EP3980760A1

EP3980760A1 - Method and device for optically inspecting containers

Info

Publication number: EP3980760A1
Application number: EP20711088.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anton Niedermeier
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2019-06-06
Filing date: 2020-03-06
Publication date: 2022-04-13
Also published as: US20220317054A1; WO2020244817A1; CN113924475A; DE102019208295A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for optically inspecting containers (2), wherein the containers (2) are transported (101) to an inspection unit (10) with an illumination unit (3) and with a camera (4), wherein the illumination unit (3) emits (102) light from a flat light-emitting surface (30), wherein the light is transmitted or reflected (104) via the containers (2), wherein the camera (4) captures (105) a respective at least one of the containers (2) and the light transmitted or reflected via same in at least one camera image (I), and wherein the at least one camera image (I) is analysed by an image processing unit (6) for intensity information in order to identify (107) foreign bodies (8) and/or defects (7) in the container, wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting surface (30) is locally encoded (103) on the basis of a wavelength characteristic and is captured by the camera (4) in such a way that different emission locations (31-42) on the light-emitting surface (3) can be differentiated (106) from one another in the at least one camera image (I), and that the image processing unit (6) analyses the at least one camera image (I) for location information of the emission locations (31-42), in order to differentiate (108) the defects (7) from the foreign bodies (8).

Description

Method and device for the optical inspection of containers

The invention relates to a method and a device for the optical inspection of containers with the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 7, respectively.

Such methods and devices are usually used to inspect the container for foreign bodies and / or defects. For this purpose, the containers are transported to an inspection unit with a lighting unit and a camera so that they can be inspected in transmitted light or in incident light. In this case, the lighting unit emits light from a flat light exit surface, which light is transmitted or reflected via the container and then captured with the camera as at least one camera image. The at least one camera image is then evaluated for intensity information using an image processing unit in order to identify the foreign bodies and / or defects in the container.

For example, such methods and devices are used in the side wall, floor and / or fill level inspection of empty containers or containers that have already been filled with a product.

The containers for the detection of foreign bodies are usually inspected with a diffusely radiating light exit surface in order to suppress, for example, glass embossing or water droplets in the camera image. The foreign bodies can be, for example, dirt, product residues, remnants of labels or the like.

On the other hand, a directionally emitting light exit surface is used to detect defects in order to intensify the resulting refraction of light in the camera image. In the case of defects, for example, damage to the containers, such as chipped glass, can be involved. It is also conceivable that the material is incorrectly produced, such as, for example, local material thickening.

As a result, two different inspection units with different radiation characteristics of the lighting units are usually used in order to be able to identify foreign bodies and defects equally well.

The disadvantage here is that this requires a corresponding effort and space for the optical inspection of the container. From US 2013/0215261 A1 a method for detecting defects in glass articles and a device suitable for this are known. In order to increase the contrast, lighting with several light patterns shifted relative to one another is proposed here.

DE 10 2014 220 598 A1 discloses an inspection device for transmitted light inspection of containers with a device for subdividing the light exit surface into at least two predominantly horizontally separated sub-areas, which can be optionally switched on and off for side wall inspection and / or closure head inspection of the container.

No. 6,304,323 B1 discloses a method for identifying defects in bottles.

EP 0 472 881 A2 discloses a system and a method for optical inspection of the bottom surfaces of transparent containers.

US 2008/0310701 A1 discloses a method and a device for visual inspection of an object.

EP 0 926 486 B1 discloses a method for the optical inspection of transparent containers using infrared and polarized visible light.

DE 10 2017 008 406 A1 discloses an inspection device with color lighting for inspecting containers for contamination and three-dimensional container structures. For this purpose, a radiation source has several spatially separate radiation zones which emit radiation in different wavelength ranges or with different intensities. In the case of decorative elements, a local color contrast arises, while in the case of soiling, only a local brightness contrast arises and no local color contrast.

However, in the case of particularly small defects or defects with low curvature, for example, it is often not possible to recognize the local color contrast and evaluate it reliably.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for the optical inspection of containers with which both foreign bodies and defects can be detected with less effort and which require less space.

To solve the problem, the invention provides a method for the optical inspection of containers with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the subclaims. Extensive investigations by the applicant have shown that the light is refracted differently at the imperfections due to the associated local change in the container surface than in intact areas of the container. As a result, the light is deflected via the defective point from a different emission location of the light exit surface towards the camera than from the intact areas. Conversely, this is often less the case or not at all with foreign bodies, since, for example, contamination leads to local absorption of the light without significantly influencing the light path to the camera.

