Inex/vistech Technologies, Inc.

Vistech Corporation

Roger Chang

Donald Darling

Dale W Kline

Tyce Fitzmorris

Mark Filipowski

Eric Espenhahn

Jamie Pereira

Trent Francis

Cap V Nguyen

Steven R Rowley

Timothy Wagner

Russell Mortensen

Jaime Periera

Russell Mortenson

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. A downstream mechanical diverter device includes a picker element operable to stop a container ahead of a container to be diverted, and means for positioning the diverted container to be squeezed into a diversion path between the stopped container and a next container, the next container advancing continuously through the diversion process.

Comprehensive container inspection system

An article inspection system especially useful for containers having threaded ends includes a video camera, digitizer and data processor operable to analyze a video image collected through a lens system. The lens system has several alternatives, in each case including a wide aspect object lens, wider than the end of the article being inspected, with a refracting and/or reflecting light ray path operable to produce a two dimensional image including both the end of the article and the sides of the article adjacent the end. The optics produce a distorted image in which the sides of the article appear folded upwardly into the two dimensional image such that a two dimensional data array adequately represents the image of the end and the adjacent sides.

Article inspection system for analyzing end and adjacent sides

A video inspection system with collimated viewing of plural containers has a conveyor for continuously transporting bodies disposed immediately adjacent one another to an inspection zone at which the bodies are backlighted. A video detector for capturing and analyzing a digital image of successive containers views the containers through a preferably fresnel collimating lens disposed between the bodies and the video detector, whereby an elevation view of the bodies is achieved. A data processing device operable to correlate the portions of successive images corresponding to a single body proceeding through the inspection zone analyzes the images and operates a downstream apparatus for segregating the bodies based upon visible features.

Video container inspection with collimated viewing of plural containers

An illumination system for video inspection of transparent and translucent bodies to be inspected sequentially while moving along a conveying path has a light source and light-transmitting block partly enclosing over the end of the bodies moving on the path. A light source, especially one or more strobe lamps is located along the conveying path, and light from the source is directed inwardly by the block to a diffuse surface defining side walls of a channel through which rims move along the conveying path. The diffuse side walls direct light inwardly and obliquely of the rim. The rim can be illuminated on the fore and aft sides in the channel by light emission from an additional block of material forming a connection web between the inwardly-reflective blocks, tending to evenly illuminate the rim.

Oblique illumination for video rim inspection

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Ft. Lauderdale, FL, United States of America

Roger Chang