GB1581392A - Optical bottle inspection apparatus - Google Patents
Optical bottle inspection apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB1581392A GB1581392A GB33693/77A GB3369377A GB1581392A GB 1581392 A GB1581392 A GB 1581392A GB 33693/77 A GB33693/77 A GB 33693/77A GB 3369377 A GB3369377 A GB 3369377A GB 1581392 A GB1581392 A GB 1581392A
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- bottle
- scan
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- raster
- radial
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- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 title claims description 25
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003909 pattern recognition Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 14
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 102100025490 Slit homolog 1 protein Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 101710123186 Slit homolog 1 protein Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 229940000425 combination drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
- G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
- G01N21/9018—Dirt detection in containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
- B07C5/3412—Sorting according to other particular properties according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/0078—Testing material properties on manufactured objects
- G01N33/0081—Containers; Packages; Bottles
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
Description
(54) OPTICAL BOTTLE INSPECTION APPARATUS
(71) We, INDUSTRIAL DYNAMICS
COMPANY, LTD., a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the
State of California, United States of America, with offices at 2927 Lomita Boulevard,
Torrance, County of Los Angeles, State of
California, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:
The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of inspecting a bottle to detect foreign objects at the bottom of the bottle. After an empty bottle has been cleaned prior to filling, it is desirable to inspect the bottle to ensure that all foreign particles have been removed.
Similar types of inspection have been accomplished in prior art by photoelectric scanning techniques in order to detect foreign particles within the bottle. For example, several prior art systems are reasonably successful in detecting labels or small particles of foreign matter through the use of a centred rotating reticle scanner as part of the photoelectric detection system.
Generally, this type of prior art provides for a radial scan system through the use of a centred rotating means that processes the light energy projected through a bottle and directs it to a photocell. This centred rotating means may take several forms but is generally a reticle that includes at least one alternate opaque and transparent area and may even be a single radial spoke so that the alternate opaque and transparent areas are rotated on a common optical centre line between the label or any foreign particles in the bottle and the photocell. If there is an object in the scanned field then the output of the photocell is an alternating signal having a frequency in accordance with the rotating speed of the reticle and the number of alternate opaque and transparent areas of the reticle. If there is no object in the field the output of the photocell is substantially direct current.If there are objects, then an alternating signal is produced representative of it.
Another type of radial scanning system which has been used to provide object detection utilizes a dove prism to provide a radial scan of the bottle producing alternating signals in accordance with the desired pattern recognition of the particular characteristic of the bottle. Yet another device uses a rotating reflective mirror which contains a radial spoke to accomplish the same end results as the rotating reticle.
The centred radial scan systems which provide for the pattern recognition of the desired characteristic of the bottle although generally satisfactory. have a number of limitations with respect to the sensitivity of the scanned field. For example, the sensitivity normally varies across the scanned field and is generally lowest at the centre of the bottle assuming the radial scan is centred along the axis of the bottle. As an example, a foreign particle located at the centre and even a relatively large round foreign particle that is centred within the bottle will not be detected since the radial scan will provide a uniform output for such a shape.
Generally therefore, the bottle inspectors which use only a centred radial scan have a serious limitation as to the presence of identifying characteristics at the centre portion of the scan and have limitations as to the detection of certain identifying characteristics which are symmetrical with the centre of the scan.
The prior art has attempted to overcome these limitations by providing scanning systems which are relatively complex in structure so as to include unsymmetrical or nutated radial scanners to detect identifying characteristics in the centre portion of the scanned field. These prior art systems are complicated to implement and generally do not include the efficient use of the relatively simple radial scan, particularly at the edges of the field.
The present invention is defined in the appended claims to which reference should now be made.
A preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates the radial scan of the prior art through the use of either a centred rotating reticle, a dove prism, or a rotating mirror but, in addition, incorporates a raster scan or transverse segmented line scan to cover the centre portion of the scanned field. This additional centre scanner is provided even though the bottle is illuminated with a single light source and from a single light field from the bottle. The multiple composite scanning is provided at a single scanning position and .is accomplished in the same period of tine as was previously necessary for only the radial scan.
