Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to recognize features on bottom surfaces of containers on a container production line, detect defects in the containers, and correlate the defects to specific production equipment of the container production line, based in part on the recognized features. The system includes imaging apparatus, programmable processing devices, and controllers. The methods include imaging techniques and estimation techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to recognize features on bottom surfaces of metal containers on a metal container production line, detect defects in the metal containers, and correlate the defects to specific production equipment of the metal container production line, based in part on the recognized features. The system includes imaging apparatus, programmable processing devices, and controllers. The methods include imaging techniques and estimation techniques.

Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting glass containers rotating at an inspection station. A camera images an area of interest on the glass container (the finish for example) and the area is imaged at angular increments. An anomalous object is analyzed in each image and the deviation of its center relative to a datum is measured. A deviation less than a maximum enables the control to identify the object as a blister.

Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The center of each captured object in an array is determined by a controller which determines the object centers in a plurality of adjacent bands. The band having the most object centers is determined and the objects in the band having the most object centers are deleted from the rest of the bands. The control repeatedly determines the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers and deletes the objects in the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers from the remainder of the bands until the objects in each band are unique. The maximum separation of objects in each band is defined and checks will be differentiated from blisters based on this separation.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging an interior of a substantially cylindrical object are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a substantially cylindrical illuminator is positioned above an opening of a substantially cylindrical object to be imaged (e.g., a beverage can) in order to illuminate at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A truncated conical mirror is positioned within an interior space of the illuminator to reflect an image of at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A single camera is positioned above the illuminator and mirror to capture a single image of at least the interior surface of the object via light reflected directly from at least a portion of the interior surface of the object to the camera and from the mirror to the camera. The entire interior surface of the object is captured in the single image which may be analyzed for defects.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting the finish of a glass container rotating at an inspection station. A pair of light sources have horizontal light axes which are orthogonally related and intersect the container axis. The light sources illuminate the container finish. The illuminated checks are seen by a camera which has a camera axis coincident with the container axis and intersects the light axes making an angle of 45 degrees with both light axes and the horizontal.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging an interior of a substantially cylindrical object are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a substantially cylindrical illuminator is positioned above an opening of a substantially cylindrical object to be imaged (e.g., a beverage can) in order to illuminate at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A truncated conical mirror is positioned within an interior space of the illuminator to reflect an image of at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A single camera is positioned above the illuminator and mirror to capture a single image of at least the interior surface of the object via light reflected directly from at least a portion of the interior surface of the object to the camera and from the mirror to the camera. The entire interior surface of the object is captured in the single image which may be analyzed for defects.

Abstract: A method and system to monitor randomly oriented objects on a process line are disclosed. A color camera is used initially to collect a set of reference images of at least one reference object. The reference images represent various spatial orientations of the reference object. The reference object serves as the standard for the process. The reference images are stored in a computer-based platform. The color camera is then used to capture images of monitored objects as the monitored objects pass by the color camera on a process line. The monitored objects may have a random spatial orientation with respect to the color camera as the monitored objects pass through the field-of-view of the color camera. The captured images of the monitored objects are processed by the computer-based platform and compared to the reference images in order to determine if certain characteristic parameters of the monitored objects have deviated from those same characteristic parameters of the reference object.