Because the light emitted by the light exit surface is locally coded on the basis of the wavelength property and captured by the camera, it is possible to determine from which of the emission locations the corresponding light component originates for the pixels of the camera image, regardless of the radiation characteristics of the light exit surface . Because the image processing unit evaluates the at least one camera image for location information on the emission locations, a defect can be differentiated from a foreign body, for example due to a local change in the emission location. Conversely, the intensity information can still be evaluated in order to identify the absorption of the light by foreign bodies particularly well with the most diffuse radiation characteristic of the light exit surface. Consequently, with the method according to the invention it is possible to know both foreign bodies and imperfections equally well with a single inspection unit. Because this is done with a single inspection unit, less installation space is required.

The optical inspection method can be used in a beverage processing plant. The method can be upstream or downstream of a container manufacturing method, cleaning method, filling and / or closing method. The method can be used in a full bottle or empty bottle inspection machine. For example, the method can be used to inspect returned returnable containers.

The containers can be provided to hold drinks, food, hygiene articles, pastes, chemical, biological and / or pharmaceutical products. The containers can be designed as bottles, in particular as plastic bottles or glass bottles. Plastic bottles can specifically be PET, PEN, HD-PE or PP bottles. They can also be biodegradable containers or bottles, the main components of which are made from renewable raw materials such as sugar cane, wheat or maize. stand. The containers can be provided with a closure, for example with a crown cork, screw cap, zip fastener or the like. The containers can also be present as empties, preferably without a closure.

It is conceivable that the method is used to check the side wall, bottom, mouth and / or content of the containers. Foreign bodies can be dirt, product residues, residues of labels and / or the like. Defects can be, for example, damage to the containers, such as chipped glass. It is also conceivable that the material locations are incorrectly produced, such as, for example, local material thickenings or material tapering.

The containers can be transported to the inspection unit as a container flow with a conveyor. The conveyor can comprise a carousel and / or a linear conveyor. It is conceivable, for example, that the transporter comprises a conveyor belt on which the containers are transported standing in an area between the lighting unit and the camera. Containers that hold one or more containers during transport (PUK) are conceivable. The container can also be transported held by side straps when e.g. B. the lighting illuminates the container bottom and the camera inspects the bottom through the container mouth.

The lighting unit can generate the light with at least one light source, for example with a light bulb, a fluorescent tube or with at least one LED. The light can preferably be generated with a matrix of LEDs and emitted in the direction of the light exit surface. The light exit surface can be made larger than the camera view of the Behäl age. It is also conceivable that the light exit surface only illuminates part of the camera view of the container. The light exit surface can partially or completely diffuse the light. The light exit surface can preferably comprise a diffusing screen with which the light from the at least one light source is diffusely scattered over a large area towards the camera. An emission location can mean a local point or a flat section of the light exit surface here.

The camera can capture the at least one of the containers and the light transmitted or reflected through it with a lens and with an image sensor. The image sensor can, for example, be a CMOS or a CCD sensor. It is conceivable that the camera transmits the at least one camera image with a data interface to the image processing unit. It is conceivable that the light is generated by the lighting unit, then shines through the container and then captured by the camera. The camera can for each pixel of the at least one Separate the wavelength properties of the captured transmitted or reflected light from the camera image.

The image processing unit can process the at least one camera image with a signal processor and / or with a CPU and / or GPU. It is also conceivable for the image processing unit to include a storage unit, one or more data interfaces, for example a network interface, a display unit and / or an input unit. It is conceivable that the image processing unit evaluates the at least one camera image using image processing algorithms that are present as a computer program product in the storage unit.

"That the light emitted by the light exit surface is locally coded on the basis of a wavelength property and is captured by the camera in such a way that different emission locations of the light exit surface can be distinguished from one another in the at least one camera image" can mean here that the light from the light exit surface with the Wavelength property is emitted locally varying, so that the different emission locations with the wavelength property are each coded differently, the camera detecting the locally varying wavelength property as the location information in the at least one camera image.

