Patent ID: 7560720

Claim:
A method of detecting unwanted objects or faults in a plurality of containers including a fluid or liquid, said method comprising the steps of: providing a path of travel along which said plurality of containers are conveyed; moving said plurality of containers along said path of travel; providing a light source emitting light of a specific spectral distribution, said light source being positioned at one side of said path of travel, wherein said containers are at least partly transparent or translucent to the light at said specific spectral distribution, said fluid or liquid being at least partly transparent or translucent to light at said specific spectral distribution; providing a first camera including a CMOS chip for detecting light at said specific spectral distribution emitted from said light source, wherein said first camera defines a field of view, said path of travel intersects said field of view, and said CMOS chip produces a digital image comprising a specific number of pixels; rotating each of said containers so as to bring said fluid contained in each of said containers in motion; stopping said rotation of each of said containers said fluid still rotating therein; said first camera registering a sequence of digital images as said container passes between said light source and said camera; selecting a part of each of said digital images, said part substantially corresponding to the outline of a specific container; transmitting each of said parts to a digital image processing unit; and processing a sequence of said parts of digital images so as to detect either the presence or absence of said unwanted objects or faults in said specific container.