Abstract: A system and method to inspect objects for a characteristic parameter. The system includes at least one electromagnetic source for emitting at least two separate wavelengths of electromagnetic energy. At least one electromagnetic detector is positioned at a predefined distance from the electromagnetic source to measure an incident intensity value of the electromagnetic energy at the two wavelengths. An object, placed between the electromagnetic source and the electromagnetic detector is irradiated with electromagnetic energy at the two wavelengths and the electromagnetic energy transmitted through the object is measured by the electromagnetic detector. The system includes a computer-based platform operationally connected to the electromagnetic detector for receiving intensity data values from the electromagnetic detector and for computing attenuation ratio values. The attenuation ratio values are used to determine a level of the characteristic parameter.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting glass containers which are being rotated at an inspection station. A light source illuminates a selected area on a rotating glass container while the container rotates through a selected angle and a camera is triggered to capture an image while the bottle rotates through that angle. A plurality of sequential images are recorded and a critical addition is made to be inspected.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting a rotating glass container for defects wherein the image evaluated for defects is a critical addition of a plurality of additions each defined by a plurality of time spaced images.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting glass containers rotating at an inspection station. A camera images an area of interest on the glass container and continuous illumination of that area is provided by strobing a light source a number of times while the area is imaged on a camera the entire period.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting the finish of a glass container rotating at an inspection station. A pair of light sources, which are repeatedly turned on and off, have horizontal light axes which are orthogonally related and intersect the container axis. The light sources illuminate the container finish to identify checks. The illuminated checks are imaged by a camera which has a camera axis coincident with the container axis and the intersecting light axes. The camera axis makes an angle of 45 degrees with both light axes and the horizontal. The camera is exposed through multiple images.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting the finish of a glass container rotating at an inspection station. A pair of light sources have horizontal light axes which are orthogonally related and intersect the container axis. The light sources illuminate the container finish. The illuminated checks are seen by a camera which has a camera axis coincident with the container axis and intersects the light axes making an angle of 45 degrees with both light axes and the horizontal.

Abstract: A method and system to monitor randomly oriented objects on a process line are disclosed. A color camera is used initially to collect a set of training images from a set of training objects on a process line. The training images represent various random spatial orientations of the training objects with respect to the color camera. The training objects serve as the standard for the process. The training images are stored in a computer-based platform. The color camera is then used to capture images of monitored objects as the monitored objects pass by the color camera on the process line. The monitored objects have a random spatial orientation with respect to the color camera as the monitored objects pass through the field-of-view of the color camera.

Abstract: A vision system and methods to detect rogue objects on a product processing line are disclosed. The vision system includes a camera, a source of illumination, a user interface, and a computer-based platform including a memory. The vision system captures images from objects on the product processing line as the objects pass by the camera which is mounted on the product processing line. Image pixel data is converted to vectors of mean pixel values for each captured image from each object, using the vision system. The vectors are compared to a vector training set stored within the memory of the vision system to determine if the objects correspond to “rogue” objects or not, using the vision system. The vector training set is representative of the current product (i.e., objects) being processed on the product processing line.

Abstract: A differential imaging colorimeter system and method which utilizes a RGB color camera to provide accurate differential colorimetry which can be employed as a portable, dedicated, offline system. The system utilizes a portable processor such as a laptop computer, a hand-held imaging head comprising a color camera, a lens, a plurality of white LED lights, a base plate defining an imaging region, housed in an opaque cover, wherein the imaging head provides a RGB video image to the portable processor; and a software program loaded on the portable processor for applying a geometric transform on an image obtained with the imaging head to match a stored reference image. The computer calculates differential colorimetry values to compare current images with a stored reference image.

Abstract: A method of inspection for use with color machine vision systems is provided in which a device-independent digital colorimetric image of a reference object is created on a first machine vision system. The digital colorimetric image can then be shared with other machine vision systems by sending the image electronically, instead of requiring the sharing of the actual reference object. A video image can then be calculated on the second machine vision system using the colorimetric image. The calculated video image can then be used as a reference for comparisons during video inspection on the second machine vision system.

Abstract: A vision system and methods to detect rogue objects on a product processing line are disclosed. The vision system includes a camera, a source of illumination, a user interface, and a computer-based platform including a memory. The vision system captures images from objects on the product processing line as the objects pass by the camera which is mounted on the product processing line. Image pixel data is converted to vectors of mean pixel values for each captured image from each object, using the vision system. The vectors are compared to a vector training set stored within the memory of the vision system to determine if the objects correspond to “rogue” objects or not, using the vision system. The vector training set is representative of the current product (i.e., objects) being processed on the product processing line.