It is conceivable that the local coding of the emitted light on the basis of the wavelength property is adapted to a task, in particular to a container type. For example, limits of the locally coded light can be adapted to a container height and / or width. In other words, the area of the light exit surface that varies with the wavelength can be enlarged or reduced. For example, more colored LEDs can be controlled differently depending on the task at hand. Alternatively, a first color gradient filter can be exchanged for a second color gradient filter, in particular automatically or manually.

It is conceivable that the image processing unit evaluates the at least one camera image for location information of the emission locations in order to additionally recognize local material embossments, such as embossings, glass embossments, pearls and the like on the containers and / or to distinguish them from the foreign bodies. Such material embossments can be used as decorative elements, for example. The image processing unit can evaluate the at least one camera image for intensity information and location information of the emission locations in order to recognize areas with changed location information and changed intensity information as the container edge. Since both a darkening and a particularly large deflection of the light beams takes place on the edge of the container, the edge of the container can be recognized particularly easily. For example, in that the image processing unit applies the at least one camera image to a evaluates third local area with different intensity information and different location information compared to an environment in order to infer the presence of the container edge.

The wavelength property of the emitted light can change continuously for local coding along at least one direction of the light exit surface. This enables particularly high-resolution, local coding, so that even particularly small imperfections and imperfections with little curvature can be distinguished from the foreign bodies. In other words, the emission locations of the light exit surface can continuously merge into one another, so that the wavelength property changes continuously over the light exit surface. The at least one direction of the light exit disk can lie in the plane of the light exit disk. It is conceivable that the light exit disk comprises a rectangular border, the at least one direction running collinear to at least one straight edge of the border.

A wavelength property can mean here, for example, a color property of light. It is conceivable that the light exit surface emits the light from the various emission locations with different wavelengths or colors. For example, a filter with a continuously changing filter profile or several discrete filter sections can be arranged in the area of the light exit surface, so that the wavelength of the emitted light changes locally. It is also conceivable that the different wavelengths are emitted by correspondingly different light sources, in particular LEDs. The light can be emitted in the visible range and / or in the non-visible range of the wavelength spectrum. For example, the light can be perceptible to the human eye in the visible range and / or lie in a wavelength range from 380 nm to 750 nm. The non-visible area can be imperceptible to the human eye and / or lie in the UV or IR wavelength range. It is also conceivable that the visible area is combined with the non-visible area. For example, in the case of containers made of amber glass, the light exit surface could be coded with red and infrared light wavelengths. The camera can separate the wavelength property in the at least one camera image. For example, it can be a color camera with which the different colors are recorded in at least two, in particular three color channels. For example, the color camera can include a Bayer filter to separate the colors.

It is also conceivable that the light emitted by the light exit surface is coded with a polarization property in addition to the wavelength property. This allows the radiated Light can be encoded locally with both the wavelength and the polarization. The camera can then separate both the color property and the polarization property in the at least one camera image. The polarization property can mean here that the light is emitted from the different emission locations of the light exit surface with different polarization directions in each case. For example, a polarization filter with a continuously changing polarization curve or several polarization filters with different orientations can be arranged in the area of the light exit surface, so that the polarization of the emitted light changes locally. It is conceivable that the camera separates the polarization property in the at least one camera image. For this purpose, it can comprise, for example, several image sensors each with a differently oriented polarization filter or a single image sensor with a polarization filter matrix. For example, the camera can for this purpose comprise a sensor of the Sony IMX250MZR or IMX250MYR type.

The image processing unit can evaluate the at least one camera image for a first local area with intensity information that differs from that of the surroundings in order to infer the presence of a foreign body. Because defects usually absorb light, they can be identified particularly easily via the differing intensity information in the at least one camera image.

The image processing unit can evaluate the at least one camera image for a second local area with location information that differs from that of the surroundings in order to infer the presence of a defect. Because the flaw in the container deflects the light differently than the areas surrounding the flaw, it can be recognized particularly easily in this way in the at least one camera image. For example, the flaw in the at least one camera image can have a different color than its surroundings. This then suggests a different refraction of light than the environment and thus the defect.

The at least one camera image can be separated into an intensity channel and a color channel with the image processing unit, the image processing unit recognizing the foreign bodies on the basis of the intensity channel and the defects on the basis of the color channel. As a result, the foreign bodies and the imperfections in the two channels can be evaluated separately in a particularly simple manner. For example, the wavelength property can be a color property. For example, the at least one camera image can be transformed into the HSV color space using known methods, the H channel being the color channel and the V Channel corresponds to the intensity channel. An intensity channel can mean a channel for a relative brightness, an absolute brightness or for an intensity.

In addition, the invention provides a device for the optical inspection of containers with the features of claim 7 to solve the problem. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the subclaims.

The fact that the lighting unit is designed to radiate the light emitted from the light exit surface in a locally coded manner on the basis of the wavelength property and because the camera is designed to capture the locally encoded light can be used independently of the emission characteristics of the light exit surface for the pixels of the camera image it can be determined from which of the emission locations the corresponding light component originates. Because the image processing unit is designed to evaluate at least one camera image for location information of the emission locations, a defect can be distinguished from a foreign body, for example due to a local change in the emission location. Conversely, the intensity information can still be evaluated in order to identify the absorption of the light by foreign bodies particularly well with the most diffuse radiation characteristics of the light exit surface. Consequently, with the device according to the invention, it is possible to identify both foreign bodies and imperfections equally well with a single inspection unit. Because this is done with a single inspection unit, less installation space is necessary.

The device for the optical inspection of containers can be designed to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-6. The device can accordingly comprise the features described above, in particular according to one of claims 1-6.

The device for optical inspection can be arranged in a beverage processing plant. The beverage processing system can comprise container treatment machines, in particular a container manufacturing machine, a rinser, a filler, a closer, a labeling machine, a direct printing machine and / or a packaging machine. It is conceivable that the device for inspection is assigned to one of the aforementioned container treatment machines. The device can be used for full or empty bottle inspection. It is conceivable, for example, that the device is used to inspect returned returnable containers.

The lighting unit is designed in such a way that the wavelength property of the emitted light for local coding along at least one direction of the light exit surface continuously changes. This enables particularly high-resolution, local coding so that even particularly small imperfections and imperfections with complex geometry can be distinguished from the foreign bodies.

The lighting unit can be designed to radiate the light with the wavelength property in different locations. Accordingly, the camera can be designed to detect the wavelength property in a spatially resolved manner. For example, the lighting unit can include a graduated filter for the different wavelength properties and the camera a Bayer filter for color separation. As a result, the different emission locations of the light exit surface can be coded particularly easily by means of colors. Likewise, as described above with reference to the method, this can also be done with a polarization filter in order to detect the polarization property of the light in addition to the wavelength property.

The camera can be designed as a color camera. As a result, the wavelength property can be recorded spatially resolved with little effort. The color camera can preferably comprise a Bayer filter for separating the colors.

It is conceivable that the lighting unit comprises a white light source and a color gradient filter in order to radiate the light from the light exit surface in a locally coded manner. The color gradient filter can be a filter that is transparent for different colors along at least one direction of the filter.

It is also conceivable that the lighting unit comprises several different light sources, in particular special LEDs, which emit different light spectra from one another in order to emit the light from the light exit surface in a locally coded manner. As a result, the light can be generated particularly efficiently with the lighting unit. For example, the lighting unit can comprise several rows of LEDs adjacent to one another, the rows of LEDs emitting the different light spectra from one another, and each row of LEDs emitting LEDs with the same light spectrum. Because the light from adjacent rows of LEDs mixes, in particular through a diffuser, the wavelength property of the emitted light can change continuously along at least one direction of the light exit surface.

Further features and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. It shows:

Figure 1 an inventive embodiment of a method for optical

Container inspection as a flow chart; FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a device for the optical inspection of containers as a perspective view;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the light exit surface of the lighting unit from FIG

Figure 2;

FIGS. 4A-4B show a side view of the light exit surface and the camera from the figures

2 and 3 when inspecting a foreign body and a defect;

FIG. 5A shows the camera image during the inspection of the foreign body and the defect according to FIGS. 4A-4B on the basis of a wavelength property; and

FIGS. 5B-5C the intensity channel G and the color channel C of the camera image I from the figure

5A.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a method 100 for inspecting containers 2 as a flow chart. The method 100 is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5C:

In FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a device 1 for the optical inspection of containers 2 is shown as a perspective view. You can see the inspection unit 10 with the lighting unit 3 and with the camera 4. Between the two, the transporter 5 is arranged, which is designed here only as an example as a conveyor belt on which the container 2 in the direction R between the lighting unit 3 and the Camera 4 are transported (step 101). As an example, only a single container 2 is shown which is currently being inspected. Nevertheless, the containers 2 are transported on the conveyor 5 as a container stream and are each visually inspected between the lighting unit 3 and the camera 4.

