To provide a means that is less likely to misidentify a crack as a foreign matter during an image inspection in which a vibration is applied to a powder contained in a bag-like container. A foreign matter inspection system includes a vibration device configured to apply a vibration to a container, a photography device configured to optically photograph the inside of the container through a transparent area, and a determination device configured to determine whether a foreign matter is present inside the container based on an image of the container photographed by the photography device. The vibration device alternately applies weak vibrations W and strong vibrations S to the container, and the determination device determines whether the foreign matter is present inside the container based on the image of the container photographed by the photography device when the vibration device applies the weak vibrations W.

This invention discloses a system and method for detecting a cover with an abnormal condition. The system includes a transport track for defining a sliding direction of at least one cover with a detection surface. The transport track has a detection area and a cover removal area, and includes a pair of bottom rails and a pair of side rails. The pair of bottom rails support the cover at an inclination angle so that the cover slides on the pair of bottom rails. The cover is located between the pair of side rails, and the sliding direction of the cover is defined by the pair of side rails. The detection area is used for detecting the detection surface of the cover, and the cover removal area has an outlet for removing a cover with an abnormal condition determined based on a detection result of the detection surface thereof.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.

A robotic inspection platform comprises a robotic arm, an imager, and a controller. The controller causes the robotic arm to retrieve, using its end effector, a container, and to manipulate the container such that the container is sequentially placed in a plurality of orientations while in view of the imager. The controller also causes the imager to capture images, with each of the images being captured while the container is in a respective one of the orientations. The controller also determines one or more attributes of the container, and/or a sample within the container, by analyzing the images using a pattern recognition model and, based on the attribute(s), determines whether the container and/or sample satisfies one or more criteria. If the container and/or sample fails to satisfy the criteria, the controller causes the robotic arm to place the container in an area (e.g., bin) reserved for rejected containers and/or samples.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.

Embodiments of the present disclosure address problems presented by contaminants, such as dirt and debris, by providing an optical apparatus with techniques and methodologies for self-cleaning. In that regard, embodiments of the present disclosure employ techniques and methodologies for maintaining a very thin (e.g., few microns thick) layer of liquid, such as a non-stick liquid, on an optical window of an optical body that shields or protects an optical device.

The automatic inspection machine for containers and contents thereof, comprises a serial horizontal conveyor line of the containers oriented with a vertical axis through at least one inspection station comprising lighting means of the containers, at least one television camera for acquiring images of the illuminated containers, the lighting means comprising a first, a second and at least a third lighting device.

To provide a means that is less likely to misidentify a crack as a foreign substance during an image checking in which a vibration is applied to a powder contained in a bag-like container. A foreign substance checking system includes a vibration device configured to apply a vibration to a container, a photography device configured to optically photograph the inside of the container through a transparent region from the outside, and a determination device configured to determine whether a foreign substance is present inside the container based on an image of the container photographed by the photography device. The vibration device includes a rotating shaft and a hammer rotating in conjunction with the rotating shaft and colliding with the container. A portion of an outer surface of the hammer to abut on the container has a flat surface.

Provided is a can inner surface-coating apparatus with which inspection of bottomed cylinders can be favorably performed in parallel without being affected by the coating process. In the can inner surface-coating apparatus, inspection cameras to be used for inspection following coating of the inner surface of a bottomed cylinder that will become the body of a can or bottle-shaped can are disposed above spray devices that are used for coating the inner surface of bottomed cylinders. Moreover, the coating area including the spray devices and the inspection area including the inspection cameras are covered with a cover. By supplying air inside the cover from the upper part (air supply port) of the inspection area and discharging the air out of the cover from the lower part (coating mist collection duct) of the coating area, an air flow is formed from the upper part of the inspection area to the lower part of the coating area.

An inspection apparatus includes a grasping unit configured to grasp a container in which a liquid is charged, an inclination unit configured to at least incline the container around a first axis with the grasping unit grasping the container, and a change unit configured to change an area of the container imaged by an imaging apparatus by changing relative orientations of the container and the imaging apparatus around a second axis different from the first axis.