Abstract: A method and device for detection and identification of liquid, solid, and gaseous foreign substances of beverages and/or beverage residues in re-usable bottles, especially in plastic bottles and other containers. Electromagnetic radiation traverses the walls of the bottles and containers at least once, and by areas of residual liquid, areas with liquid films, solid films on the inside wall and areas with contamination inside the wall are detected by the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In the grading of shell eggs passing in a stream through a candling bed, images of the eggs are compared with image data characteristic of eggs of known grade so as to assign a grade to each egg in the stream. Positional information representative of the movement of the eggs is combined with the assigned grade to control a mechanical egg routing device. Images of multiple egg streams may be multiplexed and processed together. The images may be Fourier transformed before comparison.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for inspecting an end of an object for a defect by which not only a defect caused by deformation of an end of an object in a horizontal direction but also another defect caused by deformation in a vertical direction can be detected with a high degree of accuracy. Light from an end portion of an object is received by a pair of one- or two-dimensional image sensors and disposed at a predetermined angle relative to each other, and brightness outputs of individual picture elements of the image sensors are stored into memories. From the stored signals, a bright line produced by light from an edge of the object end portion is detected for each image sensor, and a position of the bright line is calculated as a digital amount from a number of picture elements for each image sensor. Then, the digital amounts are added and substracted between the image sensors. A defect is judged from results of the addition and subtraction.

Abstract: A display generator presents a plot of rate of change of light intensity vs. number of containers and a threshold is located along this plot to separate acceptable from unacceptable containers. A rejection controller receives this threshold data and rejects containers having a higher intensity rate of change.

Abstract: Photographs for detecting defects in the upper end face of the lip (43) of the mouth are taken by a camera (18) arranged on the axis of a bottle to be examined. An annular, coaxial light-conducting member (30), which is surrounded by a light source (28), is disposed between the lip (43) and the camera (18). It has a central viewing opening (40) with the shape of a double truncated cone (40a,40b). The generated surface of the truncated cone (40a) adjacent to the lip forms a light exit surface (46a) to illuminate the lip (43). The angle of slope of the truncated cone (40a) is selected so that an annular truncated cone of light (52) falls on the upper face of the lip (43) and has an angle of incidence of about 45.degree. in the middle thereof. This results in a dark-ground illumination of the lip (43). Should a defect be present in the region of the upper end face of the lip (43), this becomes visible as light on a dark background.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the optical inspection of at least partially transparent objects, such as bottles or flasks, arranged in line on a moving horizontal table conveyor. A light source is located on one side of the conveyor and a linear electronic camera on the other. The camera comprises a line of photodetectors extending in a first direction. A lens forms on the camera an image of a portion of the object being inspected, the image being oriented so that as the object moves, the image moves in the same direction as the first direction. The image is scanned rapidly and repeatedly in the first direction by electronically scanning the line of photodetectors. The image is scanned in a second direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction by a pivoting mirror which varies the portion of the object that is imaged onto the photodetectors.

Abstract: A comprehensive container inspection system includes axial container examining features, side wall inspection features and a controllable diverter for routing the containers to one of at least two sorting paths. Each stage of the inspection system is adapted to process moving containers, a continuous line of moving containers being processed and controllably diverted without stoppages. In an axial inspection area, containers are carried through rim, energy absorption and base inspection areas by means of side rollers bridging a gap in endless belt conveyor sections. In a side wall inspection area, containers are continuously rolled before a video detector operable to record and analyze images including at least three of the rolling bottles.

Abstract: Inspection equipment for inspecting products including medicines such as phials and ampuls and foods such as drinking water. The products are placed on the pedestals of an indexing turn table to be intermittently transferred. The products are held on their peripheral surface by a disk turn table and a pair of rollers and rotated on their own axes by the turn of the disk turn table. The products intermittently transferred are lighted on their surface to be inspected for each stop, inspected by being imaged with an imaging device, and sorted into a nondefective products group and a defective products group with a sorting device.