A raster or transverse segmented scan may be provided using a number of techniques. For example, the raster scan may be provided by a movable bar mechanism or by a wobbulating mirror. However, it is to be appreciated that the raster scan may also be provided by other techniques such as a miniature television camera tube, generally referred to as in "Iconoscope" or the raster scan may also be provided by either of several forms of solid state mosaic detectors. The raster scan may actually be a full line scan or may be a sequential segment scan across each line and then from line to line as with the ordinary TV camera or the multi-element solid state mosaic detectors.
Generally, the preferred bottle inspection equipment includes a source of illumination for projecting light energy to the bottle and to a lens and beam splitter for directing a portion of the light energy to the radial scanning system. A first photocell then provides for output signals in accordance with the detection of any foreign objects at the bottom of the bottle, by the rotating radial scanning system. The beam splitter also provides for a portion of the light energy to be directed to a second raster scanning system to provide for the detection of foreign objects by the raster scan. The raster scan usually has its field of view limited to the centre of the bottle, however, the fields of view may be similar or the raster scan may actually have a greater field of view.The combination of the raster and radial scan therefore provide for a bottle inspection system which has uniform pattern recognition of particular characteristics regardless of the location of the identifying characteristics or the symmetry of the identifying characteristics.
In the first embodiment of the invention, the light energy from the beam splitter which is directed to the raster scan may be directed to a front surface mirror for reflecting the light energy to the raster scanning detector, such as a photocell. As an example, the front surface mirror may be controlled to wobble and with the light energy from the wobbling mirror directed to a single line reticle to provide for the raster scan. In another embodiment of the invention, a bar may be moved in front of the photocell detector so as to chop the image of any object in the scanned field and provide for the raster scan portion of the system. As indicated above, other methods for providing a raster scan may be used, such as an "Iconoscope" or solid state mosaics.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the composite scanned field showing both the radial scan field and the raster scan field for the detection of objects on a uniform background. Figure 1 is a combination of Figures 1(a) and 4;
Figure l(a) illustrates the scanned field for a centred reticle system using a single spdke reticle with the center area of reduced sensitivity shown in dotted lines;
Figure l(b) illustrates a typical scanned field for label detection with the raster scan portion larger than the radial scan;
Figure 2 illustrates an empty bottle inspector embodying the present invention showing a composite scan of the bottle bottom for the detection of foreign particles;;
Figure 3 illustrates a specific reticle design for the radial scan portion of the general system;
Figure 3(a) illustrates a multi-spoked reticle that may be used on the radial scan system;
Figure 4 illustrates a raster scanned field for the raster scan portion of the general system;
Figure 4(a) illustrates a solid state bar scan mosaic to provide a raster scan pattern;
Figure 4(b) illustrates a solid state multisegment mosaic that may be sequenced both vertically and horizontally to provide a transverse segmented scan pattern;
Figure 5 illustrates the use of a wobbulating mirror to provide for a raster scan portion of the system;
Figure 6 illustrates a type of reticle used with the wobbulating mirror to provide for the raster scan portion of the system;
Figure 6(a) illustrates a narrow slit type photocell that may be substituted for the reticle and photocell of Figure 5; ;
Figure 7 illustrates a bar scan used to provide for the raster scan portion of the general system;
Figure 8 illustrates a side view of a specific embodiment of a bar mechanism to provide for the bar scan;
Figure 8(a) illustrates the details of the driving mechanism for the bar scanner shown in Figure 8;
Figure 9 illustrates a top view of the mechanism of Figure 8;
Figure 10 illustrates a specific embodiment of the invention showing the use of the bar scan to provide for the raster scan in combination with the radial scan;
Figure 11 illustrates a radial scan technique that employs a dove prism;
Figure 12 illustrates a photocell mounting arrangement used with the scanner designed shown in Figure 11;
Figure 12(a) illustrates another version of a photocell mounting arrangement used with Figure 11;;
Figure 13 illustrates a radial scan technique that employs a rotating mirrored reticle;
Figure 14 illustrates a typical design of the rotating mirrored reticle used in the system of Figure 13;
Figure 15 illustrates a raster scanned field with a foreign object superimposed;
Figure 16 illustrates a typical field sensitivity plot of a radial scanner with a round object;
Figure 17 illustrates a typical field sensitivity plot of a raster scanner with a round object; and
Figure 18 illustrates the combined field sensitivity plots of Figures 16 and 17.
