Machine for inspecting glass containers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine for inspecting a finish portion of a glass container at an inspection station for defects, comprising:
- a rotation mechanism configured to rotate a glass container about an axis of rotation of the glass container at the inspection station,a light source operable to illuminate the finish portion of the rotating glass container,a camera operable to image the selected illuminated finish portion of the glass container,said camera viewing the finish portion at an acute angle to the glass container axis of rotation;
a control which is configuredto control the operation of said camera to capture an image at a predetermined number of angular increments of rotation whereby objects, corresponding to reflections from a defect in the finish portion, in the images captured at the predetermined number of angular increments will follow an elliptical path,to locate the edge of the finish of the glass container and to shift at least one of the imaged objects to the captured images of the objects based on the location of the edge of the finish of the glass container; and
to evaluate the objects based on their locations relative to a straight datum.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
17 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A machine for inspecting a finish portion of a glass container at an inspection station for defects, comprising:
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a rotation mechanism configured to rotate a glass container about an axis of rotation of the glass container at the inspection station, a light source operable to illuminate the finish portion of the rotating glass container, a camera operable to image the selected illuminated finish portion of the glass container, said camera viewing the finish portion at an acute angle to the glass container axis of rotation; a control which is configured to control the operation of said camera to capture an image at a predetermined number of angular increments of rotation whereby objects, corresponding to reflections from a defect in the finish portion, in the images captured at the predetermined number of angular increments will follow an elliptical path, to locate the edge of the finish of the glass container and to shift at least one of the imaged objects to the captured images of the objects based on the location of the edge of the finish of the glass container; and to evaluate the objects based on their locations relative to a straight datum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A machine for inspecting a finish portion of a glass container at an inspection station for defects, comprising:
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a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the glass container about its vertical axis; a light source; a camera directed towards the finish portion, the light source and the camera being arranged and configured such that the camera images an anomaly comprising a reflection from the defect of light from the light source; and a control configured to image at least a portion of the finish portion at a plurality of angular increments of rotation, an anomaly being captured in the image following an elliptical path over the predetermined number of angular increments of rotation, the control further configured to unwrap the image and to evaluate the anomaly; wherein the light source comprises a pair of light sources having light axes which are arranged and configured in a horizontal plane, forming between them a 90 degree angle, the finish portion of the glass container being disposed in the horizontal plane, and wherein said camera includes an imaging axis forming a 45 degree angle with the horizontal plane. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A machine for inspecting a finish portion of a glass container at an inspection station for defects, comprising:
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a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the glass container about its vertical axis; a light source; a camera directed towards the finish portion, the light source and the camera being arranged and configured such that the camera images an anomaly comprising a reflection from the defect of light from the light source; and a control configured to image at least a portion of the finish portion at a plurality of angular increments of rotation, an anomaly being captured in the image following an elliptical path over the predetermined number of angular increments of rotation, the control further configured to unwrap the image and to evaluate the anomaly; wherein the control is configured to define a plurality of horizontal bands and to evaluate the anomaly relative to the horizontal bands; wherein the control is configured to determine the appearances of the anomaly in each band to define a cluster; and wherein the control is configured to determine whether the cluster has a gap a predetermined distance wide. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification