Abstract: Light emission or absorption device used in combination with at least one optical detection device including a linear array of reception photodiodes having a view of articles for the contactless inspection thereof, in particular of glass articles at high temperature, comprises a casing equipped with an opening in the form of an elongate slot flanked by two parallel plates forming a light guide. The casing contains a semi-reflecting mirror, an illumination device situated behind the mirror with respect to the slot, and an alignment of a plurality of individual lamps placed so that the light emitted by the lamps is reflected by the mirror in the direction of the slot. It is thus possible to carry out an accurate alignment adjustment by means of the aligned lamps before carrying out the inspection in bright field, by switching on the tubes, or in dark field by switching them off.