Abstract: A bottle is moved over a sector of a circular path and simultaneously rotated around its longitudinal axis for the opto-electronic inspection of the mouth area for chipping of the glass. The bottle is guided through the beam path of a measuring apparatus on its way over the circular path. A measuring beam passes at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the bottle in the area of the mouth opening. The location dependent scanning signal generated by the measuring apparatus during each scan corresponding to every discrete angular position of the bottle displays a characteristic intensity modulation. The presence of a chip in the glass may be recognized in the scanning signal by the absence of the intensity maximum present at the location of a chip. The absence of the intensity maximum may be ascertained by measuring the distance between two adjacent intensity maxima and comparing the measured distance with a reference value.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and inspecting containers includes an annealing lehr disposed on one side of a primary conveyor and a stacker having a reciprocating pusher bar adapted to transport containers from the primary conveyor into the annealing lehr. Inspection apparatus is positioned adjacent to the primary conveyor. The stacker pusher bar preferably has a series of gates which permit a predetermined container which is to be inspected to pass through the pusher bar when the pusher bar is moved toward the annealing lehr to deliver the other containers thereto. The gates may advantageously be slidable or rotatable and be operated on an individual basis by actuators. The inspection equipment may be provided with conveyors to transport the containers to be inspected from the primary conveyor to the inspection apparatus and to transport the inspected containers which pass inspection to the primary conveyor or annealing lehr.

Abstract: A glassware production system includes an electropneumatic individual section glass forming machine having a multiplicity of operating mechanisms for converting a gob of molten glass into a hollow glass container. A glass forehearth feeds molten gobs at controlled temperature and weight to the forming machine. Electronic controllers individually and selectively control parameters of operation of the multiplicity of machine mechanisms and the forehearth. Glassware from the forming machine is inspected for manufacturing faults and for identifying each inspected container with its associated mold of origin. The glassware inspection devices provide fault signals indicative of a plurality of differing types of faults, which are thereafter associated not only with mold or section of origin but also with fault cause.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for automatic inspection of transparency contrast, consisting of illuminating the body of a container transversely to its axis (8), placing the container (3) against the light simultaneously with the aid of two charge transfer cameras, the sighting axes (11) of which are off-set angularly, of eliminating with the aid of an electronic window appropriate for each type of container, all signals originating in elementary points of the photosensitive matrix devices of said cameras (10) located outside the window, of analyzing successively each elementary point of the window by taking into account a predetermined number of immediately surrounding elementary points, of comparing the electric level of each elementary point weighted in this manner with a reference level pre-established for each type of container and of actuating the rejection of the container being inspected when the number of elementary points detected out of reference is higher than a predetermined n

Abstract: A glass bottle inspection unit includes an endless conveyor having a series of spaced roller members defining therebetween grooves for receiving glass bottles for inspection. The conveyor member carries the bottles through an inspection station and means are provided for rotating the rollers and bottles several times as they move through the inspection station to facilitate inspection. An inspection unit module may be tilted between horizontal and vertical positions to facilitate viewing at the inspection station. Illumination is provided as an aid to visual inspection of the bottles.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus which can be utilized for the quality inspection of fish fillets and enables the detection of faulty spots resulting from processing deficiencies, such as skin or fin remainders, blood spots, bones, as well as from parasites and others. To this end, fillets are guided to a light emitter by means of a conveyor belt which is made from a material which allows light to pass at low absorption. The light emitter comprises light sources which are arranged out of direct sight by means of screens. Due to its characteristic to allow light to pass by dispersion, the fillet will appear illuminated in darker surroundings.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting the finish of transparent containers, particularly glass containers, which include facility for directing diffused light energy laterally through the container finish as the container is rotated about its central axis. A camera includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array angulated with respect to the container axis to view the external and internal finish wall surfaces, the latter through the open container mouth. Individual elements of the camera linear array are sampled by an information processor at increments of container rotation, and corresponding data indicative of light intensity at each element is stored in an array memory as a combined function of element number and scan increment. Such data is compared following completion of container rotation to standard data indicative of acceptable container finish, and a reject signal is generated if such comparison exceeds an operator adjustable threshold.

