Patent ID: 6654116
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A device (V) for optical inspection of beverage cans (D) having a bottom (B) and recessed collar (K), each having reflecting properties, comprising at least one laser light source (Q, Qâ€²) positioned outside the can for illuminating the inside of the can, a reflector (R) for reflected light from the inside of the can arranged between said laser light source and the opening in the can, a camera (E) which is connected to an analyzer device and is aligned with said reflector, and an optical device (P) with which light (11) from said laser light source (Q, Qâ€²) can be projected through the opening (4) in the can from above directly onto the bottom (B) of the can, for virtual displacement of said light source (Q, Qâ€²) to the bottom (B) of the can, and with which the collar (K) can be illuminated from the bottom (B) of the can on the inside, wherein said reflector (R) has a narrow section (7) for passage of the laser light (11), and beam shaping elements (L) for widening the light beam provided in the path of the beam of light downstream from said narrow section (7), and wherein said laser light source (10) is positioned laterally outside the path (18) of the reflected beam of said reflector (R) which is directed toward said camera (E), and a deflecting mirror (S) is arranged above an opening in said reflector (R) which defines said narrow section (7).