Abstract

Apparatus and method for inspecting the finish of transparent containers, particularly glass containers, which include facility for directing diffused light energy laterally through the container finish as the container is rotated about its central axis. A camera includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array angulated with respect to the container axis to view the external and internal finish wall surfaces, the latter through the open container mouth. Individual elements of the camera linear array are sampled by an information processor at increments of container rotation, and corresponding data indicative of light intensity at each element is stored in an array memory as a combined function of element number and scan increment. Such data is compared following completion of container rotation to standard data indicative of acceptable container finish, and a reject signal is generated if such comparison exceeds an operator adjustable threshold.