Abstract: A lighting device for apparatus detecting flaws in objects having a photoelectric sensor aligned with the object and a processor responsive to the sensor for determining the light received by the sensor. The lighting device includes a ring-shaped lamp and an opaque shield having predetermined light paths controlling the direction of the light from the lamp in a selected direction, so that the light irradiates the object to be inspected in a manner whereby the light is reflected from the object to the sensor only when the object is flawed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting the sidewalls of containers on a continuously-moving conveyor includes recording instantaneous upper and lower angularly-spaced images of the bottles as they pass. Data on the images is stored as numeric data indicating the grey shade of each pixel in a matrix of pixels, which matrix is examined for edges and then divided based on detected edges into inspection windows. The windows are subject to separate criteria between typically scuffed areas and open areas. The occurrence of pixels in at least three grey ranges reflecting clear glass, opaque glass, and scuffed glass, together with the correlation of such occurrences between angularly-spaced views and upper and lower views, is processed to detect defects. A memory stores a status indication in a queue representing the acceptability of the bottles being examined, which are then segregated by a downstream reject kicker mechanism.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for inspecting transparent articles such as glassware for various types of defects, while conveying the articles past an optical inspection assembly. An article to be inspected is transported through an inspection station where it may undergo rotational and translational motion while being illuminated during an inspection interval. The inspection apparatus includes a video camera which provides output signals representative of the luminance of image elements, and video processing circuitry to derive line sum signals representative of the aggregate luminance of preselected scan lines. The line sum signals are further processed to discriminate streaks of brighter-than-normal or darker-than-normal pixels in a series of image frames. The user may establish window parameters to define an area of the article to be scanned for defects.

Abstract: In a method for detecting an inferior container, wherein: light beams are projected in different two directions upon a side of a transparent or a semitransparent test container while the container is rotatably driven; both of a transmitted beam which is one of the above light beams, having penetrated through the container, and a refelected beam which is the other of the above light beams, having reflected from the container are simultaneously received by a common photo-receptive surface; a composite image constructed of both of the transmitted beam and the reflected beam is projected upon this photo-receptive surface; and an inferior container is detected by means of a shadow formed in this image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting "birdswing" flaws in glass containers. A container is illuminated using a beam of light introduced at its base. The column of light passes up through the container along its inner sidewall until it impinges upon a birdswing or like defect at the inner wall, which will cause light rays to be reflected through the outer wall. The light rays advantageously illuminate a zone at the base of the bottle which does not extend beyond the outer side wall, and are evenly distributed over a defined range of incident angles. Light reflected through the outer sidewall is detected as a bright spot by a suitable photodetector array, which monitors the entire container sidewall. This inspection technique effectively eliminates undesired indications of defects within the container wall, as well as of patterns embossed on the outer surface.

Abstract: A system for automatically detecting sidewall and dimensional defects in a transparent container includes a laser scanning system positioned astride a conveyor in a production line. In an upstream inspection zone a laser beam vertically scans a portion of the side wall of the container. Photosensors positioned in a detection chamber detect the specific effect which any defect has upon the laser beam by determining the location of light passing through the container and comparing its intensity against pre-set thresholds. A flaw signal is generated when a threshold is exceeded. The number of flaw signals is counted and when the count equals a pre-set value a reject signal is generated to eject the defective container from the conveyor. If a container is not rejected, it passes through a rotator assembly which rotates the container precisely 90.degree..

Abstract: A bottle inspecting apparatus comprises means for conveying bottles while rotating the same; a first light source for exposing only the bottle finish with light; a second light source having a radiation spectrum different from that of the first light source for exposing the thread of the bottle neck; a filter for discriminating the light of the first light source scattered at the bottle finish and the light of the second light source scattered at the bottle finish and the thread of bottle neck from the second light source; a first photoelectric transducer for photoelectric array converting the light of the first light scattered at the bottle neck into a first output signal; a second photoelectric transducer for photoelectric array converting the scattered light of the second light source from the bottle finish and the thread of bottle neck into a second output signal; a first defect discriminating circuit for digitalizing the output signal from the first photoelectric transducer and for detecting the defect a

Abstract: In a bottle inspection machine a cylindrical hollow shaft is driven rotationally about a vertical axis. Another shaft is splined in the tubular shaft for rotation therewith. Another rotor is mounted coaxially to the inner shaft and the two rotors constitute a means for transporting bottles in a circular path. A light source is mounted on the radially outer side of the circular path and projects beams generally radially inwardly through one or more bottles at a time. The bottles carried on the rotors do not fill a complete circle, thus leaving an open side on the rotor. A detector or scanning device is located on the side of the center shaft facing the area which is free of bottles. The scanning device has photodetectors or imaging elements that intercept the images of the bottles side walls which may be modulated by flaws or contaminants in the bottles.

