degree of polarization as its polarization parameter is calculated. The light ray as reflected on the interface that to be determined is calculated. Using the light ray reflected on the interface, its polarization parameter, and the known position of the source point, the position and the orientation of the surface element is deduced.

Abstract: An inspection device comprises movable equipment driven relative to a frame and provided with external and internal inspection gauges. Detection systems are provided for detecting contacts occurring between the internal and external gauges and a container. Each detection system further comprises an emitter and receiver system for emitting and receiving a light beam in a direction parallel to the travel direction of the movable equipment. A movement transformation mechanism carried by the movable equipment is also provided for transforming the travel movement of the gauge relative to the movable equipment into a movement that obstructs or ceases to obstruct the light beam.

Abstract: A method for measuring the distribution of the thickness of glass in glass containers at a high temperature comprises: selecting at least one inspection area of the containers, so that the thickness relationship of the glass as a function of the infrared radiation intensity is homogeneous over the whole inspection area, measuring, for each inspection area the glass thickness of the container in at least one movement point belonging to the inspection area, by means of a contactless point-like thickness measurement system, measuring by means of a sensor sensitive to infrared radiation, which is emitted by the container, determining, for each inspection area, a relationship between the measurement of the thickness taken at the measurement point and the infrared radiation, and from the relationship and the relevant infrared radiation of each inspection area, determining the glass distribution of the container over each inspection area.

Abstract: A method of observing and analyzing optical singularities includes illuminating an outside of a container by using a light-emitting surface of axial symmetry around a vertical axis (Z) parallel to the axes of symmetry of the containers, with a property of the emission that is detectable by the acquisition system(s) varying along a generator line of the light-emitting surface. For containers of low transmittance, taking the view image of the container portion by the image acquisition device receiving light beams comes from a portion of the light-emitting surface situated on the same side of the container. For containers of high transmittance, taking the view of the container portion by the image acquisition device receiving light beams comes from a portion of the light-emitting surface that is diametrically opposite relative to the container.

Abstract: A method for measuring verticality of a container having a base and vertical wall comprises measuring at each rotational position of the container, at least the position along a first measurement axis, of at least one first measuring point located on the base, and a second measuring point located on the base diametrically opposite to the first measuring point, the position along a third measurement axis, of at least one third measuring point located on the vertical wall at a distance from the base. An angle defined between a first segment passing through the first and second measuring points and a second segment intersecting the first segment and passing through at least the third measuring point is selected to be representative of the container verticality. For each rotational position of the container, a quantity depending on the angle is calculated. Verticality is measured from the variations of the calculated quantity.

Abstract: A facility for measuring the thickness of the wall of containers includes an optical system for collecting and focusing on the detection plane of a light sensor and light beams reflected by the outer and inner surfaces of the wall. An optical collecting and focusing system includes a first objective having is object plane located in the vicinity of the impact of the incident light beam with the wall, an at least translucent diffusing screen located in the image plane of the first objective, so as to physically represent the light beams collected by the first objective as hot spots (Ti), and a second objective including, the diffusing screen as an object plane and the light sensor as an image plane.

Abstract: An in-line method for optically inspecting transparent or translucent containers (3) comprises illuminating each container with a light source that presents light intensity variation in a periodic pattern along at least a first variation direction. A number N greater than or equal to three of images of the container traveling in front of the light source and occupying N different respective positions along the travel path is taken. Between taking successive images, a relative shift between the container and the periodic pattern is created. A geometrical transformation is determined and applied in order to put the pixels belonging to the container in the N successive images of the same container into coincidence. A phase image for each container is constructed using the N registered images of the container. The phase image is analyzed in order to deduce therefrom at least the presence of defects or the quality of the container.

Abstract: A method of inspecting articles of transparent/translucent material with a vision system comprises illuminating the articles with a light source having an angular spectrum that is adapted to the contrast selected for refractive items presented by the articles. An image sensor picks up the light that has passed through the articles to make images of the articles. During a stage of referencing the vision system, a reference standard is in the field of view of the image sensor, the standard including at least one standard item that refracts light in a known range of angles. An image of the standard is taken to measure at least the contrast in the image produced by at least one standard item. During at least one stage of qualifying the vision system, the standard is placed once more in front of the light source and in the field of view of the image sensor.

Abstract: A method of measuring lean on a container driven in rotation comprises: taking at least one image of the container to obtain images of the left and right edges of the ring, the matrix images of the left and right edges of the heel, of the shoulder, and/or of the base of the neck; analyzing the images of the left and right edges of the ring to determine the real position of the ring; and the matrix images of the left and right edges to determine a left positioning point Tg and right positioning point Td; and determining the theoretical position of the ring on a perpendicular to the straight line segment passing through the left and right positioning points; and based on variations in the differences between the real position and the theoretical position of the ring, deducing a measurement of the lean of the container.

