JPS63182556A - Method and device for optical inspection of bottle or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To preclude misdetection, overlooking, etc., by comparing comparatively plural video signals obtained by scanning the outer surface of an empty bottle at plural scanning positions in opposition relation and deciding whether or not the empty bottle is normal/defective according to the obtained comparison data. CONSTITUTION:Inspection areas at the respective scanning positions are four areas A, B, C, and D of a bottle mouth part. In this case, misdetection caused by the curved surface shape of the bottle mouth part is precluded and the accuracy of the normal/defective decision making of the bottle 1 to be inspected is improved. The shape of the mouth part 3 of the empty bottle 1 is normally constant in its peripheral direction and the peaks of video signals of the respective scanning positions appear at nearly the same signal position. When the empty bottle 1 is normal, the values of comparison data at the respective scanning positions which are obtained by comparing the peak values are considerably small. If the empty bottle has a defect or stain, etc., inspection light is reflected irregularly to generate an abrupt raise or fall in brightness level. Consequently, it is accurately decided whether the empty bottle is normal or defective.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an optical inspection method and apparatus for bottles,
In particular, the present invention relates to an optical inspection method suitable for automatically and continuously inspecting empty bottles introduced into a bottling process for beverages, alcoholic beverages, etc., and an apparatus used therefor. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an optical inspection method and apparatus for bottles that can easily adapt to changes in inspection conditions, etc., and can therefore effectively prevent false detections due to changes in conditions.

[Summary of the invention] Bottles are irradiated with light such as diffused light, the light obtained from the bottles is used as inspection light, the bottles are scanned with the inspection light at a plurality of scanning positions,
Convert this to video (No. 3), compare the signal level of this video signal with the video signal level similarly obtained at other inspection positions, perform a relative evaluation, and make a judgment based on the comparison data obtained as a result. This system forms data, compares this judgment data with preset base f! data, and determines the size of the judgment data and reference data to determine the quality of the bottles.

[Prior Art] An inspection method is known in which defective bottles are detected by scanning bottles and the like using optical means to detect defects and cracks. This type of testing method and device was disclosed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-108441 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-10
8442. In a conventionally known method, bottles being transported along a conveyance path are irradiated with light, the light obtained from the bottles is used as inspection light, and this inspection light is imaged by a one-dimensional imaging means. By doing this, a video signal is generated, and the signal pattern of this video signal is compared with a preset signal pattern of good quality paper to determine the quality of the bottle or the like.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional method, since the reference pattern to be compared with the signal pattern of the video signal is fixedly set, when the inspection conditions change, It has not been possible to deal with this, and as a result, it has become easy to erroneously detect good bottles or overlook defective bottles.

In other words, when an inspection is performed using the conventional method, if the bottle or the like is wet, the reflectance on the surface of the bottle or the like changes, resulting in a large change from the reference pattern. Put it away. Therefore, even if the paper on the bottle is good and has no defects or stains, it is often determined to be defective. Similarly, if the positional relationship between the light source for obtaining the inspection light for bottles and the bottles changes, or the position between the bottles and the imaging means changes, the inspection conditions will change, resulting in an error of 4 in the video signal.
− occurs, causing false detection of good bottles and oversight of defective bottles.

Therefore, in conventional methods, it is necessary to keep the inspection conditions constant in order to prevent such erroneous detection of good bottles and oversight of defective bottles. It is made difficult. Moreover, even if the inspection conditions are matched quite strictly, it is still impossible to completely prevent false detections, oversights, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for inspecting bottles that can solve the problems described above in the prior art and make accurate pass/fail judgments under any inspection conditions, and an apparatus for carrying out the method. This is what we are trying to provide.

[Means for Solving Problem 1] - In order to achieve the object described above, the optical inspection method for bottles according to the first invention of the present invention irradiates the bottles with light and detects the amount of light obtained from the bottles. The light is used as an inspection light, and an optical element scans the inspection light at a predetermined scanning interval on a predetermined inspection portion of the bottle to generate an inspection beam at a level corresponding to the brightness of the surface of the bottle at each scanning position, Compare multiple inspection signals to form comparison data according to the difference in signal levels, compare the comparison data with a predetermined reference value to determine the size, and determine whether the bottle is good or bad based on the determination result. It is characterized by the fact that it is made to do so.

