Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring the kinematic characteristics of free fall of a glass gob with four distinct linear cameras each having an observed linear field intercepting the theoretical free fall path, respectively at a first high point of interception and at a first low point of interception, offset from each other according to the theoretical free fall path, and respectively at a second high point of interception and at a second low point of interception, offset from each other along the direction of the theoretical free fall path, the high respectively low optical axes being distinct from each other in projection on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the theoretical free fall path. The invention also comprises a method for controlling a glass article molding installation.

Abstract: An inspection device which is compatible with in-line inspection of containers and reliably determines the presence or not of a defect of a container, has a lighting system arranged above an installation zone and being capable of providing an incident light beam, an image sensor connected to an image-analysis unit, and an optical system with a first primary reflection surface arranged above the installation zone and interposed between the installation zone and the sensor for forming on the sensor an image of a container ring surface to be inspected. Also included is a second primary reflection surface in the upstream field of vision of the sensor to reflect light beams, directly or indirectly in the direction of the sensor. The first and second primary reflection surfaces determine first and second portions of a downstream field of vision, which overlap in the inspection zone.

Abstract: A method for marking, at the outlet of a forming machine using a laser beam, a marking area on hot glass containers comprises determining the longitudinal and transverse positions of the marking area of each container by positioning a first optical axis of a first light sensor and a second optical axis of a second light sensor in a non-parallel manner to each other, in a detection plane parallel to the conveying plane of the containers, detecting the instant of intersection or disengagement, by a container, of the first optical axis and the instant of intersection or disengagement, by a container, of the second optical axis, and calculating said transverse and longitudinal positions from these instants and in consideration of a known or constant speed of translation of the containers. The method can determine the marking instant for each container running past the laser apparatus.

Abstract: An inspection device which is compatible with in-line inspection of containers and reliably determines the presence or not of a defect of a container, has a lighting system arranged above an installation zone and being capable of providing an incident light beam, an image sensor connected to an image-analysis unit, and an optical system with a first primary reflection surface arranged above the installation zone and interposed between the installation zone and the sensor for forming on the sensor an image of a container ring surface to be inspected. Also included is a second primary reflection surface in the upstream field of vision of the sensor to reflect light beams, directly or indirectly in the direction of the sensor. The first and second primary reflection surfaces determine first and second portions of a downstream field of vision, which overlap in the inspection zone.

Abstract: A method of determining a presence of a wire-edge at the site of an internal edge of a ring surface of a ring of a container includes lighting of the ring surface of the container from above using a radial light beam at 360 and observing the ring surface according to a peripheral observation field. A first principal circle is formed in a first image zone. At least one secondary arc of a circle concentric to the first so-called principal circle, and radially offset relative to the latter is also formed in the first image zone. The first so-called principal circle and any first secondary arc of a circle are searched using the first image zone. A device for executing the determining method is provided along with a line including the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a determination process of the presence of a wire-edge at the site of an internal edge of a ring surface (16) of a ring of a container, comprising: lighting of the ring surface (16) of the container from above, by means of a radial light beam at 360 and its observation according to a peripheral observation field formation in a first image zone, of a first principal circle; and of at least one secondary arc of a circle concentric to the first so-called principal circle, and radially offset relative to the latter. search, in said first image zone, of the first so-called principal circle and any first secondary arc of a circle. The invention also relates to a device for executing such a process and a line comprising such a device.

Abstract: A method of visualizing the planeness of a ring surface of a container includes lighting the ring surface from above using a peripheral incident light beam having radial rays with specular reflection on the ring surface. An optical system is used to form a plane image of the ring surface on a sensor, with an optical geometrical transformation that converts a real height difference (dZ) into an image radial offset (dR) on the image, and the image radial offset (dR) corresponding to a unit real height difference (dZ) is greater than the image radial offset corresponding to a real radial offset of the same dimension. A device and an installation implementing the visualizing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of inspecting containers (3) moving between a linear camera and a light source (7) presents continuous variation of light intensity with a periodic pattern (71) along at least one variation direction (D). According to the method, for each movement increment of the container, a sequence of N successive image lines of the container is acquired cyclically so that for each image line; the container (3) is illuminated by the light source (7); the image line of the container is acquired; and the periodic pattern (71) is shifted for the next line along the variation direction (D). For each increment of the container (3), at least one phase image line is calculated; and the phase image lines (LP(k)) are analyzed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of visualizing the planeness of a ring surface (16) of a container (14), the method consisting in: lighting the ring surface from above using a peripheral incident light beam having radial rays with specular reflection on the ring surface; and using an optical system (24, 124) to form a plane image of the ring surface on a sensor (18), with an optical geometrical transformation that converts a real height difference (dZ) into an image radial offset (dR) on the image, and the image radial offset (dR) corresponding to a unit real height difference (dZ) is greater than the image radial offset corresponding to a real radial offset of the same dimension. The invention also provides a device and an installation implementing such a method.

Abstract: A method of inspecting packages with the help of a linear image sensor comprises the steps of: for each movement increment, cyclically acquiring a sequence of n successive image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln), the n image lines of each sequence being obtained with exposure times (Ti) and/or lighting conditions (Ek) that are different; grouping together the image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln) obtained in the sequences while using both the same exposure times (Ti) and the same lighting conditions (Ek) so as to obtain n? superposable images (I1, I2, . . . , In) of at least j image lines; and analyzing the n? superposable images (I1, I2, . . . , In) separately or in combination in order to determine at least one characteristic of the packages. A device for package inspection includes a process and control unit that employs the steps of the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inspecting containers (3) moving between a linear camera and a light source (7) presenting continuous variation of light intensity with a periodic pattern (71) along at least one variation direction (D). According to the invention: for each movement increment of the container, a sequence of N successive image lines of the container is acquired cyclically so that for each image line: the container (3) is illuminated by the light source (7); the image line of the container is acquired; and the periodic pattern (71) is shifted for the next line along the variation direction (D); for each increment of the container (3), at least one phase image line is calculated; and the phase image lines (LP(k)) are analyzed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inspecting packages with the help of a linear image sensor. According to the invention the method comprises the steps of: for each movement increment, cyclically acquiring a sequence of n successive image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln), the n image lines of each sequence being obtained with exposure times (Ti) and/or lighting conditions (Ek) that are different; grouping together the image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln) obtained in the sequences while using both the same exposure times (Ti) and the same lighting conditions (Ek) so as to obtain n superposable images (I1, I2, . . . , In) of at least j image lines; and analyzing the n images (I1, I2, . . . , In) separately or in combination in order to determine at least one characteristic of the packages.

Abstract: A method to determine the misalignment and/or clearance of a door relative to its frame includes a phase to determine a law of variation of the clearance and/or misalignment values for the different inspection points, in relation to various opening positions of the door taken with respect to a reference position in which the door occupies its closed position, a measurement phase in which the door occupies any position relative to the frame, and during which the clearance and/or misalignment values are measured, and a phase to take into account the measured clearance and/or misalignment values and the law of variation so as to determine the true values of clearance and/or misalignment at the different inspection points corresponding to the door in its reference closed position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method to determine the misalignment and/or clearance of a door (1) relative to its frame. According to the invention, the method comprises: a phase to determine a law of variation of the clearance and/or misalignment values for the different inspection points, in relation to various opening positions of the door taken with respect to a reference position in which the door occupies its closed position, a measurement phase in which the door (1) occupies any position relative to the frame, and during which the clearance and/or misalignment values are measured, and a phase to take into account the measured clearance and/or misalignment values and the law of variation so as to determine the true values of clearance and/or misalignment at the different inspection points corresponding to the door in its reference closed position.