Non-contact perforation/pinhole detection system for opaque vessels

A perforate defect detection system comprising:

• a light source for generating light along a general direction of propagation;
• securing means for securing the light source relative to an illumination area so as to illuminate at least a portion of an interior surface of an opaque container disposed in the illumination area;
• a conveyor communicating a generally continuous series of similar containers to the illumination area;
• a detector detecting a presence of a container in the illumination area;
• a camera for acquiring an image;
• a lens focussing light to the camera;
• means for securing the lens such that the lens is directed to at least a portion of an exterior surface, generally perpendicularly to the direction of propagation of light from the light source, of each container disposed in the illumination area;
• and
• shutter means for acquiring a still image of the interior of each container disposed in the illumination area such that a perforate defect in the exterior surface causes an artifact in the still image as a result of point source illumination from such perforate defect.

A method of detecting perforate defects in a wall of a container comprising the steps of:

• communicating a generally continuous series of similar containers to an illumination area;
• detecting a presence of an opaque container in the illumination area;
• illuminating, via a light source, at least a portion of an exterior surface of each container disposed in the illumination area, which exterior surface is generally perpendicular to a direction of propagation of light from the light source;
• isolating an interior portion of each container disposed in the illumination area from light of the light source;
• acquiring an image, via a camera, of an interior portion of container having an exterior surface illuminated by the light source, an axis of the camera being generally perpendicular to the direction of propagation of light from the light source, such that a perforate defect in the exterior surface causes an artifact in the image as a result of point source illumination from such perforate defect.

A method of detecting perforate defects in a wall of a container comprising the steps of:

• communicating a generally continuous series of similar containers to an illumination area;
• detecting a presence of a container in the illumination area;
• illuminating, via a light source, an interior surface of each container disposed in the illumination area by providing light thereto generally along a preselected direction of propagation;
• isolating an exterior portion of each container disposed in the illumination area from light of the light source;
• acquiring an image, via a camera, of an exterior portion of container having an interior surface illuminated by the light source, an axis of the camera being disposed generally perpendicularly to the preselected direction of propagation such that a perforate defect in the exterior surface causes an artifact in the image as a result of point source illumination from such perforate defect.