Abstract: Method and apparatus for statistically testing frangible containers produced by plural mold sources by selectively diverting containers to a test station at regular intervals of time. A diverted container is automatically tracked to the test station wherein it is tested. A signal indicative of the result of the test is generated for use in selectively diverting additional containers produced by the same mold source that produced the tested container. The totality of containers produced by the plural mold sources is upgraded by automatically ejecting all containers produced by one or more mold sources for fixed periods of time as a function of the test results.

Abstract: The mold source of a bottle provided with one or more sectors spanning a circumferential zone with prism-like timing marks thereon is identified by an on-line programmed microcomputer. The bottle is identified by a laser beam and sensor. The sensor generates a series of digital pulses in response to the passage of the laser beam through the timing marks. The leading and trailing edges of the pulses are time stamped by the microcomputer. A microcomputer program identifies the mold source of the bottle based on the time stamped information. The identification of the bottle and its status are stored in the microcomputer memory. A running log of the numbers of defective and acceptable bottles produced by the mold source is printed out based on the contents of the microcomputer memory.

Abstract: Bottles transparent to a laser beam are molded with marks on a wall thereof. The marks serve to identify each bottle with its respective mold. The bottles are rotated and moved in a procession through an inspection area where a laser beam is directed through the wall of each bottle so that the beam strikes each of the marks. Each mark causes the laser beam to spread as the beam strikes the mark and passes through the bottle. As the laser beam emerges from the bottle, the beam is directed to a sensor which generates a digital output signal corresponding to the distribution of the marks on the bottle. Any bottle may be ejected from the procession according to the sensor output.