Emhart Glass S.a.

Applied Vision Corporation

Applied Vision Company, LLC

Richard D Diehr

Richard A Sones

Amir R Novini

R Dean Houck

Joe J Dordoni

William John Furnas

Henry F Raupp

Gary Carl Weber

Sarath G Tennakoon

Michael M Rentschler

Kee Sin Loo

Joe Dordoni

Michael G Rentschler

A system for inspecting a glass container and methods of inspecting glass containers are provided. The system includes a panel including a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate the glass container. The system includes a camera configured to image the illuminated glass container. The system includes a controller configured to adjust the amount of power applied to each of the light sources individually. The system includes a processor configured to evaluate the image of the illuminated glass container for indications of defects in the container. Methods of calibrating the system are also provided.

Container inspection system with individual light control

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.

Means for inspecting glass containers for defects

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.

Machine for inspecting glass containers

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.

Machine for inspecting glass containers at an inspection station using an addition of a plurality of illuminations of reflected light

A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster. The cluster is evaluated to determine whether it is a multiple cluster and each defined cluster is evaluated to distinguish a check from a blister.

A machine for inspecting the finish of a glass container rotating at an inspection station. A pair of light sources, which are repeatedly turned on and off, have horizontal light axes which are orthogonally related and intersect the container axis. The light sources illuminate the container finish to identify checks. The illuminated checks are imaged by a camera which has a camera axis coincident with the container axis and the intersecting light axes. The camera axis makes an angle of 45 degrees with both light axes and the horizontal. The camera is exposed through multiple images.

A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The center of each captured object in an array is determined by a controller which determines the object centers in a plurality of adjacent bands. The band having the most object centers is determined and the objects in the band having the most object centers are deleted from the rest of the bands. The control repeatedly determines the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers and deletes the objects in the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers from the remainder of the bands until the objects in each band are unique. The maximum separation of objects in each band is defined and checks will be differentiated from blisters based on this separation.

An inspection machine for determining whether a bottle at an inspection station is 'out of round'. A laser, spaced from the bottle to be inspected directs a laser beam towards the axis of the bottle to be inspected whereby a diffuse spot of energy will be defined on the surface of the bottle to be inspected. The bottle to be inspected is rotated about its axis and a CCD camera views the spot of energy on the surface of the bottle at a defined angle to the laser beam. A control determines the displacement of the spot of energy as the bottle to be inspected is rotated 360 degrees about its axis and issues a reject signal in the event the displacement exceeds a set limit.

Out of round detector

A machine for inspecting glass containers rotating at an inspection station. A camera images an area of interest on the glass container and continuous illumination of that area is provided by strobing a light source a number of times while the area is imaged on a camera the entire period.

Machine for inspecting rotating glass containers with light source triggered multiple times during camera exposure time

A machine for inspecting glass bottles for wire edges. A bottom light directs light vertically upwardly to image a Camera imaging the glass bottle from above. A beam splitter redirects light from a second light source which issues horizontal light, vertically downwardly towards the sealing surface. The bottle hole appears white, the sealing surface appears gray and the annular step appears black with a wire edge on the step appearing gray.

A machine for inspecting the finish of a glass container rotating at an inspection station. A pair of light sources have horizontal light axes which are orthogonally related and intersect the container axis. The light sources illuminate the container finish. The illuminated checks are seen by a camera which has a camera axis coincident with the container axis and intersects the light axes making an angle of 45 degrees with both light axes and the horizontal.

A glass container inspection machine is disclosed for inspecting glass stippled bottles for defects. Stippled bottles are supported at an inspection station and are illuminated with a light source. The stippled bottle is imaged a pixel matrix with the pixels of the image varying in intensity from bright to gray at the points of stippling. A computer evaluates the pixels of the image including a look up table for values to be assigned to specific light intensities from light to black, the plot of the look up table having a high gain portion from black to gray and a continuous low gain portion from gray to white.

Growing community of inventors

Horseheads, NY, United States of America

Richard D Diehr