Abstract: An automatic inspecting apparatus has a function for generating a discharge signal for discharging a defective object at a predetermined position. The automatic inspecting apparatus comprises an imaging device for imaging a moving object, a sensor for detecting the arrival of the object, an image processing unit for processing images produced by the imaging device to detect defective objects, and a discharge signal generating unit for discharging defective objects at a predetermined position. An ID number is assigned to each image produced by the imaging device, and pulses generated by an encoder start to be counted when each ID number is assigned. If the object is determined to be defective after image processing by the image processing unit, the discharge signal generating unit generates a discharge signal when the number of pulses counted for the corresponding ID number reaches a pulse number equivalent to the distance between the sensor position and the discharge position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a defect in a barrel portion of a bottle. The defect in the barrel portion of the bottle includes a thin blister and a longitudinal streak. The defect in the bottle barrel is detected by imaging the bottle barrel with a CCD camera based on light which has passed through a light shield plate having a plurality of oblique slits and the bottle barrel, and processing the image of the bottle barrel generated by the CCD camera to determine whether or not the defect is present.