Container inspection apparatus having diameter measuring means and

Abstract

Apparatus for inspecting non-round annular containers includes elongated capacitive sensors, cooperating oscillators, which convert the sensor signal to a voltage corresponding thereto, and an electronic processor which receives the voltage and determines thickness. A displaceable electromechanical member is operatively associated with the sensor and emits an electrical signal corresponding to the degree of displacement of the sensor by a container being inspected. The electronic processor corrects the thickness determination by an adjustment of container diameter at the specific location where thickness is being monitored in order to compensate for container diameter variations due to the non-round characteristic of the container. In a preferred embodiment, linkage members secured to the rear of the sensor at a plurality of locations cooperate with a single displaceable element which converts the mechanical displacement of the sensor into a corresponding electrical signal. Movement between the capacitive sensors and the apparatus urging the containers into intimate contact therewith to accommodate variations in container diameter, while maintaining intimacy of sensor-container contact, is provided. The sensors and/or apparatus for urging the containers into intimate contact may be resiliently mounted. In one embodiment, sensors may be placed on both sides of the path of travel of the container which will have its diameter monitored on both sides thereby permitting rotation of the container against the sensors through 180.degree. rather than 360.degree.. A corresponding method is provided.