Abstract: Indexing mechanism for multiple station glassware inspection machines in which a plurality of pocketed starwheels are used. One set of pockets are formed with container encircling or restraining members which open and close in response to the contour of a box cam. The encircling members loosely retain containers so that they may be rotated about their vertical axes while held in a specific location. The finish of the containers is guided by an upper starwheel having pockets of a size commensurate with the size of the finish of the container. The containers to be inspected are brought into the starwheel with the encircling members opened. Upon closing of the encircling members, containers may be indexed through a series of positions where they may be inspected for various defects.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting either empty or filled transparent containers for foreign matter in which the containers are moved through spaced apart inspection stations to present different sides thereof to high intensity pulsed light sources which casts the illuminated image beams along paths which intersect at a beam directing member operable to align and direct the respective beams into an electronic scanning device, and in which apparatus the containers at the respective inspection stations are not necessarily the same containers so that the inspection at the stations occurs in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting nonverticality of small-mouthed bottles comprises means for training a light beam across a conveyor path and, in the region of this light beam further means for directing a light beam downwardly on to the path and into the mouth of the bottle. A detector responds to reflective light from the lip or rim of the mouth so that the offset of the center of the mouth and the base of the bottle can be detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically inspecting liquid filled containers for particulate contaminants in relative size. The method comprising the steps of illuminating the liquid with a constant intensity light source, imaging the entire illuminated liquid volume, including the meniscus, into a plurality of image planes with fiber optic bundles, and monitoring the fiber optic bundles with an array of constant sensitivity photo transducers. Each photo transducer continually translates the illumination value of the vial image of an assigned and separate unit volume of the liquid-filled container into a voltage signal and each signal is monitored for a signal change indicative of particulate movement. The interfering output signal due to the meniscus decay is corrected, and the accept/reject decision is based upon a composite signal representative of all the differentiated signals received from the array of photo transducers.

Abstract: An automatic capacitor winding machine including a photoelectric device for sensing the position of a capacitor tab which is rotated by a rotating arbor is disclosed. The sensing device is characterized by a light source providing a light-beam directed along a line which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the arbor. The tab crosses the line along which the light-beam is directed only twice. The width of the light-beam is greater than the width of the tab at the line crossing nearest the light source. A photoelectric detector is positioned to receive light directed along the line and it is responsive to light impinging thereon. The detector has an angle of light acceptance such that the light-beam is prevented from impinging on the detector only when the tab is at the line crossing which is nearest to the light detector.This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention.

Abstract: Inspection equipment for detection of foreign matter particles in the bottom area of containers with transparent bottoms, such as glass bottles. The equipment has a driven rotor the front face of which lies in the image plane of a projection optic with the illuminated bottle bottom serving as the object plane. The rotor has a first optical element in the form of a radially extending mirror which focuses the incident radiation on a fixed position photoelectric element. The output signal of the photoelectric element feeds an evaluator which responds to a certain decrease of the incident light intensity. The rotor is provided with a second optical element which is responsive to radiation from the center of the container bottom and which signals a second photoelectric cell, which feeds a second evaluator.Both evaluators signal container reject mechanism.

Abstract: Bottle color identification apparatus with a light beam passing through the bottle, in which the light beam passing through the bottle is supplied to a spectral decomposition arrangement which emits a signal characteristic of the bottle color.A special application of the invention is the sorting of returnable bottles having the same size and shape but different colors.

Abstract: Apparatus for the inspection of flask-type glass containers. Glass containers of the type having elongated necks and somewhat flattened main body portions, sometimes referred to as flask-type containers, may be inspected by conventional inspection devices if a particular handling system is used. The neck portion of the glass container is contained in a pocket formed in a neck holder carried by an upper, indexable starwheel. About 180.degree. of the neck circumference is in contact with the neck holder pocket. An upper guide rail contacts that portion of the neck which extends beyond the neck holder. A lower, indexable starwheel has a large pocket cut therein to allow the flattened main body portion to rotate freely at an inspection station. The flask-type container is fully stabilized for rotation by the contact of the neck portion with the neck holder pocket and the upper guide rail.

Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has twenty four light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an 8-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting the side wall of a glass container for ribbon tear defects wherein the container is rotated past a detector assembly. Two pairs of photovoltaic devices mounted in the detector assembly in a vertical line parallel to the vertical axis of the container respond to the light transmitted through the side wall of the container from a light source focused on the interior of the container. Each cell output signal is logarithmically amplified and filtered to remove the d.c. component thereby eliminating differences in magnitudes between the signals not caused by the detection of a seam or a defect. Each cell output signal is then compared with each of four reference signal levels corresponding to severe, normal and small changes in the signal level, the latter level being further divided into light focusing and light scattering changes.

