RU2820268C1 - Post and method of detecting defects in form of cuts on glass vessels during translational movement - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: present technical solution relates to computer engineering. Station for detecting defects of the type of cuts in a section of vessels contains: non-deformable bracket, on which, by means of a complete connection, the projectors and the imaging devices are installed so as to fix the beam directions of the projectors and the optical axes of the imaging devices, wherein several sets of spotlights include, each, at least six spotlights, which beam direction is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter included in a certain range of diameters, an electronic system configured to control the vessels, completely corresponding to said ranges of diameters so that during control of vessels, diameter of controlled section of which is included in range of diameters of set, electronic system provides capturing at least six images of each vessel during its passage through the inspection zone, selectively activating said at least six image forming devices simultaneously with corresponding projectors of said set.

EFFECT: faster detection of cuts on sections of vessels with different diameters.

17 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

This invention relates to the technical field of inspecting empty glass containers, such as bottles, jars, vials, for example, in order to detect possible defects such as nicks.

More specifically, the present invention relates to the detection of nick-type defects in in-line empty glass containers after they have been manufactured to determine whether such containers meet required defect-free criteria.

State of the art

After manufacturing, empty glass vessels are subjected to various types of control for the presence of defects, including control for the presence of nicks. It is known that the presence of nicks in a glass vessel usually represents a serious quality problem, since it almost always leads to a decrease in mechanical strength.

To detect cuts, a section of the vessel is illuminated at precise angles of incidence using lighting devices that emit directed (converging or slightly diverging) light beams in the direction of the specified section. The directed light beams reach the surface of the vessel at precise incidence in such a way that the main part of the beam penetrates the glass wall and spreads in the glass. If there is a notch in the path of light in the glass, it reflects the beam, which begins to pass in a changed direction and exits the wall at a precise exit angle, which depends on the angle of incidence and on the position and shape of the notch. At precise viewing angles, adapted to the exit angles of the beams reflected by the notches, the illuminated area is observed using light sensors, for example LEDs, as described in patent application EP 0 053 151, LED networks or image sensors, such as line or matrix cameras, as described in patent applications EP 1 147 405 and EP 2 082 217. This observation is carried out at precise viewing angles at which the incident light reflected by the notch type defect is captured/observed by light sensors which receive light only when passing the notch during turning vessel around its vertical axis. Indeed, known detection methods typically require rotating the monitored vessel around a central axis by at least one revolution.

Classically, vessels are moved on production lines on belts or chain conveyors at as constant a moving speed as possible to limit all unexpected transport events such as drops, collisions and accumulations that cause sudden accelerations and decelerations. Therefore, cut detection solutions that require rotation of each vessel around its vertical axis have a number of disadvantages, since these solutions require, in particular, to interrupt the translational movement of the vessels. To achieve this rotational control, the vessels must be significantly slowed down and stopped, removed from the conveyor using handling systems, and then resumed moving forward on the conveyors. In addition, these handling systems (guide rails, sprocket wheels, drive rollers, etc.) require significant adaptation when changing vessel formats. In particular, format adaptations often involve disassembly and assembly operations and require special tooling for vessel models as well as adjustment operations for these handling systems. In addition, these handling systems are not well suited for the manipulation of vessels with a non-circular cross-section. They are also limited in speed; as a rule, they reduce the productivity of control lines by half, which does not meet the requirements of line control systems.

Finally, complex handling operations often cause line breakdowns, blockages or stoppages, which ultimately lead to significant productivity losses. Contacts of vessels with guide rails, sprocket wheels, drive rollers, etc. cause unwanted damage to blood vessels and lead to the problem of rather expensive maintenance of consumable parts.

To overcome the disadvantages associated with detecting nicks by rotating vessels, there are devices that can detect certain types of nicks while the vessel is in translational motion. US 4,293,219 proposes a solution without a camera. In this solution, each sensor contains only one photosensitive element, collecting all incoming reflected light into a receiving cone defined by the focal length of its lens and its aperture. In this case, it is impossible to distinguish either the shape of the observed reflecting objects or their exact location in the sensor field, so there is no way to discriminate small objects, that is, to determine the difference between a small cut and a minor spurious reflection.

The ARGOS machine manufactured by the applicant is a chambered translational gouge detection machine which does not require rotation of the vessel about its central axis. Cameras improve detection by providing images of each illuminated area. The machine is designed to detect cuts on the rim and part of the shoulder area of the vessel. It contains a head for illumination and observation, in which directional light emitters and endoscope heads are grouped depending on the diameter of the rim of the vessel. The illumination and monitoring head forms a tunnel through which the neck of the vessels passes as they move through the inspection unit. Endoscopes are used to reduce the number of images taken in different viewing directions to the number of sensors reduced to two or three. For example, all endoscopes designed to detect vertical cuts (with tangential clockwise or counterclockwise illumination) are connected to the same camera. At the first post on each vessel, only one image is taken to detect vertical cuts, and at the second, separate post on each vessel, only one image is taken to detect horizontal cuts. To avoid interference between emitters and receivers activated simultaneously at the first station, emitter/receiver pairs are separated by color, in other words, there are red light emitters that interact with endoscope heads equipped with red filters, and green light emitters that interact with the heads endoscopes equipped with green filters, which provide only a limited number of image capture conditions at the post.

Patent EP 2 434 276 describes a machine that detects cuts on the neck of a vessel by combining two orthogonal translational movements, since a vertical translational movement is combined with a horizontal translational movement. A handling device is provided to ensure vertical movement. Such a handling device is bulky and takes up space around the vessels, since the lifting members, which extend on opposite sides of the vessel to grip the vessel, cover parts of the vessels that cannot be controlled. These hidden parts of the vessels represent a relatively large part, at least in the case of vessels of small height. In other words, the system is not suitable for small products such as cosmetic or pharmaceutical bottles. Moreover, in order to control two parts of vessels having different areas such as the rim and the bottom of the vessels, this machine requires the sequential use of two handling and control stations, which results in an expensive and cumbersome installation.

This invention is intended to eliminate the shortcomings of known technical solutions and to offer a glass vessel inspection post that can detect at high speed various types of cuts in different areas of vessels having different diameters.

Disclosure of the invention

The proposed object of the invention is a post for detecting defects such as cuts in a section of vessels that have a central axis and move in the direction of translational movement without rotation around their central axis, wherein the post contains:

- a bracket located along a path along which at least one section of vessels passes, located under the reference control plane of the rim or above the reference control plane of the bottom, and this path of passage sequentially contains an inlet, a control zone and an outlet for the vessels;

- at least six imaging devices forming images and having an optical axis directed into the inspection zone, being mounted on a bracket in such a way that their optical axes are distributed around the central axis of the vessels with a choice of their azimuth angles from 0 to 360° with respect to the direction of translational movement, wherein all points of the circumference of the vessel section are displayed in at least one image taken during the passage of the vessel section through the control zone;

- at least twelve spotlights, forming several sets, each of which contains at least six spotlights mounted on a bracket, each having a beam direction and located on the bracket in such a way that:

(a) the beam directions are tangent to the cylinder centered on the central axis of the vessel, the diameter of the cylinder being included in the range of diameters of the vessel sections;

(b) the beam directions are distributed in azimuth such that when the spotlights are selectively activated to take an image using the respective imaging devices, all points on the circumference of the vessel portion are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights;

- an electronic system associated with the floodlights and the imaging devices and configured to selectively activate the imaging devices simultaneously with the corresponding floodlights to take images of each vessel passing through the inspection area for the purpose of analyzing them for defect detection.

According to the invention:

- the bracket is a non-deformable body on which, by means of a complete connection, spotlights and image forming devices are installed in such a way as to fix the directions of the beam of spotlights and the optical axes of the image forming devices relative to the specified bracket, and this bracket contains a free volume, including at least a volume , formed by the profile of the vessels only according to the rectilinear translational movement of the vessels in the control zone, while the imaging devices and spotlights are located outside this free volume;

- several sets of spotlights each include at least six spotlights, the beam direction of which is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter included in a certain range of diameters, and these ranges of diameters differ from one set to another and depend on the diameter of the vessel section;

- the projectors of the sets have a beam direction with elevation angles in absolute value from 0° to 45° and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the optical axes of the corresponding image forming devices;

- image forming devices have optical axes, the elevation angles of which in absolute value range from 0° to 60°, and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the beam directions of the corresponding searchlights;

- the electronic system is designed to control vessels that fully comply with the specified diameter ranges, therefore, during the control of vessels, the diameter of the controlled area is included in the diameter range of the set, the electronic system ensures that at least six images of each vessel are taken during its passage through the control zone, selectively activating said at least six imaging devices simultaneously with corresponding projectors of said set.

According to a preferred embodiment, the floodlights of the different sets are arranged in an arrangement containing next to each other and/or adjacent to each other the controllable floodlight of each set, the arrangement being repeated to distribute the controllable spotlights in azimuth around the central axis of the vessels.

According to another preferred embodiment, the sets of floodlights include sub-arrays, each of which contains at least six floodlights, each with an elevation angle in absolute value that differs by at least 5°.

Preferably, each set contains at least six spotlights with beam directions having a clockwise tangential incidence on the vessel section in azimuth, and at least six spotlights with beam directions having a counterclockwise tangential incidence on the vessel section in azimuth.

For example, a bracket limits a free volume of such a width that spotlights located at the same height as the free volume have a beam direction with azimuth angles from +5° to +175° and from +185° to +355°.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bracket limits the passage path for a portion of the vessels corresponding to the rim or bottom of the vessels.

In particular, to detect horizontal cuts on the bracket, several groups of at least six spotlights located outside the free volume are installed through a complete connection, while the spotlights of one group illuminate a section of the vessel included in the range of diameters, while the specified range differs from one group to another, wherein the spotlights of one group are selectively activated synchronously with the corresponding image forming devices during each image capture by the specified corresponding imaging devices so that all points of the circumference of the monitored portion of the vessels are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights, while the spotlights of the group have the direction beam along an elevation with the same sign as the elevation of the optical axis of the corresponding imaging devices.

As a rule, the bracket contains two holes, made diametrically opposite in accordance with the fixed profile, forming the entrance and exit of the vascular path and surrounding the free volume.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bracket contains a positioning system for image forming devices and spotlights, providing for each of them a unique position of the direction of the spotlight beam and the optical axis of the image forming device relative to the reference plane of the bracket.

