Optical inspection of container dimensional parameters

摘要

Apparatus for inspecting the inside diameter of a container mouth (12) that includes a light source (16) for directing light energy into the container, and a light sensor (22) disposed with respect to the source and the container to receive light energy transmitted out of the container (14) through the mouth. A telecentric lens (26) directs onto the light sensor light energy transmitted through the container mouth substantially axially of the container mouth. The light energy is focused through an iris (26) onto a matrix array sensor (24), which develops a two-dimensional image of the container mouth. The matrix array sensor is coupled to image processing electronics (30) for determining or calculating a circle (12c) of greatest diameter that will fit within the two-dimensional image of the container mouth, and treating such circle ss indicative of the effective diameter of the container mouth.