In Figure 1 the superimposed fields of view for the two scanning systems radial
Figure 1(a) and raster Figure 4 are shown for the detection of foreign particles. The fields of view could be similar or the raster scan field of view greater than the field of view for the radial scan as shown in Figure 1(b). It is desirable to have the rotating radial scan system examine the peripheral portions of the container since this particular scan mode results in the minimum signal output if it should overlap the junction of the bottle bottom and wall.
Generally. in Figure 1 the radial scan field has a size shown by the circle 10 which circle has a diameter of D which is approximately the size of the bottle bottom.
The center portion of the radially scanned field is scanned by a transverse line scan or raster scan and this scanning area is shown bv the square 12 located within the circular field 10. Normally. the width (W) and the length (L) are the same for the raster scan but it is to be appreciated that some variation of this may be possible and the width and length do not have to be identical.
In the specific example shown in Figure 1.
the width of the square 12 is half of the diameter of the circle 10 to provide for a 2 to
1 ratio between the two scanning fields.
Generallv. this 2 to l ratio is a reasonable compromise and prevents any possible corner contact of the transverse scan field with the edge of the bottle due to the bottle motion during inspection, container diameter variations and misalignments of the bottle in the field. This contact causes a false signal that "looks" like a foreign object.
Although the combination of the radial and raster scans may be accomplished using several different methods, generally a single optical input path is employed using a beam splitter or filter to divide the light for the two scanning systems. Generally, the layout of the scanning system to detect foreign particles is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a bottle 14 is positioned to receive light energy from a light source 16 through a diffuser 18. The diffuser 18 is formed as a disc and is rotated by a motor 118. This diffuser 18 is important and necessary in most empty bottle inspection applications.
It serves to provide a source of diffused light to illuminate the bottom of the bottles, thus washing out glass lettering or mold marks on the bottom that would appear to the scanner to be foreign objects in the bottle. In actual applications, this diffuser causes a great deal of difficulty since conveyor line carryover or any debris that collects thereon will appear to be foreign objects in the bottom of the container to the scanner. It must be mounted close enough to the bottle bottom to act as a true diffuser, thus it is within focus of the bottle bottom. Rubber wiper blades 119 mounted in contact with the top and bottom of the diffuser disc remove any debris from the disc as the disc is rotated by motor 118. The blades 119 are supported by spring loaded retainers 120.
It is to be appreciated that the bottle may be moved in position by a conveyor system.
and that a plurality of such bottles are moved into and out of the field of the light source and diffuser at a rapid rate, and that the bottle is only available for inspection a relatively short period of time. The light energy passes from the light source and diffuser through the bottom of the bottle and is directed to a primary objective lens 20.
The lens 2() converges the light rays from the bottom of the bottle onto a beam splitting mirror 92. The beam splitting mirror may be a partially silvered mirror or special filter which passes on a portion of the light energy and reflects the remaining portion of the light energy. The reflected light energy from the beam splitter 22 is directed to a full reflecting mirror 24. The light energy representing the characteristic of the bottom of the bottle 14 now has been split into two separate paths. each including the full image of the bottle bottom. A first secondary objective lens 26 furiher converges the light energy for the radial scan ning system including a centered rotating spoke reticle 28, a condensing lens 30 and a photocell 32. The combination of lenses 20 and 26 focus the image of the bottle bottom on the reticle 28.