According to a preferred embodiment, the positioning systems for the imaging devices and spotlights are provided on a bracket to allow them to be mounted on the outside of the bracket, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of openings for the passage of light received by the imaging devices and/or emitted by the spotlights.

Preferably, the bracket is a hollow non-deformable body having the shape of a polyhedron or at least one truncated sphere.

Another object of the invention is a control unit containing:

- at least one declared control post;

- and at least one transportation system configured to ensure movement without rotation of the vessels only in the direction of rectilinear translational motion along the path of each bracket.

According to an embodiment, the claimed control installation contains:

- a control post for the rims of vessels, equipped with a bracket that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the rim, and/or

- a control post for vessel bodies, equipped with a bracket that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the body, and/or

- a vessel bottom inspection post, equipped with a bracket that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the bottom.

In such an installation, the adjustment device makes it possible to combine the reference plane of control of the vessels moved by the translational motion system with the reference plane of the bracket.

The invention also proposes a method for monitoring defects such as nicks at least in a section of a vessel having a central axis, and according to the method:

- select a certain number of diameter ranges for the controlled sections of vessels;

- the vessels are moved without rotation around their central axis only in the direction of rectilinear translational motion to move along the path of the bracket, which contains sequentially an inlet, a control zone and an outlet for the vessels;

- the spotlights and image forming devices are mounted by means of a complete connection on the bracket in such a way as to fix the directions of the beam of the spotlights and the optical axes of the image forming devices relative to the bracket, wherein this bracket contains a free volume including at least one volume formed by the profile of the vessels only when rectilinear translational movement of vessels in the control zone, while imaging devices and spotlights are located outside this free volume;

- at least six imaging devices forming images and having an optical axis directed inside the control zone are installed on the bracket in such a way that their optical axes are distributed around the vertical axis of the vessels with a choice of their azimuth angles from 0 to 360° with respect to the direction translational motion, wherein all points of the circumference of the vessel section are displayed in at least one image taken during the passage of the vessel section through the control zone, wherein the imaging devices have optical axes, the elevation angles of which in absolute value range from 0° to 90° , and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the beam directions of the corresponding spotlights;

- the spotlights form several sets, each including at least six spotlights, the beam direction of which is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter centered on the central axis of the vessel, included in a certain range of diameters, and these ranges of diameters differ from one set to another and depend on the diameter of the vessel section;

- the projectors of the sets have a beam direction with elevation angles in absolute value from 10° to 45° and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the optical axes of the corresponding imaging devices, wherein the beam directions are distributed in azimuth in such a way that when the projectors are activated sequentially for taking images with appropriate imaging devices, all points of the circumference of the vessel section are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights;

- during the vessel inspection phase, in which the diameter of the vessel section is included in the range of diameters of the array, said at least six imaging devices are activated selectively and simultaneously with the corresponding spotlights of said array to take at least six images of each vessel passing through the inspection zone , in order to analyze them to detect defects.

Preferably, the inventive method comprises an adjustment phase during which, depending on at least the range of diameters for the portions of the vessels being monitored:

- all imaging devices register their own list of sets of shooting parameters, wherein said sets of shooting parameters include integration time, gain, ROI (region of interest of the image) coordinates and/or information canceling shooting;

- all floodlights register their own list of lighting parameter sets, wherein said lighting parameter sets include lighting time and/or intensity and/or lighting canceling information.

According to another distinctive feature of the method, during the control phase of each vessel:

- simultaneously sending, on the one hand, at least a first signal to the image forming devices, which triggers for each of them the shooting of images in accordance with a set of shooting parameters taken from its own list of sets of shooting parameters, and, on the other hand, sending to spotlights a signal that causes each spotlight to illuminate the vessel according to a set of lighting parameters taken from its own list of lighting parameter sets, where one of the parameters may indicate that no lighting is produced;

- simultaneously, with a time shift, a second signal is sent, on the one hand, to the image forming devices, which triggers another shooting of images in accordance with a different set of shooting parameters taken in the list of each image forming device, and, on the other hand, is sent to spotlights A second signal that triggers spotlights to illuminate the vessel according to a different set of lighting parameters.

Brief description of drawings

In fig. 1A is a schematic view illustrating an example of a part of the inventive installation transverse to the direction of movement of the vessels;

in fig. 1B is a schematic view illustrating another example of a portion of the inventive installation transverse to the direction of movement of the vessels;

in fig. 1C is a schematic view in a vertical plane illustrating an example of a part of the inventive installation in the direction of movement of the vessels;

in fig. 1D is a schematic top view illustrating an example of a part of the inventive installation in a horizontal plane;

in fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an example of a controlled vessel;

in fig. 3A is a perspective view illustrating the presence of a vertical cut at the level of the rim of the vessel;

in fig. 3B is a plan view illustrating the vertical notch detection principle shown in FIG. 3A;

in fig. 3C is a sectional view along lines CC of FIG. 3A illustrating the principle of vertical notch detection;

in fig. 3D is a perspective view explaining the positioning of the spotlights in relation to the vessel;

in fig. 3E is a horizontal plane view explaining the positioning of the spotlights with respect to the vessel;

in fig. 3F is a view illustrating the illumination azimuth of the spotlights relative to the vessel;

in fig. 3G is a view similar to FIG. 3F illustrating the azimuth positioning of spotlights for illuminating tangentially incident circumferences of vessels with different section diameters;

in fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the volume traversed or created by the vessels during their linear movement at the control station;

in fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of mounting floodlights and imaging devices on an inspection station bracket;

in fig. 6 is a frontal view of the control post shown in FIG. 5;

in fig. 7 is a top view of the control station shown in FIG. 5;

in fig. 8A is a schematic front view of a vessel illustrating examples of vertical and horizontal cuts;

in fig. 8B is a schematic view from below of the bottom of a vessel, illustrating examples of radial and circular type notches in the bottom;

in fig. 8C is a schematic bottom view illustrating the principle of illumination and observation for detecting cuts in the bottom of vessels;

in fig. 8D is a schematic bottom view illustrating the principle of illumination and observation by a series of spotlights for detecting cuts in the bottom of vessels;

in fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment example of a control circuit for image forming apparatuses;

in fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a control circuit for floodlights.

Carrying out the invention

As shown in FIG. 1A and 1B, the object of the invention is a machine I for in-line inspection of empty glass vessels 2 belonging to the same series, in order to detect possible defects of type D notches. Machine I contains one or more control posts I1, I2, ..., each of which has a control zone Zi and in each of which the vessels 2 are moved in the direction of translational movement F using a transport system II of any known type. As will be explained below in this description, the vessels 2 move only linearly and translationally without rotational motion around their axis.

Typically, vessel 2 has a central axis A, which is considered the axis of symmetry and even the axis of symmetry of the body of rotation. As shown in FIG. 2, the vessel 2 has a glass wall 3, limited from the inside by the inner surface 4 and from the outside by the outer surface 5. Classically, the vessel 2 is a hollow object, the wall 3 of which forms from bottom to top along the central axis A a bottom 6 connected to a heel 6', from which the body 7 extends, extended by the shoulder part 8, coupled with the neck or neck 8, ending with a rim 10, limiting the mouth 10e, which allows filling or emptying the vessel.

In the case of bottles or some vials, as opposed to cans, the neck 9 corresponds to a portion of the smaller diameter of the vessel in relation to the body 7. The shoulder portion 8 is the connection portion between the body 7 and the neck 9. In the case of some jars and some other bottles, the shoulder portion 8 is directly connects the body 7 to the rim 10. The upper part of the neck 9 is formed by a rim, which contains a rim surface 10', which is the transverse side perpendicular to the central axis A of the vessel, at the upper end of the rim 10. Typically, the rim 10 contains a rim 10" that projects radially outward from the neck 9. The lower end of such a belt 10” forms a transverse annular surface facing downwards in the axial direction, called a counter-rim and delimiting the lower end of the rim 10.

The central axis A is considered the axis of symmetry for vessels of circular cross-section, taking into account the ideal uniform distribution of glass in relation to the design plane of the vessel. Of course, real vessels are not strictly symmetrical. The glass distribution is somewhat uneven. Some vessels contain relief decorative elements or rim threads, etc. Finally, many vessel models, called "shaped products", have a non-circular body. In most cases, even for shaped products, the central axis A corresponds to an axis orthogonal to the plane forming the surface 10' of the rim, centered on the mouth 10e, which is circular.

The rim surface 10' forms an upper plane, called the rim control reference plane Prib, perpendicular to the central axis A. The bottom 6 of the vessel 2 forms a lower plane, called the vessel bottom control reference plane Prif, perpendicular to the central axis A. Likewise, the median can be determined a plane called the body control reference plane Pric, perpendicular to the central axis A. These control reference planes Prif, Prib, Pric are parallel to the vessel transport plane PC.

According to the invention, at least at each of the control posts of installation I, the vessels 2 are moved in the horizontal transport plane Pc by means of a transport system II of any known type. It should be noted that on production lines upstream or downstream of the various control posts I1, I2, ... when transporting vessels 2, their bottom rests on a belt or chain conveyor. The surface of the chain usually forms a horizontal transport plane. The vessels arrive at the control posts through the so-called input conveyors, then after control they are placed on the so-called output conveyor, while the input and output conveyors have the same transport plane. This transport plane is always horizontal, and during transport the central axis of the vessels resting on their bottom remains vertical. Given the configuration of factories, the transport plane may have a slight inclination relative to the horizontal, for example, conveyors are raised. Of course, the control posts are adapted to these configurations during their installation on the line. Conventionally, it is assumed that the transport plane is horizontal and that the central axis of the vessels is vertical.

Herein, the direction of movement F of the vessels 2 is set along the horizontal X axis of an X, Y, Z coordinate system containing a vertical Z axis perpendicular to the horizontal X axis, and a transverse Y axis perpendicular to the vertical Z axis and to the horizontal X axis, wherein X and Y are in a plane parallel to the vessel transport plane Pc, which is horizontal.