Abstract: The method comprises directing light, in the visible light spectrum, of from approximately 4900 to 5800 Angstrom units onto workpieces, or onto containers having translucent bodies in order to illuminate the workpieces, or both the containers and fluent material contents of the containers, the method having a particular utility in inspecting workpieces in assembly or quality control operations, and in inspecting vials, ampoules, and the like, to evaluate and/or detect structural fissures, disconnections, fractures, etc. in such workpieces, and growths (i.e., egg embryos), foreign matter, and the like, in the fluent material contents of the containers, as well as the condition of the containers themselves.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying containers comprises a memory in which data relating to physical characteristics of containers is stored, a conveyor for transporting containers through a scanning station comprising a plurality of light detectors and a light source and signal generating means for generating signals distinguishing between those detectors obscured from said source by a container passing through said station and those not so obscured and means for comparing those signals with said data to identify the container. There is also disclosed a method of identifying containers utilizing such apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically inspecting bottled goods for foreign matter as the bottles pass through bottling machinery. The inspection procedure ignores false indications of foreign matter by comparing results of a plurality of coincidentally performed inspections.

Abstract: Four six-packs of labeled bottles are picked up and spun while being illuminated by light sources, each of the 24 bottles have an optical sensor focused at a spot through which successive portions of the peripheral surface of the bottle passes as the bottle is spun. The six-packs are fed broadside first; the two center bottles in each six-pack remote from the sensors are illuminated by light, mounted adjacent thereto so that the lights pass between necks of bottles as the assembly approaches the four six-packs to pick them up. Certain of the sensors are longer than others to permit viewing of some bottles underneath the sensors related to other bottles. Each of the bottles is illuminated by a light positioned at an elevation which is substantially different than the elevation of the focus spot on the bottles so that the sensors are substantially insensitive to specular reflection from the shiny bottles, yet provide a substantial amount of light diffusely reflected from labels.

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: A stream of cylindrical metal containers is fed into apparatus having a rotatable turret. The turret indexes each container past a driven wheel for imparting rotation thereto, and the rotating containers are scanned by a split flange detector. At the same or another point about the turret, a proximity detector disposed in close conjunction with the periphery of the rotating container detects any substantial runout of the periphery, indicating a dented container. Still another inspection station comprises a source of diffuse light directed against the sidewalls within a container, and a photosensor directed toward the container end for registering the intensity of reflected light. The light intensity is used as an indication of the presence (or absence) of coating material on substantial areas of the container interior.

Abstract: Inspection apparatus for detecting defects in the rim of bottles or containers includes a light sensing head made up of a mosaic of thirty to forty light sensors in the form of circular ring sectors supported on a platen and arranged around a central aperture. The sensing head is located above the bottles and inspects the bottles as they are conveyed through the inspection zone. A light source provides a beam through the central aperture which floods the mouth of the bottle with the light being reflected upwardly from the bottle rim to the various sensors which simultaneously sense light reflected from the entire bottle rim. The light sensor outputs are individually monitored and circuitry is provided to activate a bottle sorting device when an amplified output signal from any of the cells varies a predetermined amount from a normal signal value.

Abstract: An improved device for detection of stones in the sidewalls of glass containers. Stones in the sidewalls of glass containers cause stress patterns to be formed. These patterns are visible if the glass container is viewed through crossed polarizing filters due to the refraction of polarized light. A television camera and electronic analysis circuit may be substituted for the human eye. The detection capability and reliability of the system is improved if the glass container is illuminated with primarily infra-red radiation. Then, polarizing filters which polarize infra-red radiation and remove visible light are used. A filter before the television camera lens removes far infra-red radiation and allows only near infra-red radiation to be measured. This makes the device insensitive to glass color, flutes or stippling and improves the signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting defects in articles of manufacture wherein the article is inspected in at least two different planes. Decussate light paths are directed through the article and the light transmitted by the article is directed to a video camera to produce dual images which are scanned to sense defects in the article and produce a reject signal when a defect is present.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting the inside bottom surface of glassware for tramp glass by irradiating said surface with light having an angle of incidence of approximately 15 degrees and sensing any light transmitted through said surface as an indication of the presence of tramp glass.