Abstract: A system of back illuminating a glass container with generally horizontal collimated light having a vertical gradient of brightness produced by placing a showcase light behind the upper area of a diffuser plate.The light passing through the bottle is imaged by a lens into the region of the entrance aperture of a camera having a vertical array of pixels. The lens in the camera is focused on the side of the bottle. The output of the camera will be of a general level equal to the level of illumination of the middle of the diffuser. When a refractive defect in the bottle deflects light from the brightest area of the diffuser into the aperture of the camera, the signal output will rise, and if light from the darkest area of the diffuser is deflected by the defect into the aperture of the camera, the output signal will be substantially less.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting transparent containers such as glass containers having defects in the container sidewalls, and for distinguishing between commercially acceptable and unacceptable defects on the basis of defect type and size. A light source is positioned to direct diffused illumination through the sidewall of a container under inspection as the container is rotated about its central axis with the intensity of the illumination varying across the light source transversely of such axis as a predetermined function of transverse position. In specific disclosed embodiments of the invention, the light intensity is filtered across the source to provide transversely spaced outer regions of uniform intensities, either equal or unequal, and an intermediate region of either uniform intensity different from that in the outer regions or transversely varying intensity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically inspecting and sorting transparent containers such as glass containers having defects in the container sidewalls, and for distinguishing unacceptable major refractive defects and opaque defects from each other and from commercially acceptable minor refractive defects. First and second sources of diffused illumination having differing source widths are sequentially directed onto a container while the container is rotated about its central axis for at least one revolution during each illumination. A camera which includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array parallel to the axis of container rotation is positioned to receive light energy transmitted through the container sidewall.

Abstract: Container flaws are detected by repetitively sampling the output of a photosensor at a controlled rate dependent on the speed of inspection. Samples are digitized and stored in memory on a first in, first out basis. First in (oldest) and last in (newest) samples are used to provide a sliding computation of the slope or rate of change of the photosensor output. The computed slope is compared to an empirically determined preselected number. Containers are rejected or accepted based on the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A method for detecting a substantially transverse refractive defect in the sidewall of a transparent container is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of directing a filtered source of diffused light toward the sidewall of the container to provide an intensity gradient varying in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container and sensing the intensity of light at a plurality of positions in a field-of-view aligned along a path in the plane of the sidewall and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting glass tubes for fire checks and other defects is disclosed. Each tube is positioned on transport equipment and moved through an inspection area as it is rotated about its longitudinal axis by a spinner mechanism. A broad source of diffused light illuminates each tube in the inspection area. A camera is positioned above the moving line of tubes and includes an array of photosensitive diodes arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. A check in a tube will reflect a higher intensity light to the camera than a non-defective portion of the tube. By averaging the signals from the first few diodes for each longitudinal scan of the camera, a reference voltage level can be electronically determined for each scan. Any signal generated by a diode element of the camera which is greater than the sum of the reference signal and a predetermined signal indicates the presence of a defect in the tube.

Abstract: In a defect detecting method and apparatus, the image of an object under inspection is formed, the signals of picture elements forming the image is stored, the picture elements signals are accumulated for each of the regions which form parts of the image, the results of the accumulations for regions proximate to each other are compared, and a defect is detected from the result of the comparison.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for checking sealed containers for pinholes in a vacuum which containers have enclosed therein a vaporizable material, such as a glucose injection solution, distilled water for injection, milk or oil, or a sublimable substance, such as naphthalene (hereinafter referred to collectively as a "vaporizable substance"). With this invention, the vaporizable substance adhering to the sealed container and remaining in a checking chamber is vaporized first by a vaporizing suction means communicating with the checking chamber, and the vaporized substance is cooled and collected by a cooling heat exchanger to eliminate before checking the disturbances due to the vaporizable substance and to thereby assure accurate detection of pinholes.

