Apparatus and method for inspecting cans

An apparatus for inspecting a non-transparent and reflective can, having a transport device which transports the can along a predetermined transport path, having an illumination device which illuminates the can to be inspected and radiates radiation through an opening in the can onto an inner base wall of the can and having an image recording device, which records at least one spatially resolved image of the radiation irradiated by the illumination device onto the inner base wall and reflected by the inner base wall and/or which records a spatially resolved image of the inner base wall illuminated by the illumination device, wherein the apparatus has a first polarization device in a beam path between a light source of the illumination device and the inner base wall in such a way that the radiation reaching the inner base wall is polarized, wherein the illumination device being configured in such a way that a proportion of the radiation irradiated into the can by the illumination device reaches the inner base wall, and wherein the radiation irradiated into the can by the illumination device is reflected only at the inner base wall before it reaches the image recording device.