The invention concerns a method for measuring the dimensions of empty glass containers (2) consisting in: selecting at least one region to be inspected of the container, transporting the containers, positioning, on either side of the region to be inspected, at least one focus of an X-ray generator tube and image sensors, acquiring, using image sensors, for each container during its displacement, at least three radiographic images of the inspected region, analyzing the at least three radiographic images so as to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a set of points to deduce at least one inner diameter of the neck and/or one thickness of the body.

An order processing system, such as may be used in a high-volume pharmacy, may include a material handling system, an accumulator, and a packing device. The material handling system may move containers through a plurality of container paths. The container sorting device may receive the containers, scan the plurality of containers to detect container identifiers, and separate the containers based on the container identifiers to travel through a first container exit path or a second container exit path. The accumulator may accumulate containers that traveled through the first container exit path and the second container exit path. The accumulator may include an accumulator scanning device for scanning the containers to detect the container identifiers. The accumulator may group the containers together based on the detected container identifiers and orders, and provide the grouped containers. The packing device may package the grouped containers along with literature associated with the orders.

A measurement method comprises acquiring, using image sensors (Cji) for each object during its displacement, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected. The images are obtained from at least three radiographic projections of the region to be inspected, the directions of projection (Dji) of which are different from each other. A computer system is provided with an a priori geometric model of the region to be inspected for the series of objects. Using the computer system and considering a constant attenuation coefficient and, from the a priori geometric model, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected, a digital geometric model of the region to be inspected is determined. For each object of the series, from the digital geometric model of the region to be inspected, at least one linear dimension measurement of the region to be inspected is determined.

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 device for sorting objects, such as used beverage or food containers, that are conveyed on a conveyor. The device includes a first guiding member which is pivotable about a first pivot axis and configured to, when the sorting device is situated in a first sorting position, guide containers in a first sorting direction, a second guiding member which is pivotable about a second pivot axis, a rotatable drive member, a first cam mechanism interconnecting the rotatable drive member with the first guiding member, and a second cam mechanism interconnecting the rotatable drive member with the second guiding member, wherein the device is configured to, upon rotation of the drive member, be actuated between the first sorting position and a second sorting position.

According to various embodiments, a compactor arrangement (202) may have the following: a compactor (102); an empty-container transport device (202t) for transporting empty containers (104) in the compactor arrangement (202) in a transport region (1000t) above the empty-container transport device (202t); a first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) which laterally delimits the transport region (1000t) and which is provided between the transport region (1000t) and the compactor (102), wherein the first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) defines a feed region (1000d) through which empty containers (104) can be fed laterally out of the transport region (1000t) to the compactor (102); and a guard device (1002) having a second anti-encroachment guard structure (1002s) which is configured such that, selectively, an encroachment from the direction of the transport region (1000t) into the feed region (1000d) can be prevented.

A reverse vending machine is provided that includes an interface cabinet having an inlet portal. At least one bin is provided for receiving the accepted recyclable container. A roller system identifies and sorts the recyclable containers. A crusher is driven by a motor with a mechanical coupling between the crusher and the motor. The crusher is adapted to receive various containers and is positioned intermediate between the roller system and the bin. A cart or frame displaceable relative to the interface cabinet, the crusher is mounted on the cart or the frame. A reverse vending machine in another embodiment includes a interface cabinet, the interface cabinet having an inlet portal for recyclable container input and a rejected container depository. At least one bin and a roller system are provided along with a wash system for cleaning components of the interface cabinet between the inlet portal and the bin.

The invention concerns a method for measuring the dimensions of empty glass containers (2) consisting in: selecting at least one region to be inspected of the container, transporting the containers, positioning, on either side of the region to be inspected, at least one focus of an X-ray generator tube and image sensors, acquiring, using image sensors, for each container during its displacement, at least three radiographic images of the inspected region, analyzing the at least three radiographic images so as to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a set of points to deduce at least one inner diameter of the neck and/or one thickness of the body.

A measurement method comprises acquiring, using image sensors (Cji) for each object during its displacement, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected. The images are obtained from at least three radiographic projections of the region to be inspected, the directions of projection (Dji) of which are different from each other. A computer system is provided with an a priori geometric model of the region to be inspected for the series of objects. Using the computer system and considering a constant attenuation coefficient and, from the a priori geometric model, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected, a digital geometric model of the region to be inspected is determined. For each object of the series, from the digital geometric model of the region to be inspected, at least one linear dimension measurement of the region to be inspected is determined.

A method for controlling a process for forming glass containers (2) includes the steps of extracting a so-called sample container, acquiring by means of a tomography apparatus (30) several X-ray images of the sample container from different projection angles, sending the X-ray images to a computer (38), and analyzing the X-ray images using a computer. A three-dimensional digital model of the sample container is constructed in a virtual reference frame on the basis of the X-ray images. The position of the three-dimensional digital model with respect to the position of the sample container in a mold reference frame is determined and the three-dimensional digital model is analyzed to determine at least one quality indicator (A) of the sample container.