The rotating spoke reticle 28 may include a single spoke as shown in Figure 3 and the reticle 28 may have either an opaque spoke or a transparent spoke. A multi-spoke reticle may also be used as shown in Figure 3(a). The photocell 32 detects the energy that passes through the reticle to provide for output signals in accordance with any foreign particles within the bottom of the bottle 14. The photocell 32 may have its center portion masked off or, since the radial scanning system is relatively insensitive at its center portion. the photocell and the reticle may be left unmasked and with the insensitivity of the radial scanning system at the center providing for an inherent masking of the center portion.
The raster scanning portion of the empty bottle inspector as shown in Figures 2 and 4 includes a second secondary objective lens 36 to further converge the light energy from the bottom of the bottle on the raster scanning system including a scanning member 38 and a photocell 40. The combination of lenses 2() an 36 focus the image of the bottle bottom in the plane of the scanning member 38. The field size of the raster scan on the bottle bottom is adjusted so that it is smaller than the area of the photocell 40.
The scanning member 38 consists of a device to drive a bar 42 back and forth so it will chop the image of any object in the raster scan field of view. Figure 7 specifically shows a bar 42 for chopping the image. This chopped or pulsed signal is then picked up by the photocell 40. It is important to note that the bar 42 must not move off the limits of the photocell at any time during its scanning cycle or it will introduce signals into the photocell that appear to be foreign objects in the field. It will be appreciated that the moving bar member 42 could consist of an opaque mask with a transparent slit with similar dimensions to the bar and the same results would be obtained. It is also to be appreciated that in addition to the line scan provided by bar 42. the raster scan may also include a segmented scanning along the line and then line by line across the field.For example. the photocell and reticle may be replaced by a small scanning tube such as that generally designated as an '*Iconoscope, which is a low-cost television camera so as to provide for this scanning portion of the system. The raster scan may also be provided by solid state mosaics as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b).
The output signals from the photocells 32 and 4() are fed to tuned amplifiers 44 and 46.
The amplifiers 44 and 46 amplifv the signals within a particular band pass. For example, the amplifiers 44 and 46 may have a bandwidth wide enough to accommodate the frequencies of the signals produced by the photocells 32 and 40 representing frequency signals produced by the presence of foreign particles within the bottle 14. The bandwidth of the amplifiers 44 and 46, although passing frequencies representing the detection of foreign particles, also exclude signals representing noise or extraneous signals in the system. The outputs from the amplifiers 44 and 46 are applied to signal processing and reject mechanism 48. The reject mechanism, when receiving signals representing the presence of foreign particles in.a specific bottle 14 provide for the reject of that bottle 14.Normally. the reject bottle 14 would be diverted from the conveyor line to a reject station when such foreign particles are detected. A trigger device is used to determine when the bottle is in proper position to inspect and usually consists of a photocell detector.
The raster scanning portion of the system may take many forms as indicated above and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a particular embodiment of the invention using a wobbulating mirror 5() to serve as the front surface mirror 24 shown in Figure 2. The mirror 50 may include a metallic member 52 which cooperates with a solenoid 54 so that the mirror is pivoted around pivot point 56 as the solenoid 54 is actuated and deactuated.
The portion of the light energy through the bottle 14, as reflected by the beam splitting mirror 22. is directed to the wobbulating mirror 50. The light energy from the wobbulating mirror 5() is directed to a stationary reticle 58 as shown in Figure 6 which is in the same plane as the scanning member 38 shown in Figure 2. The reticle 58 is generally opaque except for a transparent line portion 60. The transparent line or bar 60 only allows a portion of the light field from the mirror 5() to pass to the photocell 40 for the detection by the photocell. A very narrow photocell. as shown in Figure 6(a), may be used to replace the cell 40 and mask 58.