Abstract: This invention relates to inspecting glass containers and other types of containers for defects, such as horizontal checks, in the sidewall thereof. The invention involves both method and apparatus for inspecting for such defects, whereby radiant energy is directed from above to be transmitted through the sidewall as a vertical band or column while the container is rotated. A light-sensitive detector observes the sidewall for reflected light produced by the defect, energizing of the detector creating a reject signal for rejection of flawed containers.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for compensating for signal drift in container inspection apparatus using radiant energy emitters and detectors for scanning the containers in combination with a processing circuit associated with the emitters and detectors for synchronizing the scanning signals and processing the signals in subcircuits such that the signals generated during intervals when no container is being scanned are constantly being examined for drift and signals compensated for drift, if any, are used for comparison with container inspection scan signals to determine if a container needs to be rejected.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein apparatus which views a glass container from above while the container is rotated about its vertical axis. A source of light, preferably a laser, has its beam swept diametrically back and forth across the bottom of the container to be examined. The inclusion of a piece of stuck or fused glass in the container will create a light output in the form of a pair of concentric halos of light above the container finish. The halos are sensed by two concentric arrays of solar cells positioned above the container. The output of the solar cells is fed to logic and reject electronics for selected rejection from a line of ware moving along a conveyor, depending upon whether or not the container has a piece of stuck glass therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an output of an inspection device for objects such as glass bottles and the like is connected to a source of data signals each proportional in magnitude to the amount of light received from an associated point on the object being inspected. The data signals are inputs to a storage means and an adder for generating a signal representing the difference between each one of the data points and an adjacent one of the data points stored in the storage means. Each difference signal is compared with a threshold signal to generate an event signal when the magnitudes differ. The event signals are displayed as a two-dimensional representation of the surface of the object as if it had been cut and unwrapped. The operator can repeat the inspection utilizing different threshold values to optimize the defect detection performance of the inspection device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for identifying defects in objects, such as glass bottles, utilizing data signals generated from a photodiode camera and light source. Event signals are generated when the magnitudes of adjacent data signals differ by an amount which exceeds a threshold level. Signals are also generated to identify the location of each event signal with respect to a corresponding photodiode and to identify during which vertical sweep of the object the event signal was generated to associate the event signal with a point on the object. The event signals are processed to identify defects. Events in proximity in the same sweep are identified as a string. Event magnitudes and totals in a string are compared with predetermined values to identify defects. Strings in proximity are identified as a blob. Event magnitudes and totals and blob width are compared with predetermined values to identify defects.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the side walls of transparent bottles for the detection of dirt or foreign bodies therein. The inspection is effected by projecting a plurality of images of the side walls of a bottle, as viewed from at least two different directions in plan, on to at least one integrated circuit device comprising an array of photodiodes arranged in a plurality of rows in combination with means to interrogate each diode in turn, along each row in turn, to provide a video signal comprising a sequence of electrical signals corresponding to the light energy each diode has received. The two optical paths are so folded that over part of their lengths they are parallel and vertical, thus enabling both path lengths to be varied simultaneously by a common adjustment means, thereby to shorten or lengthen the object distance to obtain the appropriate magnification over a range of bottle sizes and make full use of the potential resolution of the photodiode array.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting glass containers to determine the presence of the defect termed "birdswing". A container under inspection is rotated and a laser is directed so as to pass through the opening defined by the finish of the container and toward the base of the container. If no birdswing is present the laser beam will pass through the bottom of the container. However, if a birdswing is present, the rotation of the container will cause the laser beam to eventually strike the birdswing, causing scattering of the laser beam. The scattered light is detected by a circumferential photocell array which is positioned below the base of the container. The location of the array is such that it will not detect any of the laser light unless it strikes a birdswing. The detection of scattered light by the photocell array causes a reject signal to be generated.

Abstract: A container crown ring chip detector applying opto-electronic means for detecting the presence of chips in the container crown ring finish consisting of support means straddling the path of travel of the container crown ring, photo elements in opposing alignment and surrounding a substantial portion of the crown ring inspection station, electronic control means driving photo emitters which emit inspection rays detected by cooperating photo transistor receivers, and sequential driver circuits and synchronous detector circuits.

Abstract: An optical control unit comprises a base and at least one optical assembly having optical emitting means and conjugate optical receiving means with preset and fixed focal distances, the optical emitting means and conjugate optical receiving means being associated with the base so as to have fixed orientations with respect to the base and be capable of movement in directions parallel and transverse to the face of the base. The optical control unit is positioned with respect to the object to be inspected, and the optical emitting means and conjugate optical receiving means are sighted on a selected region of the wall of the object, the adjustment of sighting being accomplished through simple translations of the optical emitting means and receiving means while maintaining their orientations on the optical control unit unchanged.

Abstract: An article monitoring and reject apparatus is disclosed that is particularly well suited for monitoring or inspecting glass containers and automatically rejecting defective containers. The system includes a monitoring unit having a plurality of scan diodes and associated phototransistors with each diode being individually caused to emit a plurality of light pulses and the diodes being successively energized to scan that portion of the article to be monitored. The associated phototransistor produces a plurality of electrical pulses when a defect is sensed, as indicated by light reflected from the portion of the article then being monitored, and a defect signal is produced only if a predetermined plurality of pulses are generated from each of a plurality of diodes indicative of a defect. An inspection window is established by a separate light emitter and sensor at the monitoring area and the signal produced is processed in dual paths to reject device circuitry.