The lighting unit emits light from the flat light exit surface 30 in order to illuminate the container 2 (step 102). The emitted light is transmitted via the container 2 to the camera 4 (step 104). It is also conceivable that the arrangement of the lighting unit 3 opposite the camera 4 means that the light is reflected via the container 2. The camera 4 is arranged on the inspection unit 10 in such a way that it detects the containers 2 and light transmitted through them in at least one camera image (step 105).

The lighting unit 3 can comprise, for example, a matrix of LEDs which emit light onto the light exit surface 30. For example, the light exit surface 30 can be designed as a diffuser in order to emit the light of the LEDs as diffusely as possible. In addition, the Lighting unit 3 locally encodes the light from the light exit surface 30 on the basis of a wavelength property (step 103). This is explained in more detail below with the aid of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 3-5C. Accordingly, the camera 4 is designed to capture the locally encoded light, so that different radiation locations of the light exit surface 30 can be distinguished from one another in the at least one camera image (step 106).

Furthermore, the image processing unit 6 can be seen, with which the at least one camera image is evaluated for intensity information in order to identify foreign bodies and / or defects in the containers (step 107). This can be done, for example, with image processing algorithms known per se for recognizing local changes in the at least one camera image.

In addition, the image processing unit 6 evaluates the at least one camera image for location information of the emission locations in order to distinguish the flaws from the foreign bodies (step 108).

The method 100 and the device 1 are explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 - 5C:

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the light exit surface 30 from FIG. The various emission locations 31-42 of the light exit surface 30 can be seen in detail, which are locally coded on the basis of the wavelength property.

As a result, the various emission locations 31 - 42 each emit light with different wavelengths, in particular each with a different color. It is conceivable, for example, that the emission location 31 emits light with a wavelength of 750 nm (red light) and that the emission location 42 emits light with a wavelength of 380 nm (violet light). Correspondingly, the light wavelength is continuously shortened from the emission location 31 to the emission location 42, so that the emission locations 32-41 emit light with wavelengths in between. For example, the emission location 36 emits light with a wavelength of 580 nm.

The wavelengths can be distributed continuously or in discrete steps over the emission locations 31-42. Likewise, the steps can be adapted or switched on to the requirements of the respective container topology to be processed.

It is true that individual areas for the emission locations 31-42 are shown purely graphically in FIGS. 3 - 5C. However, it is also conceivable that the wavelength property of the emitted light for local coding can be along at least one direction Rx, RY of the light exit surface 30 changes continuously. For example, the light exit surface can use a color gradient filter to emit light with a color gradient that changes continuously in the direction RY, for example similar to the color gradient transversely to a rainbow.

In order to capture the various emission locations 31-42 and to store them as location information in at least one camera image, the camera 4 in this exemplary embodiment is designed as a color camera.

FIGS. 4A-4B show a side view of the light exit surface 30 and the camera 4 from FIGS. 2 and 3 during the inspection of a foreign body 8 and a defect 7. The detail D of FIG. 4A is shown in FIG. 4B.

The planar emitting light exit surface 30 with the various emission locations 31-42 can be seen in a lateral profile. The light is radiated flatly in the direction of the camera 4 and thus shines through the container 2. The container 2 here consists, for example, of a transparent glass material, so that the light is transmitted through the container 2.

The camera 4 comprises the image sensor 41 and the lens 42 in order to capture the container 2 in at least one camera image. It is conceivable that the camera 4 is designed as a color camera with a Bayer filter.

The light beam S1 can also be seen, which, starting from the emission location 39, shines through the container 2. It hits the foreign body 8, which absorbs part of its energy. Consequently, the foreign body 8 appears in the at least one camera image of the camera 4 with a reduced intensity compared to its immediate surroundings. Because the foreign body does not deflect the light beam S1, it appears in the at least one camera image with the same wavelength property of the emission location 39 as its immediate surroundings.

The light beam S2 can also be seen, which, starting from the emission location 36, shines through the container 2 in the vicinity of the defect 7. Here, depending on the material of the container 2, the light is only absorbed to a small extent, so that the corresponding image point appears in the at least one camera image with a high intensity and the wavelength property of the emission location 36. As can also be seen in FIG. 4B, the light beam S2 passes through the container 2 at a point at which the container inner wall 22 and the container outer wall 21 run plane-parallel to one another. Consequently, depending on the angle of incidence, the light beam S2 only experiences borrowed a slight offset, but no change in direction. As a result, the corresponding image point appears in the at least one camera image with high intensity and the wavelength property of the emission location 36.

