A method of observing and analyzing optical singularities includes illuminating an outside of a container by using a light-emitting surface of axial symmetry around a vertical axis (Z) parallel to the axes of symmetry of the containers, with a property of the emission that is detectable by the acquisition system(s) varying along a generator line of the light-emitting surface. For containers of low transmittance, taking the view image of the container portion by the image acquisition device receiving light beams comes from a portion of the light-emitting surface situated on the same side of the container. For containers of high transmittance, taking the view of the container portion by the image acquisition device receiving light beams comes from a portion of the light-emitting surface that is diametrically opposite relative to the container.

An empties sorting device includes a sorting table with a table surface, a feed section, and a discharge section. The discharge section has a dividing device with at least one section partition wall. The device further includes a conveying device, which is designed in such a way that the empties can be transferred from the feed section to the discharge section, and a guiding device with a guiding element, designed to be movable at least into a first guiding position associated with a first collecting channel, and a second guiding position associated with a second collecting channel, and a controller designed to control the movement of the guiding element into the first and second guiding positions in accordance with the type of empties. A discharge section partition wall between the collecting channels can be moved parallel to the table surface, thus allowing an associated collecting channel size to be varied.

A system for sorting objects is provided. For instance, the system includes a first and second sensor for observing the objects before and after sorting and a controller having an action agent module and a learning agent module. The controller updates, by the learning agent module, a policy matrix after sorting previously sorted objects. The policy matrix includes state data of the previously sorted objects including sensor data, an action performed by the sorting actuator, and a sorting score. The controller actuates the sorting actuator, calculates a specific sorting score based on a specific action performed by the sorting actuator, and updates the policy matrix to create an updated policy matrix including updated sorting rules. The updated policy matrix is used in sorting subsequent objects. In another example, the controller loads a policy matrix that was determined incrementally during sorting of previously sorted objects.

A test apparatus checks containers (13) of plastic and produced using the blow-moulding, filling and sealing methods. The containers are filled with fluid that can contain particulate contamination deposited on the container wall when the container (13) is still and floating freely in the fluid when the container (13) is moving and/or changing position owing to the movement. The contamination can be detected by a sensor (37). By a vibration device (23), the container (13) can be oscillated at a prespecifiable excitation frequency such that the particulate contamination (47) in the fluid can be detected.

A system for sorting objects is provided. For instance, the system includes a first and second sensor for observing the objects before and after sorting and a controller having an action agent module and a learning agent module. The controller updates, by the learning agent module, a policy matrix after sorting previously sorted objects. The policy matrix includes state data of the previously sorted objects including sensor data, an action performed by the sorting actuator, and a sorting score. The controller actuates the sorting actuator, calculates a specific sorting score based on a specific action performed by the sorting actuator, and updates the policy matrix to create an updated policy matrix including updated sorting rules. The updated policy matrix is used in sorting subsequent objects. In another example, the controller loads a policy matrix that was determined incrementally during sorting of previously sorted objects.

The invention is related to a method of producing glass products from glass product material. Said method comprises the steps of heating the glass product material, shaping the heated glass product material into a glass product, cooling the shaped glass product, and inspecting the shaped glass products by means of at least one sensor sensitive to infrared radiation In said inspecting step a first image of the glass product is taken under a first viewing angle. In addition a second image of said glass product is taken under a second viewing angle which is different from the first viewing angle. The first image is compared with the second image for eliminating parasite reflections. The first and second images are analyzed for detecting whether said glass product is defective or not. An assembly is described for performing said method of producing glass products from glass product material.

Disclosed is a system and a method for classifying articles in a flow of articles to be separated, the flow of articles to be separated being installed on a conveying device, including: —an image acquisition member installed so as to be able to acquire at least one image of a portion of the flow of articles to be separated; —a first overhanging light source, which emits in the visible spectrum and illuminates the portion of the flow of articles to be separated, the at least one image of which is acquired by the image acquisition member; a classification member capable of classifying the articles of the portion of the flow of articles to be separated according to the acquired image; and at least one second light source, of a different nature than the first light source, allowing additional visual information to appear on the acquired image.

A system (10) for loading different conveying tracks (2, 3, 4) of at least one in particular commercial conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′). The system (10) further includes a sorting arrangement for sorting the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) delivered to the loading regions of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) via the feed conveyor belt (11) according to previously defined or definable washware groups. The sorting arrangement is associated with at least one loading arrangement (13a, 13b, 13c) for automatically loading the different conveying tracks of the at least one conveyor dishwasher (1, 1′) with washware (9a, 9b, 9c) of one of the previously defined or definable washware groups.

A separating device of an optical testing unit for testing rotationally symmetrical test objects includes two corresponding pocket wheels, each having a plurality of pockets distributed uniformly over a circumference. The pocket wheels rotate synchronously in opposite directions about parallel axes in response to a drive. A continuous conveyor transports the test objects on a transporting plane. Depending on the geometry of the test objects, the distances between the respective pocket wheels and between the pocket wheels and the transporting plane are determined so that the test objects, which are fed via and accumulating section, are moved between the pocket wheels while being guided by two pockets of the two pocket wheels and are released by the two pockets downstream of an engagement section. Once released the test objects are accelerated to a higher transporting speed in an accelerating section of the continuous conveyor and are separated as a result.

A separating device of an optical testing unit for testing rotationally symmetrical test objects includes two corresponding pocket wheels, each having a plurality of pockets distributed uniformly over a circumference. The pocket wheels rotate synchronously in opposite directions about parallel axes in response to a drive. A continuous conveyor transports the test objects on a transporting plane. Depending on the geometry of the test objects, the distances between the respective pocket wheels and between the pocket wheels and the transporting plane are determined so that the test objects, which are fed via and accumulating section, are moved between the pocket wheels while being guided by two pockets of the two pocket wheels and are released by the two pockets downstream of an engagement section. Once released the test objects are accelerated to a higher transporting speed in an accelerating section of the continuous conveyor and are separated as a result.