Method and apparatus for inspecting transparent objects

Claim 2

Apparatus for continuously inspecting transparent objects having at least a localized region with symmetry of revolution about an axis comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where a transparent object is located for inspection; a plurality of light-detecting means generally oriented with respect to said light beam emitters so that at least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a transparent object is located at said inspection position; electronic means for sequentially activating said light beam emitters and for interrogating said light-detecting means in a circular scanning examination cycle, said electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by the presence of gate means between said second counter and said light-detecting means for permitting selection of those detecting means to be read.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising memory means for controlling said gate means and matrix means, including memory means, for combining light beam emitter excitation signals and light-detector output signals by means of the memory-controlled gate means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of indicating means for indicating those light detecting means which produce a rejection signal wherein said gate means and said indicating means are controlled by the same signal.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of indicating means for indicating those light-detecting means which produce a rejection signal.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electronic means comprises memory means for authorizing detection during each illumination step by selected ones of said plurality of light-detection means.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an auxiliary interdiction means for permitting selection of the light-detecting means to be interdicted.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electronic means further comprises means for inhibiting the interrogation of individual light-detecting means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprises memory means which may be selectively programmed so as to inhibit selected light-detecting means when particular light beam emitters are activated.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electronic means further comprises: gate means between said second counter and said light-detecting means for permitting selection of those light-detecting means to be interrogated; and matrix means, including memory means for controlling said gate means, whereby selected gates are inhibited when individual light beam emitters are activated.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for indicating which light detecting means produces an output signal when a light beam emitter is energized.

Claim 13

Apparatus for continuously inspecting transparent objects having at least a localized region with symmetry of revolution about an axis comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where a transparent object is located for inspection; a plurality of light-detecting means generally oriented with respect to said light beam emitters so that at least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a transparent object is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating said light-detecting means in a scanning examination cycle; and second electronic means including a programmable memory means for inhibiting the interrogation of different selected light-detecting means when different light beam emitters are activated.

Claim 14

Apparatus for continuously inspecting transparent objects having at least a localized region with symmetry of revolution about an axis comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where a transparent object is located for inspection; a plurality of light-detecting means generally oriented with respect to said light beam emitters so that at least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a transparent object is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating said light-detecting means in a scanning examination cycle; and second electronic means including a programmable memory means for inhibiting the interrogation of different selected light-detecting means when different light beam emitters are activated.

Claim 15

Apparatus for continuously inspecting bottles for chipped rims, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a chipped rim is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said paired light-detecting means in an examination cycle; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is not sensed by a light-detecting means when its paired light beam emitter is activated.

Claim 16

Apparatus for continuously inspecting bottles for chipped rims, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a chipped rim is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said paired light-detecting means in an examination cycle; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is not sensed by a light-detecting means when its paired light beam emitter is activated.

Claim 17

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating some, but not all, of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said means not interrogating the light-detecting means that is paired with the light beam emitter that is activated; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating some, but not all, of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said means not interrogating the light-detecting means that is paired with the light beam emitter that is activated; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a horizontal glaze; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection position and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a horizontal glaze; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 21

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for vertical glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located below the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle is located at said inspection position, said light detecting means being located above the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a vertical glaze; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 22

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for vertical glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located below the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters being aimed at different portions of the rim of the bottle when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said light beam emitters illuminating the entire rim of said bottle; a plurality of fixed light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle is located at said inspection position, said light detecting means being located above the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a vertical glaze; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 23

Apparatus for inspecting a transparent object for chipping or glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the object is located for inspection, a first group of said light beam emitters being located above the object and a second group being located below the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters in said first group being aimed at different portions on a periphery of the object when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said first group of light beam emitters illuminating the entire periphery of said object and said light beam emitters in said second group being aimed at different portions on a periphery of the object when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said second group of light beam emitters illuminating the entire periphery of the object; a first plurality of light-detecting means arranged opposite said first group of emitters and below the upper surface of the object so that the inspection station is therebetween and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when the object is located at said inspection position; a second plurality of light-detecting means oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, said second light detecting means being located above the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said light-detecting means in an examination cycle; and second electronic means for producing a reject signal if a light pattern is detected that corresponds to that of a defect in the object.