As the mirror wobbulates to its extreme positions as shown by dotted lines 62 and 64.
the light energy representing different portions of the bottom of the bottle is scanned back and forth across the slit 6() and passes on to the photocell 40. This generates a raster scan equivalent to that shown in
Figure 4. This transverse field is represented by the dotted lines 66 and 68 which show the limits of the transverse scan at the bottom of the bottle 14. It can be seen, therefore. that as the mirror 5() wobbulates. a raster scan of the center portion of the bottle 14 is generated at the photocell 4() for detection of any contaminants within the raster scan field.
Figures 8, S(a) and 9 illustrate a side detail and top view of a structure for providing a spoke 42 for the transverse or raster scan. In Figures 8. 8(a) and 9, the spoke 42 is shown positioned in front of the photocell 4() and at the end of a long lightweight arm member 76. The arm member 76 is magnetically coupled to a solenoid structure including solenoid 78 which attracts and repels a member 80 attached to the arm 76. A resilient member 82 attached to frame 74 provides for proper returning force for the arm 76. It can be seen, therefore, that as the solenoid is actuated and deactuated, the spoke 42 moves in front of the photocell 40, thereby providing for a raster scan.
Figure I 10 illustrates a specific embodi- ment of the invention forming a scanner head 95 using such a spoke or raster scan with a radial scan and including the other elements of the system as described above.
For example, in the scanner head 95 of
Figure 10, the light energy from a field to be scanned passes through the objective lens 20 and then to the beam splitting mirror 22.
The beam splitter 22 directs a portion of the light energy to the front surface mirror 24 and the other portion of the light passes through to the secondary objective lens 26.
The light energy from the front surface mirror is directed to a secondary objective lens 36.
The light energy from the objective lens 26 passes to a radial spoke reticle 28 which is positioned at the lower end of a hollow motor shaft 86. The hollow motor shaft is contained in the rotor of the motor 88. The rotor rotates the reticle and the light energy from the scanned field passes through the reticle to the photocell 32 for detection of the identifying characteristics of any objects in the field. Lenses 84 and 72 in the hollow motor shaft converge the light rays from the reticle to the photocell to increase the efficiency of the optical system. The com bination of lenses 3O and 26 focus the bottle bottom on the reticle 28.
The light energy from the front surface mirror 24 is passed through the secondary objective lens 36 and the plane of the spoke 42 for detection by the photocell 40. The stationary member g() holds the photocell 40 in position. The combination of lenses 70 and 36 focus the bottle bottom in the plane of the spoke 4'. It can be seen that the spoke 42 is offset from the arm member 76 at an angle as a convenience for positioning the spoke 42 in front of the photocell 4().
The output signals from the photocells 32 and 40 are then couplcd through the two tuned amplifiers 44 and 46 to provide signals representing the identifying characteristics of any objects in the fields. The signals from the amplifiers 44 and 46 are then passed to the electronics processing section 92.
As the raster scan system may be accomplished by various means, the radial scan portion may also be a variation of that shown and as previously mentioned. Figures 11, 12, 12(a), 13 and 14 show alternative means of obtaining radial scan patterns.
Figures 11 and 12 show a prior art dove prism method of radially scanning. A dove prism 97 and two collimating lenses 98 and 99 are mounted in a rotating member 101.
The light energy from the field is directed through lens 20 and the beam splitter 22 to the collimating lens 98 through the dove prism 97 and on to the second collimating lens 99. As the dove prism rotates, the field to be inspected rotates at twice that rate.
The image pf the field to be inspected is focused on the photocell assembly 100 in
Figure 12(a). Thus, this field is radially scanned across the photocell 105 as the dove prism is rotated. This accomplishes the same radial scan pattern as the rotating reticle.
Figure 12 shows a method whereby multiple photocells 102. 103 and 104 can be used to cover the field instead of the single cell 105.
This allows some versatilitv in selecting sensitivity of various portions of the scanned field but does not eliminate the reduced center response of this type of system.
Figure 13 illustrates a rotating mirror type of radial scan as taught by prior art. Lens 10 directs the light energy from the field to be inspected through the beam splitter 29 and focuses the image of the field on a rotating element 106 driven by motor 1()7. The offset rotating member 106 generallv consists of a concaved dise that has a reflecting slit 1()9 as shown in Figure 14. The concaved section focuses the impinged light on the photocell 108 due to the offset of the disc. Again.
radial scan that duplicates the spoked reticle is obtained.
