Abstract: A glass container inspection system an inspection area disposed along a conveyor belt and a computing system. The conveyor belt moves a plurality of glass containers through the inspection area. The inspection area has a plurality of cameras and a plurality of light sources, and the computing system is in communication with the plurality of cameras. The plurality of cameras are configured to capture images of a finish of each of the glass containers as the glass containers move through the inspection area, and the plurality of light sources are configured to produce light proximate a field of view of each camera of the plurality of cameras. The computing system is configured to analyze the captured images and determine if the finish of each of the glass containers has a defect.

Abstract: A container inspection system is described herein. The container inspection system includes a camera and a computing system, wherein the camera is configured to capture multiple images of a transparent container as the transparent container is transported along a conveyor. Thus, the camera captures several images of the transparent container when the transparent container is at different positions relative to the camera. The container inspection system detects a defect in the transparent container based upon one or more images in the several images.

Abstract: A container inspection system is described herein. The container inspection system includes a camera and a computing system, wherein the camera is configured to capture multiple images of a transparent container as the transparent container is transported along a conveyor. Thus, the camera captures several images of the transparent container when the transparent container is at different positions relative to the camera. The container inspection system detects a defect in the transparent container based upon one or more images in the several images.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to an automated light field illumination container inspection and manufacture system. The system includes a plurality of cameras that capture images of a container when the container is illuminated by way of light field illumination. Bands in images that include reflections in the exterior surface of the sidewall are identified, and a determination is made as to whether the container is defective based upon the identified bands.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to determining whether at least a portion of a sidewall of a glass container has insufficient thickness. A glass container inspection system comprises an infrared camera in communication with a computing system. The infrared camera is configured to capture an infrared image of an exterior of the sidewall of the glass container at long-wavelength infrared as the glass container undergoes a temperature change. The computing system receives the infrared image from the infrared camera and outputs an indication that at least the portion of the sidewall of the glass container has insufficient thickness based on the infrared image. The indication may also be based on a statistical model derived from infrared images of glass containers having sidewalls of known sufficient thickness.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies related to inspecting transparent containers for both opaque and transparent defects. An emitter is configured to direct a color gradient through a sidewall of a transparent container, such that color of light that passes through the sidewall varies across the sidewall. A camera is configured to capture an image of the sidewall of the transparent container while the color gradient passes through the sidewall of the container. A computing system receives the image and determines whether the sidewall of the container includes either an opaque or a transparent defect based upon the image.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to an automated light field illumination container inspection and manufacture system. The system includes a plurality of cameras that capture images of a container when the container is illuminated by way of light field illumination. Bands in images that include reflections in the exterior surface of the sidewall are identified, and a determination is made as to whether the container is defective based upon the identified bands.

Abstract: A container inspection system is described herein. The container inspection system includes a light source that emits a flash of light when a container is detected as being in an inspection region. The container inspection system further includes a light director element that receives a portion of the flash of light and forms a tapering field of light that illuminates an exterior surface of a sidewall of the container when the container is in the inspection region. The container inspection system further comprises a camera that generates an image of the exterior surface when such surface is illuminated by the tapering field of light. A computing system receives the image and outputs an indication as to whether or not the container is defective based upon the image.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to determining whether at least a portion of a sidewall of a glass container has insufficient thickness. A glass container inspection system comprises an infrared camera in communication with a computing system. The infrared camera is configured to capture an infrared image of an exterior of the sidewall of the glass container at long-wavelength infrared as the glass container undergoes a temperature change. The computing system receives the infrared image from the infrared camera and outputs an indication that at least the portion of the sidewall of the glass container has insufficient thickness based on the infrared image. The indication may also be based on a statistical model derived from infrared images of glass containers having sidewalls of known sufficient thickness.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to automated container inspection. A region in an image of a container is labeled as being subject to depicting reflections. When determining whether or not the container is defective based upon the image of the container, values of pixels of the image are compared to corresponding statistics of such pixels, where the statistics can identify an acceptable distribution of values for a pixel. For pixels in the above-mentioned region, more variance in the values of the pixels is allowed (compared to allowed variance when analyzing values of pixels outside of the region) when determining whether or not the container is defective based upon the values of the pixels.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies related to inspecting transparent containers for both opaque and transparent defects. An emitter is configured to direct a color gradient through a sidewall of a transparent container, such that color of light that passes through the sidewall varies across the sidewall. A camera is configured to capture an image of the sidewall of the transparent container while the color gradient passes through the sidewall of the container. A computing system receives the image and determines whether the sidewall of the container includes either an opaque or a transparent defect based upon the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting topographic information from inspected objects to identify defects in the inspected objects. A part to be inspected is illuminated with at least two different colors emitted from an illuminator providing a gradient of light consisting of the at least two different colors. A single color image of the illuminated part to be inspected is acquired, providing a color-coded topographic mapping of the part to be inspected due, at least in part, to the gradient of light. Topographic monochrome views of the part to be inspected may be generated from the single color image. Each view of the topographic monochrome views may enhance a different type of feature or defect present in the part to be inspected which can be analyzed and detected.

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: Systems and methods for extracting topographic information from inspected objects to identify defects in the inspected objects. A part to be inspected is illuminated with at least two different colors emitted from an illuminator providing a gradient of light consisting of the at least two different colors. A single color image of the illuminated part to be inspected is acquired, providing a color-coded topographic mapping of the part to be inspected due, at least in part, to the gradient of light. Topographic monochrome views of the part to be inspected may be generated from the single color image. Each view of the topographic monochrome views may enhance a different type of feature or defect present in the part to be inspected which can be analyzed and detected.

Abstract: A method and configuration to estimate the dimensions of a cuboid. The configuration includes two image acquisition units offset from each other with at least one of the units positioned at a defined acquisition height above a background surface. Image processing techniques are used to extract a perimeter of a top surface of the cuboid, placed on the background surface, from pairs of acquired images. A height estimation technique, which corrects for spatial drift of the configuration, is used to calculate an absolute height of the cuboid. The absolute height of the cuboid is used, along with the extracted perimeter of the top surface of the cuboid, to calculate an absolute length and an absolute width of the cuboid. The height, length, and width may be used to calculate an estimated volume of the cuboid.

Abstract: Systems and methods to estimate the height profile of an object using tomosynthesis-like techniques. A plurality of raw images of an object to be characterized are acquired, where the plurality of raw images are representative of a plurality of spatial shifts of an imaging device relative to the object to be characterized. The raw images are processed to generate composite images, where each composite image corresponds to a unique image shift between spatially adjacent raw images. A volatility parameter value is calculated within a neighborhood of a same image pixel location for each composite image. The composite image having the largest volatility parameter value for the image pixel location is determined. A unique image shift, corresponding to the composite image having the largest volatility parameter value, is transformed into a height value representative of a height dimension of the image pixel location.

Abstract: A method and configuration to estimate the dimensions of a cuboid. The configuration includes two image acquisition units offset from each other with at least one of the units positioned at a defined acquisition height above a background surface. Image processing techniques are used to extract a perimeter of a top surface of the cuboid, placed on the background surface, from pairs of acquired images. A height estimation technique is used to calculate an absolute height of the cuboid. The absolute height of the cuboid is used, along with the extracted perimeter of the top surface of the cuboid, to calculate an absolute length and an absolute width of the cuboid. The height, length, and width may be used to calculate an estimated volume of the cuboid.

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 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 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.