Claim 24

Apparatus for inspecting a transparent object for chipping or glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the object is located for inspection, a first group of said light beam emitters being located above the object and a second group being located below the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position, said light beam emitters in said first group being aimed at different portions on a periphery of the object when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said first group of light beam emitters illuminating the entire periphery of said object and said light beam emitters in said second group being aimed at different portions on a periphery of the object when it is located in said inspection station and the totality of said second group of light beam emitters illuminating the entire periphery of the object; a first plurality of light-detecting means arranged opposite said first group of emitters and below the upper surface of the object so that the inspection station is therebetween and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when the object is located at said inspection position; a second plurality of light-detecting means oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, said second light detecting means being located above the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said light-detecting means in an examination cycle; and second electronic means for producing a reject signal if a light pattern is detected that corresponds to that of a defect in the object.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 12, 13, 14 or 15 wherein said fixed light beam emitters are arranged in a first ring about said inspection position and said light-detecting means are arranged in a second ring about said inspection position.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 12, 14 or 15 wherein a first group of fixed light beam emitters are aimed at said inspection position at a first angle with respect to the vertical and a second group of said fixed light beam emitters are aimed at said inspection position at a second angle with respect to the vertical.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to any one of claims 12, 16 or 17 wherein said first electronic means further comprises first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22 further characterized in that: said object is transported continuously through said inspection station without rotation; and said object is illuminated by circularly scanning a series of fixed light beams oriented at substantially the same angle with respect to the axis of symmetry of said object but forming a plurality of different angles with respect to the direction of travel of said object.

Claim 39

The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of rotating the object after the first counter transmits a cycle of orders and repeating the steps of successively illuminating one circumferential portion of the object at a time and successively interrogating a portion of said light-sensitive receivers, whereby a different part of the object is inspected.

Claim 40

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating some, but not all, of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said means not interrogating the light-detecting means that is paired with the light beam emitter that is activated, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 41

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and paired with said light beam emitters, each one of said light-detecting means being oriented so that it receives light from a different one of said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position, said light-detecting means being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating some, but not all, of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said means not interrogating the light-detecting means that is paired with the light beam emitter that is activated, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 42

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a horizontal glaze, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 43

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for horizontal glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located above the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle without a horizontal glaze is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a horizontal glaze, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 44

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for vertical glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located below the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle is located at said inspection position, said light detecting means being located above the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a vertical glaze, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 45

Apparatus for continuously inspecting the rim of bottles for vertical glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the bottle is located for inspection, said light beam emitters being located below the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; a plurality of light-detecting means arranged in a ring and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a bottle is located at said inspection position, said light detecting means being located above the rim of the bottle when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating a portion of said light-detecting means while each light beam emitter is activated, said portion being that part which would receive no light from the light beam emitter in the case of a bottle which did not contain a vertical glaze, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; and second electronic means for generating a reject signal if light is sensed by one of the interrogated light-detecting means.

Claim 46

Apparatus for inspecting a transparent object for chipping or glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the object is located for inspection, a first group of said light beam emitters being located above the object and a second group being located below the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; a first plurality of light-detecting means arranged opposite said first group of emitters so that the inspection station is therebetween and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when the object is located at said inspection position; a second plurality of light-detecting means oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, said second light detecting means being located above the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said light-detecting means in an examination cycle, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; second electronic means for producing a reject signal if a light pattern is detected that corresponds to that of a defect in the object.

Claim 47

Apparatus for inspecting a transparent object for chipping or glazes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where the object is located for inspection, a first group of said light beam emitters being located above the object and a second group being located below the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; a first plurality of light-detecting means arranged opposite said first group of emitters so that the inspection station is therebetween and generally oriented so that a least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when the object is located at said inspection position; a second plurality of light-detecting means oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, said second light detecting means being located above the upper surface of the object when it is in said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for simultaneously interrogating said light-detecting means in an examination cycle, said first electronic means further comprising first and second looped counters, said first counter transmitting cycles of excitation orders to said light beam emitters and said second counter transmitting cycles of interrogation orders to said light-detecting means, said counters being interconnected so that one of said counters transmits incrementing instructions to the other of said counters after transmitting a cycle of orders; second electronic means for producing a reject signal if a light pattern is detected that corresponds to that of a defect in the object.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising means for rotating the object when it is in the inspection position.

Claim 49

Apparatus for continuously inspecting transparent objects comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where a transparent object is located for inspection; a plurality of light-detecting means generally oriented with respect to said light beam emitters so that at least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a transparent object is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating said light-detecting means in a scanning examination cycle; and second electronic means including a programmable memory means for inhibiting the interrogation of different selected light-detecting means when different light beam emitters are activated.

Claim 50

Apparatus for continuously inspecting transparent objects comprising: a plurality of fixed light beam emitters for directing light beams at the position where a transparent object is located for inspection; a plurality of light-detecting means generally oriented with respect to said light beam emitters so that at least some light-detecting means receive light from said light beam emitters when a transparent object is located at said inspection position; first electronic means for successively activating said light beam emitters one at a time and for interrogating said light-detecting means in a scanning examination cycle; and second electronic means including a programmable memory means for inhibiting the interrogation of different selected light-detecting means when different light beam emitters are activated.