At each control post I1, I2,..., vessels 2 are moved only along a horizontal straight path using the transportation system II, which, in addition, should not interfere with the control of the vessels. For example, in the case of monitoring the rim of vessels (the left part of Fig. 1A), the transportation system II is a conveyor belt on which the vessels 2 rest with their bottom 6, while in the case of monitoring the bottom 6 of the vessels (the right part of Fig. 1A), the II transportation system made in the form of a conveyor equipped with opposite side pairs of belts compressing the body to ensure that contact is maintained with the body of 7 vessels, or in the form of a similar conveyor that ensures that contact is maintained with the neck of the vessels, for example, with the counter-rim 10” (right part of Fig. 1B) . Transportation of vessels 2 is carried out in the horizontal transportation plane PC, parallel to the plane formed by the horizontal X axis and the transverse Y axis. Translational movement occurs in the direction F, parallel to the X axis of the conventionally selected coordinate system.

In the example shown in FIG. 1A, installation I sequentially contains a control post I1 for the rim of vessels (the left part of Fig. 1A) and a post I2 for monitoring the bottom of 6 vessels (the right part of Fig. 1A). Of course, this example is presented for illustrative purposes only, and installation I may contain a different number of control stations and stations for checking other areas of the vessels, for example, the body.

At each of the control posts I1, I2, ... the vessels 2 are not brought into a controlled rotation around their central axis A. This means that the rotation of the vessels around their central axis A can occur, but uncontrolled, for example, in case of accidental contact with the stationary guides of the transport system . Preferably, at each of the control posts and especially in the control zones, the vessels 2 are blocked from rotating around their central axis A, while moving along the movement path F. Preferably, at each of these control posts during operation, the movement of the vessels 2 along the movement path does not stop. At the same time, it is desirable and even necessary to control the gap between the vessels, in other words, the free interval between two vessels 2 moving in the installation.

To do this, if the gap between the vessels at the inlet of the installation is insufficient, you can use a separating device installed on the path of movement of the vessels. Such a separating device, which is known in itself and therefore not described here, works by creating an acceleration of the vessels, preferably before the first control station of the installation. Thus, since the gap between the vessels is already established at the inlet of the installation, they are not subject to acceleration during operation, nor slowing down their movement along the trajectory of movement. The movement of the vessels is stable and is not accompanied by accidents, collisions, falls and accumulations, which ensures the rhythm of production at optimal speed.

Preferably, the path defined by the transport system II is also straight between the control posts, that is, straight along the entire control line. Thus, according to the invention, the vessels can move during the cut detection control in a uniform linear motion, since the invention does not involve any rotation, accumulation, acceleration or deceleration. However, the invention does not exclude changing the trajectory or direction of the trajectory between two posts. Likewise, the invention does not exclude the presence of a device such as a storage table between two posts where vessels can be accumulated.

At the output of the production line, non-contact control of vessels 2 is carried out using light beams in order to detect defects such as cuts on the declared installation I, containing several control posts I1, I2, ..., designed to check specific areas of vessels, which will be further called vessel areas or controlled areas of blood vessels. The controlled portion of the vessel corresponds to a part of the vessel wall extending from a plane perpendicular to the central axis A of the vessel, and at a limited height along the central axis A. For example, as portions of the vessel, the rim 10 extending from the surface plane of the rim, the bottom 6 extending from laying plane, at least part of the body 7 or the shoulder 8 of the vessel, located on both sides of the plane perpendicular to the normal axis A, or enclosed between two planes perpendicular to the normal axis A.

Notches are defects in the form of thin cracks, usually extending from the surface into the thickness of the vessel wall. The notch may be a through crack in the wall thickness, in which case it extends from the inner surface 4 to the outer surface 5 of the wall. However, as a rule, it is a non-through crack D, which usually extends to the outer surface 5 or, as shown in FIG. 3A-3C, to the inner surface 4. Since the notch is a crack, it can be considered limited to two elements of the surface of the vessel wall material. These two surface elements are opposite each other and can be considered parallel to each other and separated by a thin, even negligible layer of air. These two practically parallel surface elements are two diopters, while the notch reflects light that arrives at a certain angle of incidence on these surfaces, in accordance with the laws of specular reflection. For this reason, glass vessels are usually inspected by reflecting beams of light from the cuts.

These surface features, which are usually not flat, that is, uneven, can have a variety of configurations and orientations in relation to the area of the vessel wall in which the cut has formed. In an amorphous material, cracks do not propagate along the delamination planes. At the same time, the cuts have common priority shapes and orientations corresponding to the directions of stresses released in the crack. To determine the orientation condition of the cuts, you must first perform an approximation, assuming that these surface elements can be approximated using an approximation plane or using a series of approximation planes.

In the field of glass vessels, the specialist usually distinguishes in the case of cylindrical or conical sections of vessels, that is, for the neck, neck, shoulder, body and mouth, so-called vertical notches and so-called horizontal notches, depending on the main orientation of the cracks in relation to the central axis A vessel 2, which is considered vertical. Thus, vertical cuts contain surface elements having a vertical approximation plane or having an inclination relative to the vertical that is less than 45 degrees of angle, preferably less than 30 degrees of angle. The inclination of a plane relative to the vertical is defined as the acute angle between the normal to this plane and the horizontal plane. It is noted that the vertical plane may be a radial plane containing the central axis of the vessel, or a plane parallel to this axis and forming an angle with such a radial plane. Examples of vertical cuts Dv are presented in Fig. 8A. So-called horizontal cuts contain surface elements having a horizontal approximation plane or having an inclination relative to the horizontal that is less than 45 degrees of angle, or preferably less than 30 degrees of angle. The inclination of a plane relative to the horizontal is defined as the acute angle between the normal to this plane and the vertical direction. An example of horizontal cutting Dh is shown in Fig. 8A.

As for the notches located in the bottom of the vessels, which can take the shape of a disk or cone, then, as shown in Fig. 8B, it is possible to distinguish between radial notches Dr, which extend radially in the bottom, and annular notches Dc, which are arranged in the form of a circular arc in the bottom of the vessels. Of course, other cuttings can have any real shape.

Thus, the well-known principle of detecting defects such as notches, used in the claimed detection installation, is based on detecting the specular reflection of the incident beam. Specular reflection should be understood as the reflection of a beam of light from a reflecting surface like a mirror, that is, with zero or negligible scattering, with a reflected angle equal to the angle of incidence. Thus, each post I1, I2, ... control contains controlled directional light emitters E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En, illuminating vessels in which specular reflections from the cuts are detected by cameras or controlled shooting heads C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn , which will be described in detail below (Figs. 8A-8D, 10).

At least for the detection of vertical or radial cuts, directional light emitters E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En are usually used, each emitting a directed light beam in a certain direction of the beam DE1, DE2, ...DEi, ...DEn. A directional incident beam is a beam of light rays that has a beam axis or direction and in which the rays are contained within a solid angle of illumination about that beam axis, the solid angle being small. For example, the solid angle of a beam is the solid angle of a cone with a circular cross-section that contains all the light rays of the beam. For simplicity, we conventionally determine not the solid angle in steradians, but the divergence angle of the incident beam, in the divergence measurement plane, which is the solid angle section plane containing the solid angle axis. As a rule, an incident beam is used that has a divergence angle in the control zone that is less than 30 degrees of angle, preferably less than 25 degrees of angle, even more preferably less than 20 degrees of angle. The directed incident beam may be a laser beam or another beam with parallel beams defined by the beam axis and beam diameter. The narrow incident beam may be a beam of diverging beams or a beam of converging beams in the control zone.

Thus, an element of the surface of the vessel, illuminated by a directional light emitter, receives from it a beam containing light rays with close angles of incidence, in other words, with angles of incidence, the difference between which is less than 30 degrees, even less than 25 degrees, even less than 20 degrees: precisely in in this sense they are called directional. Several directional light emitters illuminating the same area of the outer surface of the vessel make it possible to obtain angles of incidence different from the angles of incidence from another directional light emitter, while the angles of incidence are adapted to detect notches of different orientations relative to the outer surface of the vessel.

The area of the vessel that is in the control zone and is thus illuminated by this directional light emitter can be contained in a circle with a diameter of 5 millimeters to 14 millimeters. In other embodiments, the portion of the vessel illuminated by the directional light emitter may be contained within a circle having a diameter of from 5 millimeters to 120 millimeters. The illuminated portion of the vessel may be rectangular, for example have a horizontal width of up to 100 or 120 millimeters to completely cover the rim, and, for example, have a height of 60 millimeters to cover the height of the rim. Of course, as a rule, the rims are cylinders, and the rectangular cross-section of the beam can only be stated if one imagines an illuminated plane orthogonal to the beam axis, located near the surface of the rim or the central axis of the vessel in the control zone.

The light beams used for detection are in the photographic region, preferably with a wavelength of from 100 nanometers to 20 microns, preferably in the visible photographic region with wavelengths from 380 to 900 nanometers.

Within the framework of the present invention, the control unit I contains so-called controlled directional light emitters E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En, hereinafter referred to as spotlights for simplicity. The switching on or off of these spotlights is electrically controlled by the electronic system III. In this way, it is possible to electrically control the pulse duration of the emitted light, as well as the optical characteristics, such as the intensity or spectral composition, or color of the emitted light.

The spotlight E1, E2, …Ei, …En contains a light source and, as a rule, an optical conversion device, which ends in a light emitting surface through which the light beam is emitted in the direction of the controlled area of the vessel. The light source is, for example, an LED, an incandescent filament, an electric arc source or a fluorescent source (neon, plasma,...). The conversion device may comprise one or more optical components, such as optical lenses, optical condensers, mirrors, light guides (especially optical fibers), iris diaphragms, masks, etc. A mask should be understood as an opaque part with a cutout in its center, designed to give, by overlapping, a shape to the light beam passing through it.

