Patent ID: 7541572
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: B07C,G01N

Abstract:
1. A machine for inspecting a glass container at an inspection station for defects comprising: means for rotating a glass container at the inspection station, a light source comprising a first light source having a horizontal axis and a second light source having a horizontal light axis, for illuminating a selected portion of the rotating glass container, said light source having a selected “on” time followed by a selected “off” time, means for turning said light source “on” and “off” a plurality of consecutive times, said bottle rotating through a defined angle of rotation while said light source is successively “on” and “off” said plurality of times, a camera including a triggerable imaging portion for imaging the selected illuminated portion of the glass container, and including a detector axis, said camera having an exposure time at least equal to the time required for the rotating glass container to rotate through said defined angle of rotation, with the camera and light source aligned, with each light source horizontal axis aligned in the positive Z-plane of the glass container orthogonal to each other and 45° to a vertical plane including the camera detector axis, and with the camera detector axis aligned 45° from horizontal in the negative Z-plane of the glass container, wherein a dark field of view is presented to the camera with only light reflected from a defect detected by the camera; means for triggering the imaging portion of said camera when the bottle is at the beginning and end of at least one of said defined angle of rotation so that the camera will continuously image said selected portion of the container as said glass container rotates through said defined angle of rotation, and means for capturing and transferring the image when the triggering means is triggered at the end of said defined angle of rotation.