Abstract: An optical method of inspecting containers comprises taking an image of each container and determining a search zone in each image of the container, a visible pattern appearing in the search zone. A digital mask is prepared for a treatment zone of the images including the visible pattern and at least each pixel of the treatment zone of the images is compared with a digital mask. A visible pattern is selected belonging to the container and the position and the orientation of the selected visible pattern in said search zone is determined. A geometrical transformation is applied to the digital mask or to the treatment zone to place the mask and the treatment zone in a position in which they coincide. Image treatment is applied to each pixel of the treatment zone, which treatment depends on the intensity value of the coincident pixel of the digital mask.

Abstract: An inspection process for detecting defects of thin type, on transparent containers for a series of inspection points distributed over an inspection region superposed according to a determined height of the container taken according to central axis thereof, and according to the circumference of the container comprising: sending a light beam so as to recover on a light sensor the reflected beams by the internal and external faces of the wall of the container, measuring at each inspection point the thickness of the wall as a function of separation at the level of the light sensor between the reflected beams by the internal and external faces, processing the thickness measurements by analyzing their distribution over the inspection region to extract therefrom geometric characteristics, and comparing these geometric characteristics to reference values to determine if the container has a material distribution defect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring the inside diameter of a hollow body. According to the invention: the hollow body is illuminated from one side by a diffuse light source presenting two light boundaries that are spaced apart along the measurement axis so as to create two light transitions in an image, which transitions are spaced apart from each other and diametrically opposite; from the side of the hollow body that is opposite from its illuminated side, the light rays that are reflected and refracted by the hollow body are recovered to form at least one image in which there appear at least the two light transitions; and the image is processed in order to determine the distance between the two light transitions in order to determine a measurement for the inside diameter of the hollow body.

Abstract: A device for inspecting rings and necks of containers includes a movable element with an outer gauge for checking the outside of the ring of the containers, and an inner gauge for checking the inside of the ring and neck of the containers. The movable element includes a system for measuring the position of the movable element relative to the frame, a system for detecting contact between the inner gauge and the container, a system for detecting contact between the outer gauge and the container, and a processing unit for determining, on the basis of the measurements of the position of the movable element and of the instances of contact between the gauges and the container, whether or not the size of the rings and/or necks of the containers are acceptable, and the types of defects for the containers whereof the sizes of the rings and/or necks are not acceptable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring the inside diameter of a hollow body (2). According to the invention: the hollow body (2) is illuminated from one side by a diffuse light source (9) presenting two light boundaries (91, 92) that are spaced apart along the measurement axis (x) so as to create two light transitions in an image, which transitions are spaced apart from each other and diametrically opposite; from the side of the hollow body that is opposite from its illuminated side, the light rays that are reflected and refracted by the hollow body (2) are recovered to form at least one image in which there appear at least the two light transitions; and the image is processed in order to determine the distance between the two light transitions in order to determine a measurement for the inside diameter of the hollow body.

Abstract: A method for measuring verticality of a container having a base and vertical wall comprises measuring at each rotational position of the container, at least the position along a first measurement axis, of at least one first measuring point located on the base, and a second measuring point located on the base diametrically opposite to the first measuring point, the position along a third measurement axis, of at least one third measuring point located on the vertical wall at a distance from the base. An angle defined between a first segment passing through the first and second measuring points and a second segment intersecting the first segment and passing through at least the third measuring point is selected to be representative of the container verticality. For each rotational position of the container, a quantity depending on the angle is calculated. Verticality is measured from the variations of the calculated quantity.

Abstract: An inspection process for detecting defects of thin type, on transparent containers for a series of inspection points distributed over an inspection region superposed according to a determined height of the container taken according to central axis thereof, and according to the circumference of the container comprising: sending a light beam so as to recover on a light sensor the reflected beams by the internal and external faces of the wall of the container, measuring at each inspection point the thickness of the wall as a function of separation at the level of the light sensor between the reflected beams by the internal and external faces, processing the thickness measurements by analysing their distribution over the inspection region to extract therefrom geometric characteristics, and comparing these geometric characteristics to reference values to determine if the container has a material distribution defect.

Abstract: A device for inspecting rings and necks of containers includes a movable element with an outer gauge for checking the outside of the ring of the containers, and an inner gauge for checking the inside of the ring and neck of the containers. The movable element includes a system for measuring the position of the movable element relative to the frame, a system for detecting contact between the inner gauge and the container, a system for detecting contact between the outer gauge and the container, and a processing unit for determining, on the basis of the measurements of the position of the movable element and of the instances of contact between the gauges and the container, whether or not the size of the rings and/or necks of the containers are acceptable, and the types of defects for the containers whereof the sizes of the rings and/or necks are not acceptable.