Typically, the spotlight includes a conversion device that includes at least one optical lens. The spotlight may include a conversion device with a mask positioned to project in optical alignment with the surface or portion of the surface of the vessel to delineate the portion of the vessel being monitored. A rectangular mask allows you to obtain a rectangular controlled area of the vessel. Thus, the mask or diaphragm determines the shape of the cross-section of the beam, which takes a rectangular or circular shape. This section is observed, for example, by cutting the beam with a virtual plane orthogonal to the direction of the beam. Thus, we can assume that the light beam is limited to a shell of conical or pyramidal cross-section. The light source and the optical components of the optical conversion device are the optical elements of the spotlight. It can be provided that one or more or all of the projectors of the installation have their own individual light source. However, it is possible to provide for several spotlights to use a common light source. In this case, each of them may have its own conversion device terminating in an individual light emitting surface, even though the conversion devices of multiple emitters may contain one or more common optical components at the input of their individual light emitting surfaces. Typically, the light source may be associated with a bundle of optical fibers containing multiple optical fibers, among which each optical fiber or each of several groups of optical fibers belongs to an optical conversion device of a separate illuminator. Typically, a spotlight contains a light emitting surface of small size. Preferably, the emission surface of the spotlights is inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 4 millimeters to 30 millimeters. It is possible to apply the specific floodlight concept described below in order to electrically control lighting parameters such as color and/or on-time and/or light intensity.

Taking into account the very varied and largely random nature of the cuts and taking into account the use of directional incident beams, at least for vertical cuts, it is necessary to provide several directional incident beams and at least one light receiver so that a possible cut can be detected in the controlled area of the vessel. As a rule, several light receivers are provided to collect the specular reflection of the incident beam from the cuts.

These light receivers or controllable camera heads, such as cameras, will be referred to in the following description as image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn. In the context of the present invention, these imaging devices are electrically controlled by an electronic system III, allowing the shooting moments and their shooting parameters to be controlled. The specific imaging device concept described below can be used to electrically control acquisition parameters such as region of interest and/or integration time and/or electronic gain. Typically, the image forming device C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn has an optical axis AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn directed inside the control zone Zi, and a field of view covering all or part of the controlled area of the vessel. The imaging device C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn contains a light sensor and, as a rule, a corresponding optical conversion device, which ends in a light input surface through which the collected light rays enter the light receiver in the direction of the light sensor. For example, the light sensor is a photoelectric sensor, which may be, for example, a CCD type or a CMOS type. The optical conversion device may comprise one or more optical components among optical lenses, mirrors, light guides (particularly optical fibers), fixed diaphragms such as masks, or adjustable diaphragms such as iris diaphragms, etc. In other words, the sensing area of the light sensor may be located at a distance from the light input surface of the light receiver and may also have different orientations. The conversion device forms an image of the controlled section of the vessel or part of the controlled section of the vessel on the light sensor, usually a linear or two-dimensional image. It optically interfaces at least part of the outer surface of the vessel with the sensitive surface of the sensor. It also defines the optical axis or viewing axis AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn of the imaging device C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn.

The light sensor and the optical components of the optical conversion device are the optical elements of the image forming device C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn. It can be provided that one or more or all of the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn of one monitoring station have their own individual light sensor. However, it is possible to provide for several imaging devices to use a common light sensor. In this case, imaging devices with a common light sensor may each have their own optical conversion device terminating in an individual light entry surface, even though multiple camera conversion devices may contain one or more common optical components at the output of their individual light entry surface. In a preferred embodiment, all imaging devices are equipped with two-dimensional image sensors of the CCD or CMOS type and a lens as a conversion device, the entire package forming what is often called a matrix camera.

According to the invention, at the control post I1, I2, ... the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are installed using a complete connection 13 on a bracket 14 forming a non-deformable housing, thus , to fix relative to the bracket 14 the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the searchlights and the optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of the image forming devices. In other words, the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the searchlights and the optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of the image forming devices are fixed relative to the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14.

It should be noted that the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are installed without the possibility of movement among themselves, despite the fact that the post provides control of vessels 2, which, on the one hand , move only in a rectilinear translational motion and, on the other hand, have different sizes.

For this purpose, the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are installed on the bracket 14 in such a way that they are outside the path of vessels corresponding to the free volume Vt, which includes at least at least one volume formed by the profile of vessels 2, only with horizontal translational movement of the vessels in the control zone Zi of each control post. As shown in FIG. 4, this free volume Vt corresponds at least to the profile of the vessels, that is, the cross-section of the vessels in the vertical plane Y, Z, perpendicular to the horizontal plane or transport plane Pc, and this cross-section is taken along the entire horizontal linear movement of the vessels of the control zone. Of course, this free volume Vt can have a cross-section with dimensions larger than the profile of the vessels. Thus, spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En and image forming devices C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn do not interfere with the horizontal linear movement of vessels in the control zone Zi.

As shown in particular in FIG. 5-7, the bracket 14 is a non-deformable hollow body through which the passage path Vt of the vessels 2 passes, wherein the projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are located around the passage path c beam directions and optical axes directed into the bracket 14 and, in particular, towards the passage path Vt.

This bracket 14 can be configured in any suitable manner to form a hollow, non-deformable body. Of course, the concept of a non-deformable body should be understood as the embodiment of the concept of a body in a solid state, which is considered rigid and not subject to any deformation. This bracket 14 can be made in the form of a single part or from several parts rigidly connected to each other, as shown as an example in the drawings.

The bracket 14 has, for example, a polyhedron shape, or, as in the example shown in FIG. 5-7, the shape of a truncated sphere with several sections of the sphere. In particular, the bracket 14 contains a shell 14a in the form of a hemisphere, rigidly connected by connecting posts 14b with two mating shells 14c and 14d, made in the form of sections of a sphere identical to the sphere forming the shell 14a. The spherical shape of the bracket 14 facilitates the positioning of the working zones of the shooting heads, that is, it allows you to place the aiming zone of each image forming device in the control zone Zi.

As stated above, the bracket 14 is configured to define or define a passage path Vt for the vessels. For this purpose, the bracket 14 contains an input 16, a control zone Zi and an output 17. The input 16 and the output 17 correspond to two openings, which are made diametrically opposite in the bracket 14 and between which there is a control zone Zi formed by the internal empty volume of the hollow bracket.

The bracket 14 is configured to provide efficient and easy rigid mounting for projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and imaging devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn.

The bracket 14 contains a positioning system 21 for each image forming device C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn and for each spotlight E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En, providing for each of them a unique position with respect to the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14 , beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of each projector and optical axis AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of each image forming device. Such a positioning system 21 makes it possible to easily fix the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the spotlights and the optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of the image forming devices relative to the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14. Such positioning systems 21 may be configured in any appropriate manner and may, for example, comprise flat profiles formed on a bracket and each forming a positioning socket for the housing of imaging devices and/or spotlights, and/or holes made in the bracket for the insertion of centering pins located on the housings of imaging devices and/or spotlights.

According to an example shown in the drawings, positioning systems 21 for imaging devices and spotlights are provided on a bracket 14 to be mounted on the outside of the bracket 14. According to this example, the bracket 14 includes a plurality of holes 22 for passing light received by the imaging devices C1, С2, …Сi, …Сn and/or emitted by spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En. For example, the holes 22 as well as the positioning systems 21 are uniformly arranged along the parallels of the sphere, providing mounting options for imaging devices and spotlights. Of course, the positioning systems 21 for imaging devices and spotlights can be provided on the bracket 14 so that they can be mounted on the inside of the bracket 14.

Finally, the projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are rigidly connected to the bracket 14 by means of a complete connection 13, which can be made in any suitable manner, for example using screw systems -nuts, latches and even adhesives. Thus, thanks to these complete connections, the projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En and the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are installed without the possibility of movement relative to the bracket 14.

This concept facilitates the initial installation of illuminators E1, E2, …Ei, …En and imagers C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn, as well as their installation and removal during maintenance operations.

The installation of spotlights and image forming devices on the bracket 14 is carried out in such a way as to determine the optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn of the image forming devices and the beam directions DE1, DE2, ...DEi, ...DEn of the spotlights in relation to the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14 Preferably, each control station includes an adjustment device that allows the control reference plane Prif, Prib or Pric of the vessels moved by the vessel translation system II to be aligned with the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14. Typically, this adjustment device can provide vertical movement of the bracket 14 with respect to. transport plane or move the transport plane in relation to the bracket 14 so that, depending on the height of the controlled vessels 2, the control reference plane Prif, Prib or Pric coincides with the reference plane Prfs of the bracket 14.

Of course, the shape of the bracket 14 is adapted to the size of all vessels that may be inspected and to the type of vessel sections to be inspected in order to ensure their control while at the same time ensuring their passage. In fig. 1A shows two different configurations for brackets 14. On the left side of this FIG. 1A shows the control station for the rim of the vessels, while the right side shows the control station for the bottom of the vessels. Monitoring of these two portions of the vessels may result in different locations of the imaging devices and spotlights on the arms 14 and therefore different shapes of the arms 14.

Typically, installation I may sequentially contain:

- a control post for the rims of vessels, equipped with a bracket 14 that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the rim, and/or;

- a control post for vessel bodies, equipped with a bracket 14 that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the body, and/or

- a vessel bottom inspection station equipped with a bracket 14 that limits the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the bottom.

According to a distinctive feature of the invention, each declared control post I1, I2, ... can monitor vessels 2, the controlled areas of which have different diameters, falling within different diameter ranges. Thus, for each control post, a different length of diameters and a different number of ranges are chosen. For example, but not limitation, the same inspection station may be designed to inspect four different diameter ranges of vessel sections, for example, 6-22 mm, 22-32 mm, 32-53 mm and 53-82 mm. These vessel section diameter ranges may not be perfectly separated.

According to another distinctive feature of the invention, to detect vertical cuts, the spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En form several sets, each of which contains at least six spotlights, in which the direction of the beam DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter included in a certain range of section diameters. Of course, taking into account the linear movement of the vessels relative to the spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En, which are stationary, the tangential direction of the beams should be considered at the time of shooting with image forming devices C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn. As shown in particular in FIG. 3D and 3E, the range of diameters of the vessel sections includes a minimum diameter dmin and a maximum diameter dmax. Cylinder CY has a diameter equal to or greater than the minimum diameter dmin and equal to or less than the maximum diameter dmax. Therefore, in order to control the range of diameters of the vessel sections, the beam direction DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En is tangent to the cylinder CY with a diameter included in this range of diameters of the sections dmin-dmax. The interval dmax - dmin overlaps taking into account the width of the beams. If the beams are narrow, the number of bands and therefore the number of spotlights should be increased. Conversely, if the beams are too wide, the risks of interference between shots increase and the selection of beam directions that need to be accurate is lost. According to a preferred embodiment, the interval dmin - dmax is between 10 and 30 mm.

As stated above, the diameter ranges of the vessel sections vary from one set to another and depend on the diameter of the vessel section. In an embodiment designed to monitor four different ranges of vessel sections, the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En form four sets, each of which contains at least six controllable directional light emitters. It is clear that the spotlights of each set are designed to illuminate a certain range of diameters of sections of vessels, which differs from one set to another.

Accordingly, the spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En of each set are mounted on the bracket 14 in such a way that the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn are distributed in azimuth, and when these spotlights are activated selectively for image capture by the imaging devices images C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn, all points of the circumference of section i of the controlled vessels are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En. In other words, to control each vessel included in a certain range of section diameters, spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En, included in the kit that controls this diameter range, allow illumination of the entire periphery of the controlled section while moving along the passage path and provide capturing an image with at least six imaging devices.

From the above description it follows that monitoring of each vessel requires the sequential activation of some selected imaging devices simultaneously with the corresponding emitters during certain periods of time. These time intervals are defined in such a way that the monitored vessel is considered to occupy a fixed or non-fixed position in the monitoring zone Zi during the acquisition of images.

For proper detection of notches, it is necessary that the illuminating beams of the spotlights reach the monitored area of the vessel in precise directions of incidence with precise angles of incidence, and also that the observation of the imaging devices occurs in certain directions. The direction of the spotlight beam is the direction that the light follows to reach the vessel. The observation direction is the direction of the optical axis of the imaging apparatus directed towards the vessel. Conventionally, the beam (for floodlights) and observation (for imagers) directions are defined by their azimuth, their elevation, and their radial or tangential incidence, tangential clockwise or tangential counterclockwise. Azimuth is the projection angle of the beam direction in the X, Y plane, if viewed from above the direction of movement F (or X axis) and the trigonometric direction from 0° to 360°. The azimuth angle Az is shown in Fig. 1D and 3F. Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 1A and 1C, the elevation El of the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the spotlights or the viewing directions of the imaging devices C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn (that is, their optical axis AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn) is their angle with the orthogonal plane with the central axis A, for example, with the reference control plane Prif, Prib, Pric. Thus, this angle is measured in a vertical plane, that is, in a plane parallel to the central axis A containing the direction of the beams or optical axis, having with the direction F (or with the X axis) the azimuth angle Az of the direction of the beam or optical axis. The elevation angle El, measured in the vertical plane, is taken in a trigonometric sense as positive from 0 to 90° when the spotlight or imaging device is shooting from the top, or as negative from 0 to -90° when the spotlight or imaging device is shooting shooting from the bottom point relative to the X, Y plane. In Fig. 1C the radial plane has an azimuth angle of 90°, whereas in FIG. 1A, the radial plane has a zero azimuth angle.

At least six image forming devices have their own observation direction, namely their optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn, preferably practically radial, that is, directed towards the center of the control zone Zi. At the moment of image capture, they observe the vessels, practically being aimed at the central axis A. Therefore, the observation directions, that is, the optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn of these imaging devices are considered to be radial. Such imaging devices, if their field of view is wide enough, can collectively observe the entire inspected area over several diameter ranges as the vessel moves through the inspection zone Zi.

The control post contains not only spotlights with different azimuth and elevation angles, which will be described below, but it is also necessary to distinguish between the incidence of beam directions at the level of the point of impact on vessel 2 at the moment the spotlights are activated. The control station contains spotlights with a beam direction incidence called either radial, that is, a vertical plane containing the direction passes through the central axis A, as shown in Fig. 1D, or tangential to the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 3B, 3F and 3G, which show views of the beams in a horizontal X, Y plane projection. For example, as shown in FIG. 3F, bundles E1-E12 have different azimuths so that the entire periphery of the monitored portion of the vessels, which can be cylindrical like a corolla, can be monitored. They have a tangential fall onto the cylinder of the controlled section of the vessels at the moment they are turned on. Here you can see that the spotlights E2, E4, E6, E8, E10, E12 have beam directions DE2, DE4, DE6, DE8, DE10, DE12, distributed in azimuth, tangential to the rim and with a clockwise incidence of light, and spotlights E1, E3, E5, E7, E9, E11 have beam directions DE1, DE3, DE5, DE7, DE9, DE11, distributed in azimuth, tangential to the rim and with light incidence counterclockwise. In the following, a clockwise or counterclockwise fall will denote a fall tangent to a cylinder with an axis coinciding with the central axis A. It should be noted that, in order to take into account the movement of the vessel during inspection, the cylinder can be considered offset in the translational direction F.

In fig. 3B, in a plan view (or X, Y plane view), shows that the tangential incidence of the beams provides detection of a vertical (or radial) cut. In this schematic view, the vertical cut D is shown to be flat and almost radial. Light incident tangentially to the cylinder of the test portion of the vessel is reflected towards the lens of the imaging device C1. In this figure, it can be seen that spotlights E4 and E5 are complementary, with spotlight E5 being a counterclockwise spotlight and spotlight E4 being a clockwise spotlight. It can also be seen here that if the monitored section of the vessel is in a different range of larger diameter sections, the invention allows the use of other spotlights (E6, E7, E8, E1, E2, E3) instead of moving the spotlights E4 and E5.

Preferably, several spotlights have their own illumination fields, which intersect in the control zone of the control post, that is, in the controlled area of the vessel. Thus, for both observation and shooting or illumination, an overlap of the periphery of the monitored vascular area is created, supported by the superposition of observation and illumination fields during the acquisition of all images of the monitored vascular area for each vessel. In other words, each element of the surface of the controlled section of the vessels is represented in at least one image, illuminated by a spotlight or spotlights necessary to identify defects in the images.

According to the example presented in FIG. 3G, the control station contains four sets, each of which includes six floodlights with a clockwise incidence and six floodlights with a counterclockwise incidence. Thus, each set contains twelve spotlights for illuminating areas of vessels belonging to the same diameter range, while the lighting cycle and associated imaging devices are not specified. In the example shown in FIG. 3G, twelve spotlights E1-E12 of the first set are shown activated to illuminate vessels having a range of small section diameters. Twelve spotlights from each other set will be activated to illuminate vessels within the range of larger vessel diameters.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En of the different sets are arranged in an arrangement containing one spotlight of each set next to each other. This arrangement is repeated to distribute the spotlights in azimuth around the central axis A of the vessels. Each arrangement includes, for example, one spotlight belonging to each set of spotlights, such an arrangement being repeated six times around the circumference of the bracket 14 when the spotlight sets each include six spotlights.

According to an example embodiment of the invention, to detect vertical cuts on the rim, sets of ten spotlights are provided with three different elevations, with four ranges of diameters and with tangential drops clockwise and counterclockwise, that is, 3 × 4 × 2 = 24 sets of ten spotlights . Moreover, each of the ten layouts contains eight side-by-side floodlights at an elevation of -10°, below them eight side-by-side floodlights at an elevation of -20°, and, finally, eight side-by-side floodlights below them at an elevation of -30°. The arrangement, containing at least 24 spotlights, exists in ten copies distributed along the azimuth. Given that these ten arrangements are below the support plane of the rim, they leave the entry and exit of the flow path free (Fig. 1A).

According to another preferred embodiment, each set of spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En contains, on the one hand, spotlights with beam directions distributed in azimuth, tangential to a cylindrical wall section, for example, to the rim, and with light incident on the wall clockwise, and, on the other hand, spotlights with beam directions distributed in azimuth, tangential to the cylindrical section of the wall and with light incident on the wall counterclockwise. For example, as shown in FIG. 3F and 3G, each set contains at least six spotlights E2, E4, E6, E8, E10, E12 with beam directions distributed in azimuth, tangential to the rim and with a clockwise incidence of light, and at least six spotlights E1, E3, E5, E7, E9, E11 with beam directions distributed in azimuth, tangential to the rim and with light incidence counterclockwise. It should be noted that the searchlights E1, E2 have the same azimuth angle, equal to 0°, while the directions of the beams of the searchlights E1, E2 have a counterclockwise and clockwise incidence, respectively. In the same way, the spotlights E3, E4 have the same azimuth angle of 30°, while the beam directions of the spotlights E3, E4 have a counterclockwise and clockwise incidence, respectively. Thus, the beam directions of the six searchlights are uniformly distributed in azimuth with a pairwise offset of 30°.

According to an embodiment, each set contains ten spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En with beam directions having a clockwise incidence, and ten spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En with beam directions having a counterclockwise incidence. If the set contains ten spotlights, then the beam directions of the ten spotlights are distributed along the azimuth angles within each set of ten to obtain a circular overlap of the monitored area of the vessel. This means that each part of the circle that will be imaged by at least one imaging device while passing through the control zone will be illuminated with the necessary incidences by at least one spotlight of the set. For example, for a cylindrical test area of a vessel, if we consider a set of 10 spotlights, the common property of which is to be incident on the surface of the test area while illuminating it (azimuth, elevation, tangential incidence clockwise or counterclockwise or radial), each angular sector in 1/10 (36°) of the cylinder will be illuminated by one of 10 spotlights at the specified incidence, taking into account the accuracy associated with the limited number (for example, 10) of spotlights in the set.

According to an embodiment, the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En are distributed symmetrically on either side of the translational direction F, as shown in the example shown in FIG. 1D.

It may be recalled that the projectors E1, E2, …Ei, …En are located outside the free volume Vt. Therefore, spotlights that are located at the same height as the free volume Vt have a beam direction with azimuth angles from +5° to +175° and from +185° to +355°. On the other hand, spotlights located above or below the free volume Vt can take any desired azimuth angle, giving, for example, a uniform distribution with any number of spotlights in each set.

From the above description it follows that a given point of the controlled section of the vessel, located in the control zone Zi, is in a position for its illumination by several spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En in several beam directions, in particular, different in elevation. By overlapping zones illuminated by beams with the same elevation and decline at different but close azimuth values, it is also possible to create redundancy, in which a given point of the controlled section of the vessel will be illuminated in beams of different azimuth directions. This can occur if beams of equal elevation and incidence, spaced 10° apart, cover a 20° angular sector of the vessel (sampling around the central axis A). Preferably, all points of the inspection area of the vessel located in the inspection zone Zi are in a position to be illuminated at least once during their passage through the inspection zone Zi along the path and during the shooting of a series of images by the imaging devices with multiple spotlights in multiple directions. beam.

