Abstract: An automatic optical inspection of a moving web of glass for defects is provided by transversely scanning a moving web of glass with a light source which is internally reflected within the glass and travels towards the edge of the glass when the scanning light source strikes defects within the web. The light leaving the edges of the glass as a result of internal reflection is captured on opposite edges of the glass web. The captured light is detected and converted to electrical signals which are utilized to determine whether defects are present in the glass web in accordance with the characteristics of the electrical signals so generated. An apparatus is provided for the inspection method which includes edge detectors having a mouthlike construction fitting over the edges of the glass web and collecting internally reflected radiation from the edges of the web and applying it to photomultiplier tubes which are cooled.