Abstract: A finished product controller is disclosed for monitoring the performance of a glassware production line and the bottle inspection equipment operating thereon. Bottles are formed in molds which impress an identifying code unique to each mold in each formed bottle. Bottles leaving the forming machine are fed to one of several inspection loops. A primary inspection loop inlcudes apparatus for inspecting the bottles fed to it for defects and apparatus for reading the identifying code on those bottles. One or more secondary inspection loops are provided for inspecting the rest of the bottles for defects only. A computer correlates the detected defects in the bottles passing through the primary inspection loop to the defective mold which produced them and acquires defect data on the secondary loops. A cavity reject ratio is calculated for each defect and compared to a predetermined value to alert a forming operator to a defective cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting hot glass containers by sensing the heat radiation from the bottles. Newly formed glass containers are moved past the apparatus of this invention in a single file immediately after leaving the bottle forming machines. A series of four heat-sensing probes register the heat radiation pattern of containers as they pass by. A logic unit determines if the container is of the proper diameter, standing upright, and has a neck portion that is not significantly inclined from the vertical. Containers which are lying down, two containers stuck together, or containers which have a bent neck portion are rejected.