Of course, the directions of the beam of searchlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En are also distributed along the elevation in a certain way. Preferably, each set of spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En contains several subgroups of spotlights, each with an elevation angle in absolute value that differs by at least 5°. In other words, for each set there are at least two spotlights with different elevation angles, that is, having a deviation of at least 5° from each other.

According to a preferred distinctive feature of the design, the spotlights of one set have a beam direction with elevation angles in absolute value ranging from 0° to 45°.

According to the above embodiment, three elevation angles for the spotlights are selected for each set, namely -10°, -20°, -30°. According to this example, for each value of elevation angle, each set contains ten spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En with beam directions having a clockwise tangential incidence, and ten spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En with beam directions having having a tangential drop counterclockwise. Thus, for each set, the control station contains sixty spotlights with twenty spotlights distributed in azimuth for each of the three elevation angles. Since the control post contains four sets for monitoring four diameter ranges, in this example the post contains two hundred and forty spotlights. Such a control post with tangential incidence spotlights is designed to detect vertical and/or radial cuts. Of course, this inspection station may preferably contain additional sets of spotlights and imaging devices for detecting horizontal cuts on cylindrical or peripheral parts on a flat bottom or other defects.

Of course, the spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En, illuminating the vessels 2, are connected to image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn for tracking specular reflections from the cuts.

For each range of diameters of the controlled sections of vessels, each control post I1, I2,... contains at least six image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn, forming images and having an optical axis AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn, directed inside the Zi control zone. These image forming devices C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn are mounted on the bracket 14 in such a way that their optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn are distributed around the central axis A of the vessels with a choice of their azimuth angles from 0 to 360° in relation to the direction of translational movement, therefore, all points of the circumference of the controlled area will be represented in at least one image taken while the vessel section passes through the control zone. Of course, the number of image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn with optical axes distributed along the azimuth can be more than six. According to an example embodiment, twelve image forming devices are used with their optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn distributed in azimuth to capture images over the entire circumference of the area under test. Preferably, the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are distributed in such a way as to obtain an overlap of images captured by different image forming devices. This overlap ensures that any point on the inspected portion of the vessel will be represented in at least one image obtained under the viewing and lighting conditions necessary to detect one type of defect, for example, a vertical cut type defect.

In addition, image forming devices C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn have optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn, the elevation angles of which have an absolute value from 10° to 90°. Preferably, at least two image forming devices have optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn with elevation angles of different values. According to an example embodiment, the optical axes AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn of the imaging devices have six different elevation angles, such as 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50° and 60°. According to such an embodiment, the control station contains seventy-two imaging devices AC1, AC2, ...ACi, ...ACn with twelve imaging devices distributed in azimuth for each of the six elevation angles.

To detect vertical or radial notches, the elevation angles of the optical axes AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of image forming devices have a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn of the corresponding controlled searchlights. In other words, the image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are located on one side of the reference control plane, while the projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En are located on the other side of the reference control plane. It should be noted that the absolute values of the elevation angles of the optical axes of the imaging devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are identical or different from the absolute values of the elevation angles of the beam directions of the corresponding searchlights.

It will be understood that one or more imaging devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn are designed to capture images while illuminated by respective projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En. Thus, the electronic system III is configured to activate one or more image forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn synchronously with the corresponding projectors E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En. This simultaneous activation ensures that at least one image is captured while part of the monitored area is illuminated. This cycle of turning on and recording images can be repeated in a different order, which depends on the fixed location of the spotlights and imaging devices and on the diameter of the vessels. For example, the cycle is repeated in the circumferential direction of the vessel and/or possibly in the opposite circumferential direction. This allows the vessel to be illuminated sequentially while simultaneously capturing images. During the translational movement of the vessels 2 in the control zone Zi, this allows a series of images to be taken for each vessel, for example between its entry and its exit from the control zone Zi.

Electronic System III records all images and analyzes them to detect defects such as nicks. Each imager produces multiple images in cooperation with spotlights that are different for each image. Typically, the imaging apparatus receives a trigger signal (or flip-flop), in response to which the imaging apparatus will perform the following steps constituting the acquisition of an image: start of exposure, end of exposure, readout, and transmission of at least one area of the image.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each imaging device produces multiple images of several types, interacting with different spotlights for each image, in order to detect defects of different types, which differ in their nature, their shape and/or their location in the container. For example, an imaging device may sequentially capture:

- images of the first type for detecting vertical cuts located on the inner edge of the surface of the rim, interacting with the spotlights of the first set, producing tangential drops in a clockwise direction;

- images of the second type for detecting vertical cuts located on the inner edge of the surface of the rim, interacting with the spotlights of the second set, producing tangential drops counterclockwise;

- images of the third type for detecting horizontal notches located in the threads of the screw rim, interacting with the spotlights of the third set, producing radial falls directed to the threads through the internal volume of the neck;

- images of the fourth type for detecting horizontal cuts located under the counter-rim, interacting with the spotlights of the fourth set, producing radial falls in the direction of the counter-rim through the internal volume of the neck;

- images of other types for the detection of defects of other types in interaction with directional or non-directional spotlights belonging to other sets that produce appropriate illumination in the direction of part of the controlled area.

The shooting parameters of Ci imaging devices include, in particular, the operating parameters of industrial cameras, namely:

- the time or delay between the turn-on trigger signal (called the flip-flop) and the start of integration, and/or

- information canceling shooting, and/or

- integration time TI, which is the time during which photographs are converted into an electrical signal by each pixel of the matrix sensor, and/or

- analog and/or digital gain G, which changes the level of the signal produced by the pixels and/or

- selection of amplification rules or analog and/or digital conversion G, which can be linear or nonlinear, for example logarithmic, and/or

- coordinates (x, y, x’, y’) of one or more zones of interest, called ROI (REGION OF INTEREST), ROI1, ROI2,..., which are sensor zones whose pixels are actually transmitted to the processing unit.

The combination of these parameters forms what in this description will be called a set of shooting parameters that can be collected in the TAB table of sets J1, J2. J3... shooting parameters as shown in FIG. 9. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, different image acquisitions by the imaging apparatus for each vessel can be performed with different sets of acquisition parameters. This makes it possible, for example, to adapt the gain G depending on the type of illumination produced or the color of the vessel, or to select and transmit images of minimal size, limited by a field in which defects are detected without transmitting parts of the images that have useless information.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, image acquisition by the imaging device for each vessel can be performed by reading a different region of interest ROI1, ROI2,... each time. The specified area of interest depends on the type of defect being sought, on the intended position of the controlled area of the vessel in the camera field at the time of shooting, on the size and shape of the vessels, in particular, on the diameter of the neck or body, depending on which area is being monitored.

An imaging device according to the invention comprises at least one optoelectronic sensor Coe, preferably comprising an array of pixels (image elements). It is a CCD or CMOS type sensor or conforms to any optoelectronic technology for electronic imaging. The imaging apparatus also contains Cont control electronics, which allow shooting parameters to be changed and communicate via the Cint interface with a remote electronic system, such as Electronic System III. The Cont control electronics can determine the timing of pixels, lines, frames, determine the ROI zones intended for transmission, determine the integration time, etc. Control electronics includes a set of circuits of any type that may be integrated in whole or in part into a Coe optoelectronic sensor or may be distributed within the imaging device in programmable components such as FPGA CPLDs, microcontrollers, or memory devices. The control electronics are also in communication with any remote system, in this case the electronic system III, to receive from it adjustment commands, such as at least one set of shooting parameters, and impact commands, such as a trigger signal. Such a trigger signal is the received signal that triggers the integration of the sensor, then reading the sensor, possibly processing the signals (e.g. amplification, filtering, A/D conversion, interleaving, color conversion, etc.) and transmitting them as an image. for example, a digital image. This communication may be two-way so that the control electronics can provide information about the operating status of the imaging device to the appropriate remote system. The control electronics can also output images, that is, video sequences in analogue format or preferably images in digital formats, to the remote system. To achieve this, the control electronics are connected to the remote system via one or more, usually wired connections, but also possibly via radio communications. For example, wired connections comply with any known communication standards that support image transmission, such as “IEEE1394”, “CameraLink”, “USB 2.0”, “USB 3.0”, “GiGE” or “CoaXPress”.

Thus, the imaging devices Ci are coupled to the electronic system III through any known type of connection for receiving a trigger signal and at least one set of shooting parameters. In the described embodiment, the connection is wired.

Each imaging device is identified by an identifier, in other words, an address, so that a remote system, such as an electronic system III, associated with several imaging devices, can control each imaging device differently, that is, control them individually or run synchronously or asynchronously with a different set of shooting parameters for each imaging device. According to the invention, said at least six imaging devices are connected to the electronic system III and can be switched on on demand and with different shooting parameters each time.

The solution for turning on the imaging devices and taking sequential shots of each imaging device with a set of different shooting parameters is that the electronic system III programs a new set of shooting parameters for each imaging device before starting each imaging device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control electronics Cont of each imaging device comprises a memory configured to record a list or TAB table of several successive sets of shooting parameters, and a sequencer so as to prepare the next set of parameters in accordance with the list for determining the shooting parameters at each start. future image shooting. According to the invention, during the startup or adjustment phase of the control station, the electronic system III programs or records for each imaging device the same number of successive sets of shooting parameters. Then, for each vessel, depending on the movement of the vessel in the control zone, the electronic system III starts acquisitions by sending a trigger signal to each imaging device. It is also possible to provide for the transmission of a single trigger signal common to all imaging devices of the installation for each incremental movement of the vessel. In this case, the timing may be different for multiple imaging devices so that they begin their exposure at different times. In the lists of sets of shooting parameters, you can also provide sets of parameters indicating that there is no need to shoot an image based on one of the trigger signals received during the cycle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each illuminator Ei is activated several times, either in cooperation with the corresponding image forming device, which is turned on several times, or by turning on different image forming devices separately in time to obtain different types of images in order to detect defects of different types that differ in by its nature, its shape and/or its location in the vessel. For example, a spotlight can be activated sequentially to:

- obtain images of the first type to detect horizontal notches located in the threads of the screw finish, when interacting with an image forming device observing the finish at the 1st elevation angle;

- obtain images of the second type to detect horizontal notches located in the threads of the screw finish, when interacting with an image forming device observing the finish at a second elevation angle.