It is to be appreciated that different object characteristics provide different signals from the amplifiers 44 and 46 in Figure 10. For example. if the foreign object being scanned includes a symmetrical characteristic. such as the letter O'. the radial scan will provide a relatively uniform output while the transverse scan will provide an alternating output. If. on the other hand.
the position of the object being scanned includes an up and down chiracteristic. such as the letter''I" designated 96 in Figure 15.
the transverse scan will provide a relativelv uniform output while the radial scan wifl provide an alternating output. It can he seen that thc choice of position of scanning and the different identifying characteristics of the objects can be used to provide signals differentiating hetween different types of object.
It is to be apreciated that the scanning system illustrated has a uniform scanned field sensitivity by the unique combination of radial and raster or transverse segmented scanners. Heretofore, each system presented difficulties in detecting particular shaped objects at certain locations in the inspected field therefore compromising the overall detection capability of the system.
The versatility of the disclosed system allows almost ' any type of field to be uniformly inspected by choosing the proper reticle for the radial scanner and scan pattern for the raster or transverse segmented scanner along with the adjustment of relative field sizes. An example of this is shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18. Figure 16 shows the field sensitivity plot 114 of a radially scanned field for a small round object. The plot is a cross-section across the diameter of the bottle, with the center line of the bottle at the middle of the plot. The radial scan sensitivity is severely reduced as the object approaches the middle of the scanned field and goes to zero at the exact middle. Figure 17 shows a field sensitivity plot 115 of a raster scanned field using a spoke as shown in Figure 10 and a relative field size as shown in Figure 1.Note that the response is essentially constant across the middle of the container. When optically superimposed and processed, the composite field sensitivity plot 116 and 117 is shown in
Figure 18. This results in a uniform response across the entire bottle bottom. The radial scanned portions 116 are combined with the raster scanned portions 117 to give the desired results.
The present system provides for such double scanning using a single light source for directing light energy to the bottle at a single inspection position and with the received light energy then split into two paths by a beam splitter and with the scanning provided by the different types of scanning techniques without any modification of the conveyor line. In other words, conveyor lines which have been set up to provide for a bottle inspection at a single point may provide for such inspection without the necessity of providing for inspection at a number of points. The present system thereby provides for i complete and uniform inspection of the bottle for pattern recognition and does so without significantly affecting the operation of the conveyor lines.
Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments. it is to be appreciated that various adaptations and modifications may be made. For example. as indicated above. the raster scan may be provided bv other means such as an "Iconoscope" or a solid state mosaic and the invention is only to be limited by the appended claims.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. Apparatus for inspecting a bottle to detect foreign objects at the bottom of the bottle, comprising:
a light source located beneath the bottle inspection position for illuminating the bottom of the bottle with a beam of diffuse light;
means above the bottle position for forming an optical image of the illuminated bottom of the bottle;
beam-splitting means for separating the beam of light which has passed through the bottom of the bottle into a first portion and a second portion;
first scan means for providing a rotating radial scan of the image in the first beam portion; and
second scan means for providing a transverse scan of at least part of the image in the second beam portion.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the beam-splitting means comprises a partially-transmissive mirror.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which the light source comprises a movable diffuser plate provided with means for cleaning the diffuser plate outside the light field.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the diffuser plate is a rotatable plate, and the cleaning means comprise blades.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the second scan means provides a raster scan.
6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the second scan means includes a photocell and a movable bar member for generating the raster scan.
7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the second scan means includes a wobbling mirror.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for moving a plurality of bottles past the bottle inspection position.
9. Bottle inspection apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
10. A method of inspecting a bottle.
comprising:
illuminating the bottom of the bottle with a beam of diffuse light:
forming an optical image of the illuminated bottom of the bottle;
separating the beam of light which has passed through the bottom of the bottle into a first portion and a second portion:
scanning the image in the first beam portion with a rotating radial scan; and transverselv scanning at least part of the image in the second beam portion.