Further, in the optical inspection method for bottles according to the second aspect of the present invention, a predetermined inspection part of the bottle is irradiated with a predetermined light, the light obtained from the bottle is used as the inspection light, and the inspection light of the inspection part is imaged. The element scans at a predetermined scanning interval to form a video signal at each scanning position, and this video signal is compared with a video signal at a scanning position that has a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the scanning position of the video signal. to form comparison data, compare the comparison data of each scanning position with comparison data of other scanning positions to form judgment data, and compare the judgment data with a set value to judge whether the bottles are good or bad. It is characterized by what it did.

Historically, the optical inspection device for bottles according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a light source that irradiates light onto a predetermined inspection portion of the bottles, and uses light obtained from the bottles as inspection light, imaging means for scanning the inspection light at predetermined scanning intervals to capture an image of the bottle at each scanning position and generating image data at each scanning position; a comparison data generating means for comparing data to form comparison data at each scanning position, and comparing each comparison data formed by the comparison data generating means to form judgment data, and forming judgment data in advance with this judgment data. It is characterized by comprising a determining means for determining the quality of the bottle by comparing it with set standard data.

Furthermore, an optical inspection device for bottles according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a light source that irradiates a predetermined light to a bottle mouth of a bottle, and uses light obtained from the bottle as inspection light; an imaging means for scanning a predetermined scanning area in the axial direction of the bottle with the inspection light at scanning positions set at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the bottle to form image data at each scanning position; comparison data generation means for comparing the peak value with the peak value of other image data at a predetermined scanning position to form comparison data at each scanning position; and comparing each comparison data of the comparison data generation means to generate judgment data. The present invention is characterized by comprising a determining means for determining the quality of bottles by comparing the determination data with preset reference data.

[Function] According to the above-mentioned methods of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the outer surface of the bottles to be inspected is irradiated with light, and the inspection light reflected from the outer surface of the bottles is optically transmitted. A scanning element or an image sensor scans to form a scanning signal or a video signal indicating the intensity of reflected light, and the signal at each scanning position is relatively compared with the signal at other scanning positions, and the signal is calculated according to the difference in signal level. form comparative data,
This comparison data is further compared and its representative value is used as judgment data, and the judgment data is compared in size with preset reference data, and when the judgment data is larger or smaller than the reference data, it becomes the inspection target. It is determined that the bottles are missing or dirty.

Further, according to the optical inspection device according to the third aspect of the present invention, a light source such as a diffused light source is used to irradiate light onto a predetermined inspection portion of the bottles, and the light obtained from the bottles is used as the inspection light. The inspection light at a plurality of scanning positions of the inspection part is scanned by an imaging means to form image data at each scanning position, and comparative data is formed by relatively evaluating the image data at each scanning position. Judgment data is created based on this, and this is compared with a reference value to determine the quality of bottles. Furthermore,
In the fourth invention of the present invention, in the comparison of the image data of the third invention, the peak values of the image data are compared, and the quality of the bottle is determined based on the change in the peak value of the image data. It will be judged.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an optical inspection apparatus for bottles according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the optical inspection device is disposed adjacent to a conveyor 2 of an empty bottle supply line for supplying empty bottles I to a bottling line for beverages, alcoholic beverages, etc., and is continuously supplied by this conveyor. It is used in the empty bottle inspection process to inspect empty bottles, especially the bottle mouth part 3, for defects, stains, etc., and to remove empty bottles with defects, stains, etc. from the supply line as defective paper.

This optical inspection device consists of a light source IO that irradiates light such as diffused light onto the bottle mouth portion 3 of an empty bottle I on a conveyor 2 and uses light obtained from the bottles as inspection light, and an imaging means 20 such as a COD camera.
It has Furthermore, the optical inspection device of this embodiment is
At the inspection position of the empty bottle supply line where the bipedal light source 10 and the imaging means 20 are arranged, a well-known turning device (not shown) is provided to rotate the empty bottle 1 to be inspected at a predetermined speed. ing. This type of empty bottle rotation device is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58
-108/14+ and JP-A-58-108442 can be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light source 10 includes a first light source 10a disposed above the empty bottle 1, and a second light source disposed below the bottle opening 3, which emits inspection light from below. 10b. The first light source 10a is preferably formed in an annular shape, and is configured to be able to irradiate the inspection area of the bottle part 3 with substantially uniform inspection light together with the second light source 10b. As this diffused light source, for example, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, etc. are used, but if necessary, it is also possible to use a combination of a concentrated light source such as a laser and a light diffusing means. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, diffused light is used to almost uniformly illuminate the inspection area of bottle [1 part 3], but instead of this, concentrated light can be used to irradiate only the scanning position. It is also possible to sequentially displace the irradiation position of this concentrated light.

The imaging means 20 is focused on the inspection area of the bottle neck part 3 at a predetermined scanning position, and scans the outer surface of the bottle neck part 3 in the axial direction of the empty bottle l to obtain luminance information of the scanned part. generates a scanning signal having image data including image data. The brightness information included in the image data changes according to the intensity of reflected light, which changes depending on the reflectance of the inspection light on the bottle mouth portion 3.

The imaging means 20 includes an imaging control circuit 31 of the signal processing circuit 30
The scanning signal generated at each scanning position is sent to the imaging control circuit 31. Signal processing circuit 3
0 has a CPU 32, and this CPU is connected to the imaging control circuit 31 via an interface 33. The imaging control circuit 3I converts the scanning signal inputted from the imaging means 20 into an analog video signal, and sends the signal 1 and O at a certain point to the interface 33 as shown in FIG.
A binarized video signal and a scanning section signal indicating the section scanned by the imaging means 20 are output. At the same time, the imaging control circuit 31 outputs the analog video signal to the peak hold circuit 34.
Output to. The peak hold circuit 34 includes a peak hold section 35, a Δ/D conversion section 36, and an output section 37.

The peak value of the video signal input to the peak bold circuit 34 is held by a peak hold section 35. The peak hold unit 35 outputs an analog signal corresponding to the held peak value to an A/D converter; 1<:', 6. The Δ/D conversion unit 36 digitally converts the input analog signal and sends it to the output unit 37. The output section 37 is
It has a built-in temporary storage circuit, and stores the digital signal input from the A/D converter 36 as peak value data in a storage section allocated to the scanning position of the temporary storage circuit.

On the other hand, the interface 33 uses the binarized video signal and the scanning section signal taken in from the imaging control circuit 31 to
As shown in the figure, it is divided into a plurality of signal sections ABCD in the axial direction to form section signals indicating each signal section. In this case, the binarized video signal is information that allows the signal section to change in accordance with the change in the position of the bottle in the axial direction. In addition, the interface 33 is
The two-leg interval signal is output to the peak hold unit 35, and the peak bold unit 35 provides the interval of the signal to be peak held. The peak bold section 35 determines the peak-holding section of the analog video signal directly inputted by the imaging control circuit 3I based on the two-legged section signal, and peak-bolds the peak value in each signal section. Incidentally, the temporary storage circuit provided in the outlet part 37 serves as a storage part capable of storing the peak values of each signal section of the video signal at all scanning positions of the bottle mouth part 3. Therefore, the peak values of all scanning positions of each empty bottle 1 to be inspected are stored in the above-mentioned temporary storage circuit. Also preferably, CPtJ3
2 is connected to an empty bottle position detector (not shown) in order to synchronize the operations of the above-described rotation device and the imaging means 20, and controls the operation of the imaging means 20 according to the angular position of the empty bottle detected by the detector. Thus, the imaging means 20 performs an imaging operation at a predetermined scanning position.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the inspection areas at each scanning position are A and B for the bottle opening 3.