The lighting parameters of Ei floodlights include, for example:

- the time or delay between the trigger signal (called the flip-flop) and the start of lighting, and/or

- illumination time, which is the duration of light emission, and/or

- activation or lack of activation of the spotlight in response to a trigger signal, and/or

- intensity of emitted light in the case of a monochrome spotlight,

- several values of intensity of emitted light in the case of a polychrome spotlight due to a combination of elementary sources of different colors.

The set of lighting parameters is what will be referred to in this description as a set of spotlight lighting parameters, which can be collected in the TAB' table of shooting parameter sets J1', J2', J3'..., as shown in FIG. 10. According to the invention, sequential or time-spaced floodlight illumination for each vessel can be carried out with different sets of lighting parameters. This allows, for example, some spotlights to be turned on and not others throughout the entire image acquisition by the imaging device; or adapt the incident light energy depending on the areas being illuminated or controlled; or groups of spotlights may illuminate the same area in different amounts depending on the type of image being captured and/or the associated imaging device.

According to the invention, each spotlight Ei contains at least one light source, such as an LED, an electronic power and control circuit CPP. This electronic power and control circuit CPP controls the storage, charging and discharging of electrical energy in the LED or LEDs. For example, the accumulation of electric charge occurs in a capacitor. Each spotlight is connected to the electrical supply and to the electronic system III, for example via a wired connection via a Cint’ interface circuit. The network is arranged in such a way as to connect all the spotlights with the electronic system III. The connection operates over a bus-type communication protocol allowing the III electronics to communicate separately with each floodlight or each set of floodlights to send at least one set of lighting parameters and a trigger signal to it. It should be recalled that in one set of spotlights, the spotlights have the same beam directions relative to the controlled area of the vessel at the time of their activation, that is, they perform the same detection function.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control electronics of each spotlight or set comprises a memory configured to record a list or table of several sequential sets of lighting parameters, and a sequencer so that, at each trigger signal, the applied set of lighting parameters corresponds to the next set from the table.

According to the invention, during the startup or adjustment phase of the control station, the electronic system III programs or records for each spotlight the same number of successive sets of lighting parameters. Then, for each vessel, depending on the movement of the vessel in the control zone, the electronic system III triggers image capture and illumination by sending a trigger signal to each imager and each spotlight. It is also possible to provide for the transmission of a single trigger signal, common to all floodlights of the control post, for each incremental movement of the vessel. The lists of lighting parameter sets contain parameter sets that indicate that there is no need to turn on the spotlight by a trigger signal. Thus, the spotlights are turned on only to provide specific lighting conditions for an area of the product to observe a given imaging device for the purpose of detecting these defects.

This solution has a number of advantages.

First, if there are a large number of imaging devices and a large number of spotlights, and it is necessary to take multiple images each time with different sets of shooting parameters and lighting parameters, it becomes very time-consuming, complex and risky to program all the imaging devices and spotlights before each shooting.

For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, the number of imaging devices exceeds 20, and the number of projectors exceeds 100, and the shooting frequency is on the order of 1000 images per second. It turns out that it is easier to reprogram the imagers and spotlights during the adjustment phase and then turn them on simply based on the movement of the vessel in the inspection zone.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each spotlight has an individual light source that can be controlled and is equipped with Opf focusing optics.

Of course, in order to initiate monitoring of each vessel, it is preferable to determine the position of each vessel, for example, using an imaging device. Preferably, sensors such as photocells (photocells) detect the moment of passage of the vessel at a precise location, and a sensor such as an incremental encoder informs the electronic system III about the movements of the conveyor, which, according to a well-known method, allows the position of the vessel to be localized at any moment along the path of passage.

Symbolically shown in the drawings, the electronic system III can be made in the form of at least one standard computer containing at least one microprocessor, one or more electronic memory units and one or more visualization interfaces (screen, projector, holographic display, ...), input (keyboard, mouse, touchpad, touch screen,...) and/or communications (USB, Ethernet®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Zigbee®,...). Electronic System III may comprise a data network that shares data with one or more other computers on the network or with other networks, such as the Internet or Ethernet® protocol. In addition to its obvious connection, information system III can be connected to sensors that provide information about the state of the installation, and/or to the drives of the installation (conveyors, ejectors, encoding elements, ...). Preferably, the information system III can be connected to floodlights and imaging devices in order to obtain operating data from them and/or to ensure their control. Information system III uses one or more programs, recorded and/or executed locally or remotely, including on one or more remote servers. This program or these programs preferably include one or more programs configured to carry out the method in accordance with the invention.

Within the stated control post, the electronic system III is designed to control vessels belonging to all diameter ranges. During inspection of a vessel whose diameter to be inspected is included in the diameter range of the array, the electronic system provides at least six images of each vessel by selectively activating said at least six imaging devices simultaneously with the corresponding spotlights of said array.

The electronic system III is configured to implement each image capture to detect vertical cuts on the rim under clockwise lighting as follows. Using a well-known method, it determines at any moment the exact position of a vessel moving in the zone. Knowing the diameter of the inspected portion of the vessel, it determines the moment at which the inspected portion of the vessel or the angular sector of the inspected portion of the vessel is simultaneously in the field of the image forming device and is illuminated at the required incidence by at least one spotlight. Thus, it includes said imaging apparatus and said selected illuminator. This spotlight belongs to a set of spotlights tangent to a cylinder corresponding to the diameter range of the controlled section of the vessel. During this image capture, it is possible to activate several spotlights positioned for the same diameter range of vessel sections, for example with different elevations. Thus, this work occurs for the entire controlled area of the vessel and obtains images for detecting vertical notches under counterclockwise illumination, as well as images for detecting horizontal notches under centered illumination.

Electronic system III is also designed to avoid mutual interference. According to a preferred embodiment, all imaging devices are independent and each include a sensor and a lens. Interference corresponds to a situation where the light emitted by a spotlight to illuminate a portion of an inspected portion of a vessel so that a given imaging apparatus can see that type of defect produces stray light in the absence of a defect in the vessel portion, and the spurious element is perceived as a defect by another imaging apparatus. The spotlight/imaging device pairs are controlled cyclically to avoid this effect. It should be noted that since the integration time of the imaging devices is very short, from 50 μs to 1 ms, this allows for a large number of acquisitions spaced in a short time interval corresponding to the passage of the vessels through the inspection zone Zi. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting defects such as horizontal and vertical nicks on the rim consists of taking and analyzing 500-2000 images of each vessel using 32-96 imaging devices, 300-1200 spotlights and an electronic system III.

To detect horizontal cuts, the detection post I1, I2,... contains several groups of at least six spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En, hereinafter called VN groups. These HV groups are installed using a full connection 13 on the bracket 14, while being outside the free volume V1, as indicated above. According to the variant, spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En of one HV group illuminate the controlled area within a range of diameters, and this range differs from one group to another. Otherwise, according to another option, the VN groups are adapted to all ranges of diameters of the vessel sections. The searchlights of the VN group are activated sequentially for taking images by the corresponding image-forming devices C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn in such a way that all points of the circumference of the controlled section of the vessels are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights in all images obtained to detect horizontal cuts. Projectors E1, E2, …Ei, …En of the HV group have a beam direction DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn at an elevation with the same sign as the elevation of the optical axis AC1, AC2, …ACi, …ACn of the corresponding image forming devices C1 , С2, …Сi, …Сn. Their beam directions are not tangent to the cylinders, but are directed towards the normal axis A of the vessels at the moment of their activation by the electronic system III.

The following is a description of the implementation version of the control station I2 shown on the right in FIG. 1A to illustrate the application of the invention to control radial or annular cuts in the bottom.

According to the preferred configuration of station I2, the image forming devices for monitoring the notches in the bottom are located below the reference plane.

Detection of radial cuts in the bottom of vessels, that is, cuts. oriented radially, occurs in the same way as the detection of vertical cuts for the rim of vessels, in other words, for radial cuts (Fig. 9A and 9B), sets of spotlights E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En are used, located on the bracket 14 in such a way that they could, at the moment of their activation, illuminate the controlled area corresponding to the bottom in the beam directions DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn, tangent to one or more cylinders CY, in order to control vessels whose bottom diameter is included in the range of specific diameters. Since the bottom is not a ring but a disk, tangential spotlights must illuminate the entire disk from its center to the edge, as shown in Fig. 9C. Of course, some sets are used with clockwise drops and others with counterclockwise drops. Thus, at least as many sets of spotlights are provided for detecting cuts in the bottom as for the rim. Therefore, it can be concluded that the detection of radial notches in the bottom is carried out by activating sets of spotlights, the beam directions of which are tangent to circles depending on the range to which the diameter of the controlled section of the vessel belongs, including sets with clockwise or counterclockwise incidences. These arrays are positioned opposite the respective imaging devices with respect to the reference plane and may preferably include several sub-arrays whose beam direction has several different elevations, with multiple spotlights being activated for one respective imaging device if necessary.

To detect notches in the bottom of vessels, we can also assume that annular notches, that is, oriented in a circle, are detected in the same way as the so-called horizontal notches for the rim of vessels. For these ring cuts (Fig. 8B), sets of spotlights E1, E2, …Ei, …En are used, located on the bracket 14 so that at the moment of their activation they can illuminate the controlled area of the vessel corresponding to the bottom in the beam directions DE1, DE2 , …DEi, …DEn, oriented towards the center of the bottom CF, coinciding with the central axis, in order to achieve concentric circles of different radii and control vessels whose bottoms have a diameter included in the range of specific diameters. These sets of spotlights should illuminate the bottom from center to edge as shown in FIG. 8D.

Some spotlights are located on the same side of the bottom reference plane Prf as the imaging devices used.

Of course, the bottom of the vessels is not strictly flat and may even have a seam. The method and device are provided for bottoms with a seam.

The claimed method for detecting defects such as cuts in the area of vessels using the claimed post is as follows:

- for each type of notch detection, namely for the detection of radial or vertical notches with a clockwise fall and/or for the detection of radial or vertical notches with a counterclockwise fall;

- and for each of at least six angular sectors of the controlled section of the vessel;

- and for a certain diameter range of the controlled section of the vessel:

- in advance, depending on the measurement of the movement of vessels in the control zone, the moment at which the angular sector of the controlled section of each vessel 2 will be observed in the control zone Zi at a given observation angle Az, El by the selected image forming device is determined and will be illuminated at one or more given angles Az , El and with incidences (radial or tangential clockwise or tangential counterclockwise) of at least one spotlight selected from a set corresponding to the range of section diameter [dmin dmax], including the diameter of the controlled section of the vessel;

- and at a certain moment turn on the selected image forming device and the selected spotlights in such a way as to fully control each angular sector of the monitored portion of the vessel to detect each type of notch.

