"What, sir, would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I have not the time to listen to such nonsense."
Napoleon Bonaparte ; When told of the Robert Fulton steamboat
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7456859 | Image pickup device The present invention is an image pickup device provided with a CMOS camera which is provided with a telecentric lens to photograph a sample put in a levitation state at the center inside an electrostatic levitation furnace, a metal halide light source which is posi... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7342376 | Glass machinery motor control A machine for operating on a glass bottle. A carriage is displaceable by a servo motor having three lead lines. The rotation of the servo motor is stopped when power has been removed by shorting regenerative resistors to the three motor leads. The stopped servo moto... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7342654 | Detection of impurities in cylindrically shaped transparent media The invention relates to a system and method of detecting impurities in a cylindrically shaped transparent medium, wherein the cylindrically shaped transparent medium is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation, and the radiation having components emerging radiall... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7321679 | Machine for inspecting glass bottles A glass container inspection machine is disclosed for inspecting glass stippled bottles for defects. Stippled bottles are supported at an inspection station and are illuminated with a light source. The stippled bottle is imaged a pixel matrix with the pixels of the ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7248348 | Detection method and device for detecting quality of optical element A detection method for detecting quality of an optical element includes the following steps. Firstly, a point light source is provided. Then, the point light source is allowed to penetrate through the optical element, thereby forming a first optical image on an opti... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7245757 | Method and device for detecting container movement A method and a device for detecting containers, e.g. bottles of glass or plastics, or cans made of metal, wood, glass or plastics, which for recycling of materials thereof or reuse thereof are moved in a lying posture and with their axis parallel to direction of tra... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7067323 | System and method for automated headspace analysis A system and method for nondestructive automated headspace analysis. The system includes a container conveyor that conveys a plurality of generally optically transparent sealed test containers through a pre-inspection region, an inspection region and a post-inspecti... | 06/27/2006 |
| 6989857 | Container inspection machine An inspection system completes two inspections with a single camera. In one inspection polarized light illuminates the side wall of a bottle, passes through a pair of electrode surfaces on either side of a ferroelectric crystal which do not change the polarity and p... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6967319 | Device for checking the neck of a container for the presence of an incline A device for checking a container neck for the presence of an incline is disclosed. A pressure-contact head, which can be lowered onto the container, has means for holding and centering the container. A checking part, which can be moved angularly relative to the hor... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6959108 | Image based defect detection system In an inspection system, workpieces to be inspected are consecutively and automatically launched to pass unsupported through the field of view of a plurality of cameras. As a workpiece passes through the field of view of the cameras, a sensor is activated which comm... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6912303 | Method for testing the reliability of a testing apparatus, especially an empty bottle inspector To test the reliability of a testing apparatus which tests a large number of objects of the same type for one feature, generates a feature signal for each object and checks the feature signal for fulfilment of a first condition, a test object is conducted to the tes... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6873719 | Image acquisition apparatus Image acquisition apparatus is used to obtain images of contents of containers for use in, for example, antibiotic susceptibility testing. The apparatus has image capture means, such as a scanner (6) for obtaining images of the contents of the containers whic... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6597804 | Method for testing the reliability of a testing apparatus especially an empty bottle inspector To test the reliability of a testing apparatus which checks multiple objects of the same type for one set feature, generates a feature signal for each object and checks the feature signal with respect to fulfillment of one first set condition, a test obje... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6571001 | System for detecting photocopied or laser-printed documents A system for distinguishing photocopied or laser-printed documents from original documents produced by offset printing, handwriting, or typewriting. The system scans a document at low-resolution and at high-resolution to produce a low-resolution and a hig... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6519356 | System and method for inspecting cans A system and method inspects containers and cans and includes a conveyor for advancing a plurality of containers into an inspection area. A sensor senses when a can has advanced into the inspection area. At least one light source illuminates the exterior ... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6466691 | Method for testing the reliability of a testing apparatus, specially an empty bottle inspecting device To test the reliability of a testing apparatus which tests a large number of objects of the same type for one feature by generating a feature signal for each object and checking the feature signal for fulfilment of a first condition, a test signal is deri... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6396949 | Machine vision methods for image segmentation using multiple images Machine vision methods for segmenting an image include the steps of generating a first image of the background of an object, generating a second image of the object and background, and subtracting the second image from the first image. The methods are cha... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6301380 | Fold inspection device for transparent overwrap film An imaging apparatus and process for inspecting polymeric film seals and folds. Incident light is applied to the package to cause either reflected or transmitted light to reflect a pass through the poly wrap. The wrap affects the transmitted or reflected ... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6295127 | Apparatus for measuring can seams Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring a can seam, wherein the seam of a can positioned on a measuring table by way of the seam, sawn open radially in a segment-like manner at least two to three times on the circumference, is monitored and measured by me... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6239870 | Method for identifying materials, impurities and related defects with diffuse dispersion transparent objects Diffusely scattering defects are to be detected in items made from transparent material, e.g. drinks bottles. To this end, the items (10) are inspected using a light source (12) and a camera (16), a contrast pattern (14) being arranged between the light s... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6154274 | Lens inspection system A system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses and including transport, illumination, imaging and image processing subsystems. The transport system moves a multitude of ophthalmic lenses along a predetermined path to move each of those lenses, one at a time, i... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6137900 | Method and device for detecting liquid containers In a reverse vending apparatus for detecting containers, e.g., bottles of glass or plastic, or packaging made of metal, wood, glass or plastic which for the recycling of materials or reuse of the container are inserted in the machine and conveyed past a d... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6122048 | Integral field lens illumination for video inspection A video inspection system is provided wherein light from a light source is directed through a field lens. The field lens directs the incident light first in the direction of an object under inspection and then, after reflecting from said object, redirecti... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6049379 | Method for inspecting translucent objects using imaging techniques A method is disclosed for detecting flaws in translucent objects. An image generating device is used to form an image of the object. A target area and a control area of the image are then compared to determine the relative brightness of each. If the relat... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6043840 | Apparatus and method for characterizing fiber crimps Apparatus and method are described for measuring and controlling the crimp characteristics of a moving crimped tow. A light source illuminates a section of the moving crimped tow and at least one camera acquires a video image of the tow. The acquired imag... | 03/28/2000 |
| 5935285 | Method for inspecting manufactured articles A method is disclosed for detecting the cycling of a manufacturing machine, such as a bottle manufacturing machine, without the need for a mechanical detection device. An imaging device, which may also be used to inspect products manufactured by the manuf... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5917602 | System and method for image acquisition for inspection of articles on a moving conveyor A system and method for inspecting a moving container on a conveyor. An encoder assembly detects movement of the conveyor and generates a signal representative of the speed of the container as a function of the movement of the conveyor. A light source adj... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5845002 | Method and apparatus for detecting surface features of translucent objects The topographic surface features of a translucent object, such as a citrus fruit with a peel, are scanned and evaluated to permit the classification thereof according to its surface features. In the case of citrus fruit, the coarseness or pebbliness, puff... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5822056 | Inspection apparatus with refractor for illuminating can flange An inspection apparatus for measuring the flange of a can prior to forming the flange into a radially outward directed flange includes a light generating element for generating generally parallel light rays of a light beam along an axis and a refractor fo... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5793630 | High precision spatially defined data transfer system A system for transferring digital information to spatially localizable portable electronic devices has a plurality of portable electronic devices, with each portable electronic device supporting wireless communication. A spatial localizing module determin... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5781230 | Method and apparatus for illuminating translucent and semi-transparent material A machine vision system and method of enhancing the imaging of an article which is comprised of optically translucent or semi-transparent material. Generally, the system includes a vision processor, a video camera, a computer, and an illuminator. The illu... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5734467 | Inspection apparatus for high temperature environments A bottle inspection method is provided which is capable of compensating for random variations in the orientation and position of objects being inspected, such as glass bottles on a conveyor. The inspection device creates an image of the object and then an... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5729340 | Bottle inspection machine An inspection machine for transilluminatable bottles inspects the sidewalls of bottles by transmitting a diffused beam of light through the sidewall and using a plurality of mirrors appropriately arranged for detecting or recording the images emergent fro... | 03/17/1998 |
| 5717486 | Process for removing returnable containers from circulation utilizing image processing of brightness values for inspection windows To detect damage in the bottom region of a plastic bottle a picture of the bottom region is taken by means of a camera. The resulting image is then tested for brightness pixel by pixel in a predetermined inspection area. Large deviations of the test curve... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5717781 | Ophthalmic lens inspection method and apparatus Disclosed is an ophthalmic lens inspection method and apparatus comprising a camera to capture an image of an ophthalmic lens which has been illuminated by a light source. Location and intensity at each camera pixel is converted to an electrical quantity ... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5714998 | Video inspection system for conveyors An inspection system for use with a moving conveyor (20) having a video camera (80) mounted above the conveyor (20) and first and second prisms (60, 62) mounted below the camera (80) but above the part (28) to be inspected. The prisms (60, 62) are oriente... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5671288 | Method and apparatus for assessing slide and specimen preparation quality An automated biological specimen screener reports an assessment of slide and specimen preparation and quality. The automated biological specimen screener measures, parameters which reflect slide physical characteristics, specimen collection quality, and s... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5661819 | Cylindrical container inner surface tester having compensation for measurements made at oblique angles A corner area between the bottom and the side of a cylindrical container is set as a test area. An objective lens of a TV camera is mounted to form a predetermined angle with the central axis of the cylindrical container. An image is generated on the scre... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5617204 | Method for inspecting neck portion of molded bottle An inspection method for determining the presence and type of defects in the lip of a bottle. A CCD sensor and a light source are arranged at one side of the bottle above the lip, and additional light sources are arranged at the other side of the bottle a... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5608815 | Device for testing an image of a test object An image testing device captures an image of a test object using a TV camera and raster-scans the image to search the test object for a scratch or spot. The device protects its test precision from being deteriorated by lowered brightness of an illuminator... | 03/04/1997 |