It is divided into four areas, C and D. This is to prevent false detection caused by the curved shape of the bottle opening. By dividing the inspection area into smaller parts, it is possible to judge the quality of the empty bottle I by the relative evaluation of the video signal at each scanning position. Improve accuracy.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shape of the bottle opening 3 of the empty bottle I is usually constant in the circumferential direction, and therefore the peak of the video signal at each scanning position is almost the same. Appears at the signal position. That is, in the example of FIG. 2, each of the inspection areas A and B.

In the vicinity of each top of the bulging portions 3a and 3b corresponding to C and D, the reflectance of the inspection light is high and therefore the brightness is high, such as a portion 3e,
3f and 3g are generated. Therefore, this high brightness portion 3e,
The brightness levels at the signal positions corresponding to 3f and 3g are higher than other signal sections. However, if the empty bottle 1 to be inspected is made of good paper, the brightness level of the video signal at the corresponding signal position will be almost constant at any scanning position, so the peak values can be compared. The value of the comparison data at each scan position formed will be significantly smaller. on the other hand,
If the empty bottle to be inspected has defects, dirt, etc., the inspection light will be irregularly reflected, and therefore the brightness level of the video signal will change irregularly, resulting in a sharp rise or drop in the brightness level.

Therefore, if the CPU 32 performs a relative comparison process on the peak values stored in the temporary storage circuit of the output section 37 of the peak hold circuit 34, it becomes possible to accurately determine the quality of the empty bottle to be inspected. .

Figure 4 shows CI) U 32 and peak hold circuit 3.
4 shows a flowchart of the quality determination program and operations executed by the computer. This quality determination program and operation are repeatedly executed along with the operation of the empty bottle supply line.

When the quality determination program and operation are started, a signal from an empty bottle detector (not shown) is checked at step +001. This is done by detecting the data level at the input port of the CPU 32 which is connected to the empty bottle detector and receives the detection signal. For example, when the empty bottle l to be inspected reaches the inspection position, the data level of the manual port of the CPU 32 is "0".
``This data level'' goes from ``to 1'' to ``1''.
By detecting ``1'', it is detected that the empty bottle 1 to be inspected has reached the inspection position. , repeat the process of step 1001.

The CPU 32 determines that the data level of the above input capo-1 is "
When it rises from “0” to “1”, detect this and
Each signal section A, 13 . of the video signal at each scanning position obtained by the peak hold circuit 34 . Execute a data sampling routine to capture the peak values of C and D. While the CPU 32 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the peak hold circuit 34 performs the operation shown in flowchart I. of FIG.

When the data sampling routine of FIG. 5 is started,
In step 1101, the peak hold circuit 34 checks the angle signal input from the empty bottle position detector described above to confirm that the angular position of the empty bottle I to be inspected is at a predetermined position. . At this time, if the empty bottle 1 is rotating or its angular position is not at the predetermined position, the operation of step 1101 is repeated until the angular position of the empty bottle 1101 is at the predetermined position.

If necessary, measure the duration of step 1101 using a timer or the like, or use a counter or the like to measure the duration of step 1101.
It is also possible to count the number of repetitions of 101 and generate an abnormality signal to issue a warning when the duration becomes longer than a predetermined time or the number of repetitions exceeds a predetermined number.

Step! When it is confirmed in step 101 that the empty bottle 1 is at a predetermined angular position, the peak bold circuit 34 sends a reset signal to the peak hold section 35 in step 1102 to clear the memory contents of the peak hold section 35. do. At the same time, the scanning signal output from the imaging means 20 is converted into an analog video signal by the imaging control circuit 31 and input to the peak bold section 35 of the peak hold circuit 34 and the interface 33. The interface 33 outputs each signal section A, B, and C based on the binarized video signal inputted from the imaging control circuit 31.

The D video signal is output to the peak hold section 35.

The peak bold portion 35 is therefore processed in step 1103.
1104.1105, imaging control means 3 at ll06
Each signal section Δ, B, of the analog video signal input from 1
The peak values corresponding to C and D are bolded. In synchronization with this, steps 1103.1104, +105.110
The peak value bolded in step 6 is A/D converted by the A/D converter 36 (step 1107), and stored in a predetermined storage section of the temporary storage circuit of the output section 37 (step +10).
8, +109, +110, I ] I +).