Thus, the method includes as many images taken during the passage as there are angular sectors of the controlled areas and types of defects. The number of angular sectors of the monitored area is less than or equal to the number of imaging devices, the observation direction or optical axis AC1 ...ACn of which has the same elevation. The number of spotlights in each set is greater than or equal to the number of corner sectors. The total number of sets of spotlights corresponds to the number of required beam directions.

Thus, multiple images are analyzed to identify defects. For example, 500 to 2,000 images are analyzed for each vessel.

Image analysis consists, in part, of tracking the white reflections on the black bottom, which corresponds to the light reflected by the cuts. It also consists of identifying spots associated with defects in relation to possible spurious reflections.

Claims (45)

1. A post for detecting defects such as cuts in a section of vessels (2) having a central axis (A) and moving in the direction of translational motion without rotation around its central axis, the post containing: - a bracket (14) located along the path along which at least one section of the vessels passes, located under the reference plane (Prib) of the rim control or above the reference plane (Prif) of the bottom control, and this path (Vt) of passage successively contains an inlet, control zone and exit for vessels; - at least six image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn) forming images and having an optical axis directed inside the control zone, being mounted on a bracket so that their optical axes are distributed around the central axis (A) of the vessels with a choice of their azimuthal angles from 0 to 360° with respect to the direction of translational movement, while all points of the circumference of the vessel section are displayed in at least one image taken during the passage of the vessel section through the control zone; - at least twelve spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En), forming several sets, each of which contains at least six spotlights mounted on a bracket, each of which has a beam direction and located on the bracket in such a way that : (a) the beam directions (DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn) are tangent to the cylinder centered on the central axis (A) of the vessel, and the diameter of the cylinder is included in the range of diameters of the vessel sections; (b) the beam directions (DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn) are distributed in azimuth such that when the spotlights are selectively activated to take an image using the respective imaging devices, all points on the circumference of the vessel section are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights; - an electronic system (III) associated with the searchlights and with the imaging devices and configured to selectively activate the imaging devices simultaneously with the corresponding searchlights in order to take images of each vessel passing through the inspection zone for the purpose of analyzing them for detecting defects; characterized in that: - the bracket (14) is a non-deformable body on which, through a complete connection (13), spotlights and image forming devices are installed in such a way as to fix the beam directions (DE1, DE2, …DEi, …DEn) of the spotlights and the optical axes (AC1, AC2 , ...ACi, ...ACn) of the imaging devices relative to the specified bracket, wherein this bracket contains a free volume (Vt), including at least a volume formed by the profile of the vessels only along the rectilinear translational movement of the vessels in the control zone, while the imaging devices and the spotlights are located outside this free volume; - several sets of spotlights each include at least six spotlights, the beam direction of which is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter included in a certain range of diameters, and these ranges of diameters differ from one set to another and depend on the diameter of the vessel section; - the projectors of the sets have a beam direction with elevation angles in absolute value from 0 to 45° and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the optical axes of the corresponding image forming devices; - image forming devices have optical axes, the elevation angles of which in absolute value range from 0 to 60°, and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the beam directions of the corresponding spotlights; - the electronic system (III) is designed to control vessels that fully comply with the specified diameter ranges, therefore, during the control of vessels, the diameter of the controlled area is included in the diameter range of the set, the electronic system ensures that at least six images of each vessel are taken during its passage through control area by selectively activating said at least six imaging devices simultaneously with the corresponding floodlights of said set. 2. Post according to claim 1, in which the spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) of various sets are located in an arrangement containing next to each other and/or adjacent to each other a controlled spotlight of each set, and the specified arrangement is repeated to distribute the controllable spotlights in azimuth around the central axis (A) of the vessels. 3. Post according to claim 1 or 2, in which the sets of spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) include several subgroups, each of which contains at least six spotlights, each with an elevation angle in absolute value that differs at least 5°. 4. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which each set contains at least six spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) with beam directions having an azimuth tangential incidence on the vessel section clockwise, and at least six spotlights with beam directions , having an azimuth tangential incidence on the vessel section counterclockwise. 5. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, in which the bracket (14) limits the free volume of such a width that the spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En), located at the same height as the free volume, have a beam direction with azimuth angles from +5 up to +175° and from +185 to +355°. 6. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which the bracket (14) limits the passage path for a portion of the vessels corresponding to the rim or bottom of the vessels. 7. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which several groups (VN) of at least six spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) located outside the free volume are installed on the bracket (14) through a complete connection (13), while the spotlights of one group illuminates a portion of the vessel included in a range of diameters, said range being different from one group to another, wherein the spotlights of one group are selectively activated synchronously with the respective imaging devices during each image capture by said respective imaging devices so that all points on the circle The controlled section of the vessels is illuminated by at least one of the spotlights, while the group spotlights (VN) have a beam direction along the elevation with the same sign as the elevation of the optical axis of the corresponding image forming devices. 8. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-7, in which the bracket (14) contains two holes (16, 17), made diametrically opposite in accordance with the fixed profile, forming the entrance and exit of the passage of the vessels (2) and surrounding the free volume. 9. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-8, in which the bracket (14) contains a positioning system (21) for image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn) and spotlights (E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En), providing for each of them a single position of the direction of the spotlight beam and the optical axis of the imaging device relative to the reference plane (Prfs) of the bracket. 10. Post according to claim 9, in which the positioning systems (21) for image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn) and spotlights (E1, E2, ...Ei, ...En) are made on the bracket (14) for allowing them to be mounted on the outside of the bracket, wherein the bracket (14) contains a plurality of holes (22) for the passage of light received by the imaging devices and/or emitted by the spotlights. 11. Fasting according to one of paragraphs. 1-10, in which the bracket (14) is a hollow non-deformable body having the shape of a polyhedron or at least one truncated sphere. 12. Control unit containing: - at least one post according to one of paragraphs. 1-11 for detecting defects such as cuts in the area of vessels (2) having a central axis (A); - at least one transportation system (II), configured to ensure movement without rotation of the vessels only in the direction of rectilinear translational movement along the path of each bracket (14). 13. Control installation according to clause 12, containing: - a control post for the rims of vessels, equipped with a bracket (14) limiting the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the rim, and/or - a control post for vessel bodies, equipped with a bracket (14) limiting the passage path for the section of vessels corresponding to the body, and/or - a vessel bottom inspection station equipped with a bracket (14) that limits the passage path for the vessel section corresponding to the bottom. 14. The control installation according to claim 12 or 13, in which the adjustment device is configured to ensure alignment of the reference plane for monitoring vessels moved by the translational motion system with the reference plane of the bracket. 15. A method for detecting defects such as cuts in at least one section of vessels having a central axis (A), and according to the method: - select a certain number of diameter ranges for the controlled sections of vessels; - the vessels are moved without rotation around their central axis (A) only in the direction of rectilinear translational motion to move along the path of the bracket, containing in sequence the entrance, control zone and exit for the vessels; - spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) and image forming devices (C1, C2, …Ci, …Cn) are installed through a complete connection (13) on the bracket (14) in such a way as to fix the directions of the spotlight beam and optical the axis of the imaging devices relative to the bracket, wherein this bracket contains a free volume, including at least one volume formed by the profile of the vessels only during the rectilinear translational movement of the vessels in the control zone, while the imaging devices and spotlights are located outside this free volume; - at least six image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn), forming images and having an optical axis directed inside the control zone, are installed on the bracket in such a way that their optical axes are distributed around the vertical axis of the vessels with their selection azimuthal angles from 0 to 360° with respect to the direction of translational movement, wherein all points of the circumference of the vessel section are displayed in at least one image taken during the passage of the vessel section through the control zone, wherein the imaging devices have optical axes, elevation angles whose absolute value ranges from 0 to 90°, and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the beam directions of the corresponding spotlights; - spotlights (E1, E2, …Ei, …En) form several sets, each including at least six spotlights, the beam direction of which is tangent to a cylinder with a diameter centered on the central axis (A) of the vessel included in a certain range of diameters, and these ranges of diameters differ from one set to another and depend on the diameter of the vessel section; - the projectors of the sets have a beam direction with elevation angles in absolute value from 10 to 45° and with a sign opposite to the elevation angles of the optical axes of the corresponding imaging devices, wherein the beam directions are distributed in azimuth so that when the projectors are sequentially activated for taking images by corresponding imaging devices, all points of the circumference of the vessel section are illuminated by at least one of the spotlights; - during the vessel inspection phase, in which the diameter of the vessel section is included in the range of diameters of the array, said at least six imaging devices are activated selectively and simultaneously with the corresponding spotlights of said array to take at least six images of each vessel passing through the inspection zone , in order to analyze them to detect defects. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that it contains an adjustment phase, during which, depending on at least the range of diameters for the sections of the controlled vessels: - all imaging devices register their own list of shooting parameter sets, wherein said shooting parameter sets include integration time, gain, ROI coordinates and/or shooting cancellation information; - all floodlights register their own list of lighting parameter sets, wherein said lighting parameter sets include time and/or lighting intensity and/or lighting canceling information. 17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that during the control phase of each vessel: - simultaneously sending, on the one hand, to the image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn) at least the first signal, which triggers for each of them the shooting of images in accordance with a set of shooting parameters taken from its own list of sets shooting parameters, and, on the other hand, a signal is sent to the spotlights which causes each spotlight to illuminate the vessel in accordance with a set of lighting parameters taken from its own list of lighting parameter sets, wherein one of the parameters may mean that no lighting is produced; - with a time shift, at least one second signal is simultaneously sent, on the one hand, to the image forming devices (C1, C2, ...Ci, ...Cn), which triggers another shooting of images in accordance with another set of shooting parameters taken in the list each imaging device, and, on the other hand, a second signal is sent to the spotlights, which triggers the illumination of the vessel by the spotlights in accordance with a different set of lighting parameters.