The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1998
William T. Shepherd, Evans City, PA (US);
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for inspecting a container having an open mouth and a closed bottom spaced from the container mouth, while the container is hot from its manufacture, includes a light sensor disposed with respect to the container to view the container bottom through the container mouth. Infrared light energy emitted from the container bottom that travels through the container mouth is directed onto the light sensor, and the inside diameter of the container mouth is measured as a function of the light energy directed onto the sensor. The light sensor preferably comprises an area array sensor for developing a two-dimensional image of the container mouth, and the infrared light energy is directed onto the sensor by a telecentric lens arrangement. The area array sensor is disposed within a camera that has an entrance pupil and the telecentric lens arrangement has one focus at infinity directed toward the container bottom and a second focus at the entrance pupil of the camera. The area array sensor is coupled to image processing electronics for determining or calculating a circle of greatest diameter that will fit into the two-dimensional image of the container mouth, and treating such circle as indicative of the effective inside diameter of the container mouth.