Abstract: Containers are diverted from a conveyor onto a base where each container is rolled into an inspection station defined by three rollers. A side belt rolls the containers against a rail and one of the three rollers projects beyond the rail at said inspection station. The other two rollers are independently mounted on oscillating arms which move the side belts into contact with the container to rotate it at said inspection station. An improved inspection head is also disclosed, and the method of fabricating said head whereby the machine can be set-up for inspecting containers of various configuration with a minimum downtime of the machine, all of the light emitters and sensors being frozen in a block in a head for a particular container configuration.

Abstract: A bottle check detector is disclosed which detects both vertical and horizontal checks in the neck portion of a transparent glass bottle that may be of a rectangular half-gallon size, a circular half-gallon size, a round quart size or a square quart size. The check detector includes a continuously rotating head having infrared light emitters and receivers for detecting a wide range of horizontal and vertical checks. The emitters and receivers are pulsed and coupled to detect any checks. The head also includes downwardly extending fingers having reflecting surfaces thereon positioned below the plane of the bottle mouth to reflect the light reflected by generally vertical cracks upwardly to light receivers. Bottles are singularly advanced into an inspection position directly below the rotating head by an intermittently advancing conveyor having opposed lugs to space bottles from one another and to push them forwardly.

Abstract: Glass containers coated with a transparent polymer film, co-mingled with similar but non-coated containers, are identified without contact as they are moving on a conveyor. An optical position sensor triggers a stroboscope to emit a pulse of light that is directed to pass through the container. A light receptor essentially receives only that strobe light which has passed through the center of the container; light passing tangentially through the side of the container is blocked from the receptor. The light is filtered so that the receptor receives substantially only light in a wavelength range which will be attenuated by the polymer coating. Circuitry discriminates between the greater intensity of received light which has passed through an uncoated container and the lesser intensity of light through a coated container. Containers of the one type may be segregated from those of the other type by reject or sorting apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting defects in articles of manufacture such as glassware having lettering, mold marks and coloring is disclosed with the apparatus including a semi-diffused light source positioned adjacent one side of and optically spaced from the article being inspected for illuminating the article. A video camera is positioned on the opposite side of the article from the diffused light source and scans the illuminated article in order to produce a video signal indicative of the difference in the refraction characteristics of the article to thereby indicate the presence or absence of defects in the glassware sample. Circuitry is disclosed for discriminating between true defects and lettering, mold marks and coloring normally associated with the article. In the event there is a defect, an electrical processing circuit connected to the video camera and responsive to the video signal is provided for actuating a glassware rejection mechanism.

Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has twenty four light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an eight-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.

Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has 24 light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an 8-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for inspecting a series of can ends as they come off a forming press wherein the can ends are carried on a continuous belt which moves them through the forming press and then past a light source and a light detecting means which senses any light passing through each of the can ends as they are presented seriatim to the light source and sensing means. The light source is fixedly positioned on one side of the continuous belt and the sensing means is fixedly positioned on the other side of the belt. An extensible bellows, sealed against the light sensing means, is connected to a ram on the forming press which extends and contracts the bellows into and out of light tight sealing engagement with each of the can ends as it is presented for inspection. The light source and the light sensing means are both activated when the bellows is in light tight engagement against a can end to expose one side of the can end to light and sense whether any light passes through such can end.

Abstract: A light collection apparatus in a machine for detecting the presence of extraneous matter and/or cracks in translucent containers of the type in which a spot beam of light is projected through the container to generate an electrical inspection signal corresponding to the amount of light passing through the container to a light collection apparatus. The light collection apparatus incorporates fiber optic elements so arranged with exposed ends in spaced relation on a platform as to provide an accurate and controllable method of collection.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting differences in the wall thickness of a hollow object at various locations around its perimeter. Radiant electromagnetic waves are directed through one side of the object. The intensity of the waves is sensed at two adjacent locations where they emerge from the other side of the object after the waves have passed through two wall portions of the object at different sides thereof. The intensity of said waves at said locations is compared to ascertain any difference in wall thickness at said locations. This comparison is repeated as the waves scan the perimeter of the object and the successive comparisons indicate any trend of wall thickness departure from an average thickness. Corrective measures can then be taken at the apparatus which fabricates the object to restore wall thickness to the desired amount. The invention has particular utility in monitoring and controlling wall thickness of extruded plastic tubing in the course of fabricating plastic bags.

Abstract: A means of optically recognizing the presence of substances on or within the walls of a transparent object or on the surface of a reflecting object by impinging a bar of light on the object and collecting the reflected or refracted rays of light by means of optical fibers and directing the light onto a photosensitive element connected to a circuit for using said information. The device disclosed is particularly suitable for inspecting glass jars to detect the presence of foreign material on the surface of the jars, such as "doping" or a mold release compound during manufacture, such as black spots which are undesirable because they have an unsightly appearance. The mold release is a necessary part of the jar manufacture process. The present system involves manual inspection of jars.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically inspecting liquid filled containers for particulate contaminants in relative size. The method comprising the steps of illuminating the liquid with a constant intensity light source, dissecting the image of the entire illuminated liquid volume, including the meniscus, with fiber optic bundles and monitoring the fiber optic bundles with an array of constant sensitivity photo sensors. Each photo sensor continually translates the illumination value of an assigned and separate cross sectional unit area of the vial image into a voltage signal and monitors each signal for a signal change indicative of particulate movement. The interfering output signal due to the meniscus decay is corrected, and the accept/reject decision is based upon a composite signal representative of all the differentiated signals received from the array of photo sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying which of a plurality of moulds moulded a particular container includes such moulded containers with coded combinations of lens members in their bottom, the lens members being illuminated to focus light to an optical system terminating at a photosensitive device which emits pulses as the lens members are sequentially scanned.

Abstract: A device for detecting a strain and foreign matters in a glass container is designed to amplify the electrical output obtained by bringing vertical scanning lines into intersection with the image of horizontally rotating strain polarized light. A polarizer and an analyzer are disposed in such a manner that their optical axes cross each other at right angles, and polarized light from the polarizer is projected upon a rotating glass container under inspection and is allowed to pass through the analyzer only when strain and/or foreign matter is found in the glass container. The resulting strain polarized light is projected upon a non-storage camera tube through a lens so as to vertically scan with a line through the center of an image of the glass container on the photoelectric surface of the tube at a speed proportional to the moving speed of the glass container to thereby bring the vertical scanning lines into intersection with the image of the horizontally rotating strain polarized light.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating bottles includes a circular turntable for transferring bottles from an inlet passage to an outlet passage along a circular arc. The bottles are maintained in position on the turntable by two pairs of superposed ratchet wheels which rotate with the turntable. A friction wheel is adapted to be brought into pressing contact with the body of a bottle on the turntable under the action of spring to rotate the bottle about its vertical axis. A cam causes the friction wheel to move at the same speed as the turntable through a specified angle of its rotation, following the rotation of the turntable, and to thereafter return to the original position. When returning to the original position, the friction wheel is moved away from the bottle by a hydraulic cylinder. While in pressing contact with the body of bottle, the friction wheel is rotated by a motor through an electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic recognition and registration of bottles includes detectors positioned to detect a light pattern from bottles passing a sensing stage. The outputs of the sensors are detected and converted to unique output signals for application to a computer and registration circuit. The computer circuit is pre-programmed to provide an output corresponding to the value of a given bottle passing through the sensing stage. The output of the computer is applied to a printing system for enabling a printer output corresponding to the value assigned to a series of bottles registered by the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of extraneous matter and/or cracks in translucent containers and in particular translucent containers when the colour density and/or wall thickness of the translucent containers vary significantly from container to container which includes a vertical spot beam of light which is projected through the container to generate an electrical inspection signal corresponding to the amount of light passing through the container. This electrical inspection signal is compared with a predetermined electrical acceptance signal, which is a function of the vertical position of the spot beam of light relative to the container. There is an ambient light correction and for colored containers either the inspection signal or the acceptance signal is altered during the inspection process to take account of the colored density and/or wall thickness.

Abstract: A detector for tubular transparent articles employs a light beam directed across an opening in a housing, along a path offset from a diameter of that opening. When a tubular article is present in the opening, the light is glazingly deflected by a curved surface of the article, optimally at the critical angle of maximum light reflection. The resultant reduction in beam intensity is sensed by a photodetector to indicate the presence of the article.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of inspecting transparent containers of the type used for food and beverages for the presence of dirt, foreign objects and manufacturing defects, such as birdswings. The apparatus includes illuminating each container from different angles and in a sequential order, and processing the illuminated images by photo-electronic scanning apparatus to obtain a response on a change in the illumination level within an electronic window of an amount sufficient to actuate a container reject mechanism.