Note that the A/D converter 36 of the peak hold circuit 34
The /D-converted peak value is stored in a temporary storage circuit as 8-bit digital data.

When writing of the peak value data to the predetermined storage section of the temporary storage circuit is completed in step 1111, the peak hold circuit 34 completes the process of step 1112, and then
A peak value data readable signal is output to the CPU 32.

Next, in step 1003 of the main routine of FIG. 4, the CPU 32 checks the data readable signal for the two peak values, and if the data can be read, the process proceeds to step 100.
4, the successive commands are sent to the output section 37 of the peak bold circuit 34, and the peak value data temporarily stored in the temporary storage circuit of the output section is sequentially read out. The peak value data read out in step 1004 is processed in step 1005.
The data is transferred to the internal storage circuit of the CPU 32 via a pass line 38.

In the next step 1006, the CPU 32 checks the signal level of the empty bottle detector (not shown), and changes the signal level from "1" to "0" when scanning the entire circumference of the bottle opening is completed at a predetermined interval. Therefore, if the signal level is "1" as a result of checking in step 1006, the process returns to step 1002 to perform data sampling at the next scanning position. On the other hand, the signal level is “0”
In this case, the CPU 32 executes the sixth
Execute the data processing routine shown in the figure.

When the data processing routine is executed, first step 12
The peak value data written in the internal storage circuit of the CPU 32 at 0I is read out for each signal section. At this time, the peak hli of each read signal section becomes as shown in FIG. Next, in the snap 1202 and each signal step 203, the peak values at each scanning position of each A; Ru. Step 120
4, the maximum value Max (Pn) of the peak values determined in steps 1202 and 1203 and the minimum value M i
(Pn) difference is calculated. In step 1205, the peak value at each scan position is compared with the peak value at the scan position X times before, and (Pn)-(P.

-, ) maximum value Ma X (Pn-Pn-x) is calculated.

Further, in step 1206, the average value P n /N of the peak values of all scanning positions is calculated.

When step l007 of the data processing routine is completed,
Returning to the main routine, a determination routine is executed in step 1008. This determination routine is shown in FIG. In this determination routine, step 1301
．． +302.1303, l304.1305, steps 1202, I2O3, I of the music data processing routine
Max(P
n), Min (Pn), (Max (Pn)
) −M i n (Pn)), Max (Pn−P,
1. ), r'n/N are compared with their respective set values. That is, in step l301, Max
(Pn) is the corresponding setting value Rc f M a x
If it is smaller than , it is judged to be a good paper, and if it is larger, it is judged to be a bad bottle.

In step 1302, when Min (Pn) is larger than the corresponding set value Rc f Min, it is determined that the paper is good, and when it is smaller, it is determined that the bottle is defective. or,
In step 1303, (Max(Pn)-Min
(Pn)) is smaller than the set value RefDif, the paper is judged to be good, and when it is larger, the bottle is judged to be defective. Furthermore, in step 1304, M a x (P n-P
, , -, ) is smaller than the set value Rc f d M 2LX, it is determined to be a good paper, and when it is larger, it is determined to be a defective bottle. Furthermore, in step 1305, P n /
When N is larger than the set value RefAve, it is determined that the paper is good, and when it is smaller, it is determined that the bottle is defective. In this embodiment, an empty bottle I that was determined to be a defective bottle in any of the steps of the determination routine is determined to be a defective bottle, and only those that were determined to be good paper in any step are determined to be defective. Judged as paper.

The results of the determination in the determination routine described above are sent to the control computer that controls the empty bottle supply line in step 1009 of the main routine.

[Effects] As described above, according to the optical inspection method and apparatus of the present invention,
Multiple video signals obtained by scanning the outer surface of an empty bottle at multiple scanning positions are relatively compared, and the quality of the empty bottle is determined based on the comparison data obtained as a result.
Even if the inspection conditions change, the change will not affect the pass/fail determination results. Therefore, according to the optical inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection, oversight, etc. due to changes in inspection conditions.