I 1. A method according to claim 1(). in which the radial scan is made of substantial
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (14)
1. Apparatus for inspecting a bottle to detect foreign objects at the bottom of the bottle, comprising:
a light source located beneath the bottle inspection position for illuminating the bottom of the bottle with a beam of diffuse light;
means above the bottle position for forming an optical image of the illuminated bottom of the bottle;
beam-splitting means for separating the beam of light which has passed through the bottom of the bottle into a first portion and a second portion;
first scan means for providing a rotating radial scan of the image in the first beam portion; and
second scan means for providing a transverse scan of at least part of the image in the second beam portion.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the beam-splitting means comprises a partially-transmissive mirror.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which the light source comprises a movable diffuser plate provided with means for cleaning the diffuser plate outside the light field.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the diffuser plate is a rotatable plate, and the cleaning means comprise blades.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the second scan means provides a raster scan.
6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the second scan means includes a photocell and a movable bar member for generating the raster scan.
7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the second scan means includes a wobbling mirror.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for moving a plurality of bottles past the bottle inspection position.
9. Bottle inspection apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
10. A method of inspecting a bottle.
comprising:
illuminating the bottom of the bottle with a beam of diffuse light:
forming an optical image of the illuminated bottom of the bottle;
separating the beam of light which has passed through the bottom of the bottle into a first portion and a second portion:
scanning the image in the first beam portion with a rotating radial scan; and transverselv scanning at least part of the image in the second beam portion.
I 1. A method according to claim 1(). in which the radial scan is made of substantial
ly the entire bottom of the bottle and the transverse scan is made of the centre only of the bottom.
12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, in which the transverse scan is a raster scan.
13. A method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, in which a plurality of bottles are successively inspected by the method.
14. A bottle inspection method substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US73867976A | 1976-11-04 | 1976-11-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB1581392A true GB1581392A (en) | 1980-12-10 |
Family
ID=24969026
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB33693/77A Expired GB1581392A (en) | 1976-11-04 | 1977-08-11 | Optical bottle inspection apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE2738569A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1581392A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2135768A (en) * | 1983-02-22 | 1984-09-05 | Ti Fords Ltd | Bottle inspection method and apparatus |
| EP0160346A2 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1985-11-06 | Motoren-Reparatiebedrijf Pinkster B.V. acting under the name of Heuft-Qualiplus | Apparatus for detecting containers having a deviating property |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2904126C2 (en) * | 1979-02-03 | 1986-01-02 | Kronseder, Hermann, 8404 Woerth | Inspection device for bottles |
| JPS5768389A (en) * | 1980-10-15 | 1982-04-26 | Hajime Sangyo | Inspecting device |
| JPH0736004B2 (en) * | 1990-09-19 | 1995-04-19 | 肇産業株式会社 | Inspection method and device |
| EP2657686B1 (en) * | 2012-04-26 | 2019-08-14 | Brodmann Technologies GmbH | Device for detecting scattered light with a rotating prism |
| DE202013101452U1 (en) * | 2013-04-05 | 2014-07-09 | Krones Ag | System for the optical examination of containers |
-
1977
- 1977-08-11 GB GB33693/77A patent/GB1581392A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-08-25 DE DE19772738569 patent/DE2738569A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2135768A (en) * | 1983-02-22 | 1984-09-05 | Ti Fords Ltd | Bottle inspection method and apparatus |
| EP0160346A2 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1985-11-06 | Motoren-Reparatiebedrijf Pinkster B.V. acting under the name of Heuft-Qualiplus | Apparatus for detecting containers having a deviating property |
| EP0160346A3 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1987-04-22 | Motoren-Reparatiebedrijf Pinkster B.V. acting under the name of Heuft-Qualiplus | Apparatus for detecting containers having a deviating property |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2738569A1 (en) | 1978-05-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949] | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |