Patent ID: 7374713

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a plastic container comprising: forming the plastic container from a preform in a blow-molder, the blow-molder comprising a plurality of molds and spindles; and inspecting the plastic container after formation in the blow-molder, wherein inspecting the plastic container comprises: directing light energy from at least one light energy source from an exterior of the plastic container toward the plastic container after formation of the plastic container by the blow-molder; sensing with at least one light energy sensor operatively associated with the at least one light energy source a portion of the light energy that passes through the plastic container, wherein the at least one light energy source and the at least one light energy sensor are located in the blow-molder; generating a signal from the sensed portion of the light energy that passes through the plastic container that is related to the light energy absorbed by the plastic container; inputting the signal related to the light energy absorbed by the plastic container to a microprocessor; inputting, to the microprocessor, at least one timing signal indicative of the mold and spindle of the blow-molder involved in the formation of the plastic container; determining, by the microprocessor, a container attribute of the plastic container based on the signal related to the light energy absorbed by the plastic container; and determining, by the microprocessor, the mold and spindle of the blow-molder involved in forming the plastic container based on the at least one timing signal.