Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a container manufacturing machine include a thickness monitor (10) for determining an average wall thickness of containers produced by the machine. The system uses the average wall thickness to adjust machine control to change operation of the machine and adjust the quality of the containers being produced. The system also responds to feedback from pneumatic devices (104), heaters (103), mechanical devices and temperature sensors (108, 109) to determine corrections to be made to the machine operation.

Abstract: A method for measuring the wall thickness of plastic containers during a container manufacturing process includes providing a plastic container, the plastic container having a longitudinal axis and at least two side walls spaced radially from the longitudinal axis. The side walls are formed of a material that absorbs light energy in a predetermined molecular absorption band. Light energy is then directed from a source through the at least two side walls of the plastic container in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container. A portion of the light energy that passes through the sidewalls of the plastic container is sensed, and a signal representing a thickness of the sidewalls of the plastic container is generated from the sensed portion of the light energy.

Abstract: A method for measuring the wall thickness of plastic containers (16) during a container manufacturing process includes providing a plastic container (16), the plastic container (16) having a longitudinal axis and at least two side walls spaced radially from the longitudinal axis. The side walls are formed of a material that absorbs light energy in a predetermined molecular absorption band. Light energy is then directed from a source unit (32) through the at least two side walls of the plastic container (16) in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container (16). A portion of the light energy that passes through the sidewalls of the container (16) is sensed by a sensor (34), and a signal representing a thickness of the sidewalls of the plastic container is generated from the sensed portion of the energy by a computer (56).