In contrast, it can be seen in FIG. 4B that the defect 7 has local notch surfaces 71, 72 on the container outer wall 21. This can be, for example, a notch due to a chipping. Consequently, the light beams S3, S4 are deflected at the local notch surfaces 71, 72 by light refraction. More precisely, the light beam S3 is emitted from the emission location 38 and, when passing through the container 2, is deflected at the first notch surface 71 by refraction towards the camera 4. In contrast, the light beam S4, starting from the emission location 33, passes through the container 2 and is deflected towards the camera 4 at the second notch surface 72 by refraction of light. Accordingly, the defect 7 appears due to the local refraction of light at the notch surfaces 71, 72 in the at least one camera image with wavelength properties that differ from the surroundings.

FIG. 5A shows a camera image I during the inspection of the foreign body 8 and the defect 7 on the basis of a wavelength property.

It can be seen that the container 2 appears in the camera image I in front of the light exit surface 30. It can also be seen that the foreign body 8 is mapped as a darkened, first local area 8 '. In contrast, the defect 7 is mapped as a second local area 7 'with an intensity similar to that of the immediate surroundings, but it appears there in the upper area with the location information 33' of the emission location 33 and in the lower area with the location information 38 'of the emission location 38, since the rays, as shown in FIG. 4A, are deflected locally by the flaw 7.

Because the light emitted from the light exit surface 30 is locally coded based on the wavelength property, the emission locations 31-42 shown in FIGS. 3-4A are coded with different wavelengths of the emitted light. For example, the emission location 31 emits light with a wavelength of 750 nm (red light) and the emission location 42 with a wavelength of 380 nm (violet light). The light wave length is correspondingly shortened from the emission location 31 to the emission location 42, so that the emission locations 32-41 emit light with wavelengths in between. For example, the emission locations 33, 36 and 38 emit light with wavelengths of 680 nm (orange light), 580 nm (yellow light) and 510 nm (green light), respectively. Correspondingly, in the second local area 7 ', orange pixels are present in the upper half and green pixels are present in the lower half, whereas the surroundings U2 have predominantly yellow pixels. The intensity channel G and the color channel C of the camera image I from FIG. 5A are shown in FIGS. 5B-5C. The image processing unit 6 shown in FIG. 2 first divides the camera image I shown in FIG. 5A into the intensity channel G and into the color channel C. For example, the camera image I is divided into brightness values in intensity channel G and color values in color channel C, pixel by pixel, on the basis of an HSV color model.

The image processing unit 6 then evaluates the intensity channel G of the camera image I for the first local area 8 ‘with intensity information that differs from the environment U1 in order to infer the presence of the foreign body 8. For example, this is done by means of a filter to detect fluctuations in brightness.

Furthermore, the image processing unit 6 evaluates the color channel C of the camera image I for the second local area 7 'with location information which differs from the surroundings U2. As can be seen in FIG. 5C, the local area 7 ‘of the defect 7 appears in the upper area with the location information 33‘ (green) and in the lower area with the location information 38 ‘(orange). In contrast, the immediate surroundings U2 have the location information 36 ‘of the emission location 36 (yellow). Since the second local area 7 ‘has a different location information 33‘, 38 ‘than its surroundings U2, the defect 7 can be distinguished from the foreign body 8.

After the detection of the foreign body 8 and / or the defect 7, the image processing unit 6 generates a signal that the container 2 has the foreign body 8 or the defect 7. On the basis of the signal, a switch can be controlled, for example, in order to channel the affected container 2 for renewed cleaning or recycling after the inspection.

The fact that in the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1-5C the lighting unit 3 is designed to radiate the light emitted by the light exit surface 30 in a locally coded manner based on the wavelength property, and because the camera 4 is designed to supply the locally coded light detect, can be determined for the image points of the camera image independently of the radiation characteristics of the light exit surface 30 from which the radiation locations 31-42 the corresponding light component originates. Because the image processing unit 6 is designed to evaluate the at least one camera image for location information from the emission locations 31-42, a defect 7 can be distinguished from a foreign body, for example due to a local change in the emission location 33, 38. Conversely, the intensity information can still be evaluated in order to identify the absorption of the light by foreign bodies 7 particularly well with the most diffuse emission characteristics of the light exit surface 30. Consequently, with the method according to the invention, it is 100 or with the device 1 according to the invention possible, both foreign bodies? as well as Fehlstel len 8 with a single inspection unit 10 can be seen equally well. Because this is done with a single inspection unit 10, less installation space is required for this.

It goes without saying that features mentioned in the exemplary embodiments described above are not limited to this combination of features, but are also possible individually or in any other combinations.

Claims

Expectations

1. A method (100) for the optical inspection of containers (2), the containers (2) being transported (101) to an inspection unit (10) with a lighting unit (3) and with a camera (4), the lighting unit ( 3) emits light (102) from a flat light exit surface (30), the light being transmitted or reflected (104) via the container (2), the camera (4) each at least one of the containers (2) and the light transmitted or reflected via it is captured (105) in at least one camera image (I), and the at least one camera image (I) is evaluated for intensity information with an image processing unit (6) in order to detect foreign bodies (8) and / or defects (7) of the container (107), characterized in that the light emitted by the light exit surface (30) is locally encoded (103) based on a wavelength property and is recorded by the camera (4) in such a way that in at least one n camera image (I) different emission locations (31-42) of the light exit surface (30) are distinguishable from one another (106), and that the image processing unit (6) the at least one camera image (I) on location information of the emission locations (31-42) evaluates in order to distinguish the defects (7) from the foreign bodies (8) (108).

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength property of the emitted light for local coding along at least one direction (Rx, R _Y ) of the light exit surface (30) changes continuously.

3. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light from the light exit surface (30) with the wavelength property is emitted in a locally varying manner, so that the different emission locations (31-42) are each coded differently with the wavelength property, and wherein the camera (4) detects the locally varying wavelength property as the location information in the at least one camera image (I).

4. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the image processing unit (6) evaluates the at least one camera image (I) to a first local area (8 ') with intensity information that differs from an environment (U1) in order to to conclude the presence of a foreign body (8).

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Bildverarbei processing unit (6) evaluates the at least one camera image (I) on a second local area (7 ') with compared to an environment (U2) deviating location information to a To close the presence of a defect (7).

6. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one camera image (I) with the image processing unit (6) is separated into an intensity channel (G) and a color channel (C), and wherein the image processing unit (6) Based on the intensity channel (G), the foreign bodies (8) and on the basis of the color channel (C) the defects (7) are detected.

7. Device (1) for the optical inspection of containers, in particular for carrying out the method (100) according to one of claims 1-6, comprising an inspection unit (10) with an illumination unit (3) and with a camera (4), an image processing unit (6) for processing at least one camera image (I) of the camera, a conveyor (5) for transporting the container (2) to the inspection unit (10), the lighting unit (3) being designed to emit light with a flat light exit surface (30) to illuminate and / or shine through the containers (2), the camera (4) being arranged on the inspection unit (10) in such a way that it transmits at least one of the containers (2) and above or reflected light detected in the at least one camera image (I), the image processing unit (6) being designed to evaluate the at least one camera image (I) for intensity information in order to detect foreign bodies (8) and / or to detect defects (7) of the container (2), characterized in that the lighting unit (3) is designed to emit the light from the light exit surface (30) in a locally coded manner on the basis of a wavelength property, that the camera (4) is designed to capture the locally coded light, so that in the at least one camera image (I) different emission locations (31-42) of the light exit surface (30) can be distinguished from one another, and that the image processing unit (6) is designed to evaluate the at least one camera image (I) for location information of the emission locations (31-42) in order to distinguish the faults (7) from the foreign bodies (8).

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the lighting unit (3) is designed such that the wavelength property of the emitted light for local coding changes continuously along at least one direction of the light exit surface (30)

9. The device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lighting unit (3) is designed to radiate the light with the wavelength property locally differently, and wherein the camera (4) is designed to detect the wavelength property spatially resolved .

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 7-9, wherein the camera (4) is designed as a color camera.

11. The device (1) according to any one of claims 7-10, wherein the lighting unit (3) comprises at least one white light source and a color gradient filter in order to emit the light from the light exit surface in a locally coded manner.

12. Device (1) according to one of claims 7-11, wherein the lighting unit (3) comprises several different light sources, in particular LEDs, which emit different light spectra from one another in order to emit the light from the light exit surface in a locally coded manner.