Abstract: An inspection machine for plastic bottles has a turn table rotatable about a vertical axis, and a plurality of inspection stations to receive the bottles to be inspected. Output signals from sensors are fed to evaluation electronics provided on the turntable itself. Each station has a plate on which a bottle can be rotated as a result of rotation of the turntable. During inspection each bottle executes an orbital movement about the vertical axis of the turntable and at the same time a rotation about the axis of bottle itself as a result of which each bottle is inspected more than once for perpendicularity of the bottom of the bottle and its neck as well. Volume and pressure tightness as well as height of the bottle and bottle color are also inspected.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a sensor element (22) which is fitted into a rod (24) which is movable backwards and forwards and by means of which it can be moved in the interior of a hollow glass container (14) to within the vicinity of the bottom. The sensor element is provided with a movably suspended plate (30) at the bottom. If the plate (30) comes into contact with an obstacle in the form of a glass filament (bird swing or spike) in the interior of the container, it is deflected and actuates a proximity switch which delivers a signal by means of which an ejection device is actuated. The apparatus serves, in particular, for the checking of wide-necked containers in which defects in the form of spikes are considerably more frequent than defects in the form of bird swings.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for the stress testing of glass containers (10) which are arranged hanging, by impulse action on the bottom (14) of the container through the adjustable action of force on an impacting rod (12) resting on the bottom (14) of the container. For the action of the force, an adjustable source of energy (26) is used which may comprise an eccentric, an ultrasonic transmitter (26b), a magnetic actuating drive or the like, which acts on the end (18) of the rod (12), resting on the bottom of the container, remote from the bottom (14) of the container. The shaking exerted on the glass container during subsequent filling can be simulated by the action of the force which is adjustable in duration and/or amplitude, so that glass containers suspected of breakage can be eliminated by the stress test before being filled. The action of force can be proportioned in a simple manner so that optimum test vibration values can easily be adjusted.

Abstract: Individual collector cells are fitted together in series along a tube through which a heat transfer medium flows. Each cell has a cylindrical housing shell with openings at both ends offset from the cylindrical axis and bordered by flanges, so that the narrow opening of one cell may fit into the wider opening of the next, with a gasket in between. Thus, the two cells joined at the junction may be supported on the tube that passes through both. The half of the cylindrical shell on the side of offsetting of the openings is provided with a reflecting surface, either coated on the outside of the shell or provided in one way or another on the inside. The assembly of cells may be adjusted by rotating about the tube so that the direction of arrival of sunlight is perpendicular to the mirror aperture.

Abstract: Individual collector cells are fitted together in series along a heat transfer medium tube. The cells have a cylindrical housing with mating interconnecting flanges at the ends, through which the tube also passes. The flanges may have sealing gaskets. The housing has a transparent front side and a reflective back side. The cross-sectional configuration of the front is arcuate, while that of the back is parabolic. The cells are fixed with respect to the tube axis, but can rotate about it to follow the sun. Parallel cell rows can be interconnected to rotate together. Interconnected, articulated cell rows are disclosed as a removable cover for a swimming pool.