Patent Document ID: 4859863
Application ID: 07142800
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A label inspection apparatus for inspecting labels on containers such as, for example, containers of generally rectangular horizontal cross-section in the label areas and where the labels are applied to generally flat or slightly convex as opposed to round side surfaces of the container, and further where the containers with the labels to be inspected are moving by a conveyor past the inspection apparatus in an upright position, said label inspection apparatus comprising: means for sensing the reflectivity values of pixels located over substantially the entire label for each container in a sample having a predetermined number of containers, the pixel locations being the same for each label in the sample and each label to be inspected, the containers and labels in the sample being typical of those to be inspected, means for establishing MEANS reflectivity values from the reflectivity values of each pixel location for the containers in the sample, means for determining standard deviation values from the number of containers in the sample and the reflectivity values, means for establishing limits by which containers to be inspected are to be judged as pass or fail, said limits established as a function of said MEANS values and standard deviation values, means for inspecting labels on the containers to be inspected, including means for sensing the reflectivity value of each pixel in each label as with the containers in the sample, means for comparing values which are a function of the sensed values with the established limits, and means for passing or failing a label in response to said comparison.