In addition, in the embodiment described in "1", M a x' (P
n).

Min (Pn), Max (Pn) - Min (
pn), M ax (p n-p n-x) and
Multiple comparison data are generated from video signals like P n / N, and each comparison data is compared with the corresponding reference value to determine whether an empty bottle is good or not, thereby improving the judgment accuracy. It is not an essential requirement in the present invention to make a quality judgment based on data, and it is naturally possible to make a judgment based on a single comparison data.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described in L, the peak values of the video signals at each scanning position are compared to form comparison data.
The present invention is not limited to this; for example, it is possible to form comparison data by comparing signal levels at each signal position, or it is also possible to form comparison data by comparing signal waveforms. It is something that can be formed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an optical inspection device for bottles according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanation showing the state of the inspection light at the empty bottle inspection position and the waveform of the video signal corresponding to the state of the inspection light. Figure 3 is a waveform diagram showing video signals at multiple scanning positions, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an empty bottle inspection program executed by the device in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a peak value of the peak bold circuit. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the data processing routine of the empty bottle inspection program in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the correlation between peak value data at each scanning position. Flowchart 1 of the data judgment routine of the empty bottle inspection program shown in the figure. 119. Empty bottle 209. Conveyor 399. Bottle mouth part 10, ... Light source 20, ... Imaging means 30, ... Signal processing circuit 33, ... Interface 34, ... Peak bold circuit Fig. 8 5TART 3oI Max (Pn) <Refmax ES Mln (Pn)> Ref mlx ES Mox(Pnl-Min(Pnl > Refdtr ES Mox(Pn-Pnlx > Refdrn, lv

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Light is irradiated onto the bottles, the light obtained from the bottles is used as the inspection light, and an optical element is used to scan the inspection light at a predetermined scanning interval on a predetermined inspection portion of the bottles, and each scanning position is Generate a scanning signal with a level corresponding to the brightness of the surface of the bottle, compare and process the plurality of scanning signals to form comparison data according to the signal level difference ratio, etc., and use the comparison data with a predetermined reference value. An optical inspection method for bottles, characterized in that the sizes are determined by comparison, and the quality of the bottles is determined based on the discrimination results. (2) Irradiate a predetermined inspection part of the bottle with a predetermined light, use the light obtained from the bottle as the inspection light, and scan the inspection light of the inspection part with an image sensor at a predetermined scanning interval to each scanning position. This video signal is compared with a video signal at a scanning position that has a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the scanning position of the video signal to form comparison data, and the comparison data at each scanning position is compared with another video signal. 1. A method for optically inspecting bottles, characterized in that judgment data is formed by comparing comparison data of scanning positions of , and the judgment data is compared with a set value to judge whether the bottles are good or bad. (3) A light source that irradiates light onto a predetermined inspection part of the bottles, and the light obtained from the bottles is used as the inspection light, and the inspection light of the inspection part of the bottles is scanned at a predetermined scanning interval, and the inspection light is scanned at each scanning position. imaging means for taking an image of the bottle and generating image data at each scanning position; and comparison data for comparing the image data at each scanning position with other image data at a predetermined scanning position to form comparison data at each scanning position. a generating means, and a determining means that compares each comparison data of the comparison data generating means to form determination data, and compares this determination data with preset reference data to determine the quality of the bottle. An optical inspection device for bottles, characterized by comprising: (4) A light source that irradiates a predetermined light onto the bottle mouth of the bottle, and the light obtained from the bottle is used as the inspection light, and the bottle is scanned at scanning positions set at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the bottle mouth. an imaging means that scans the inspection light in a predetermined inspection region in the axial direction to form image data at each scanning position, and compares the peak value of the image data at each scanning position with the peak value of other image data at the predetermined scanning position. a comparison data generation means for generating comparison data at each scanning position, and comparing each comparison data of the comparison data generation means to form judgment data, and comparing this judgment data with preset reference data. 1. An optical inspection device for bottles, comprising: a determining means for determining the quality of the bottles.