Method and apparatus for monitoring wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers

A method of inspecting blow-molded plastic containers for a container attribute to be determined from light absorption comprising

• providing a plastic container blow-molder having a plurality of molds and plurality of spindles,
• inspecting said container by impinging light thereon and detecting the portion of said light that passes through said container,
• converting said detected light into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor,
• comparing in said microprocessor said electrical signals with stored data regarding said desired container attribute and emitting output information regarding said container,
• delivering to said microprocessor signals received from sensors associated with said blow-molder relating to said mold and said spindle involved in making the container being inspected, and
• employing two distinct wavelengths of light in said inspection method.

A method of inspecting blow-molded plastic containers comprising

• providing a plastic container blow-molder having a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles,
• inspecting said container by impinging light thereon and detecting the portion of said light that passes through container,
• converting said detected light into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor,
• comparing in said microprocessor said electrical signals with stored data regarding desired said container attribute and emitting output information regarding said container attribute,
• delivering to said microprocessor signals received from sensors associated with said blow-molder relating to said mold and said spindle involved in making the container being inspected,
• inspecting a plurality of vertically spaced portions of said container substantially simultaneously,
• said microprocessor providing output information for each said vertically disposed portion, and
• visually displaying at least a portion of said microprocessor emitted output information.

Apparatus for inspecting a container attribute determined from light absorption of blow-molded plastic containers comprising

• a blow-molder having a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles,
• at least one source of light for impinging said light on said container from the exterior thereof,
• at least one detector for receiving light passing through two walls of said container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals,
• a microprocessor for receiving said electrical signals and determining the container attribute is within desired limits and emitting output information, and
• blow-molder sensors associated with said blow-molder to identify said molds and spindles and provide input to said microprocessor from which it can associate said container output information with the mold and spindle which made said container.

Apparatus for inspecting blow-molded plastic containers for a container attribute determined from light absorption comprising

• a blow-molder having a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles,
• at least one source of light for impinging said light on said container,
• at least one detector for receiving light passing through said container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals,
• a microprocessor for receiving said electrical signals and determining whether the container attribute values are within desired limits and emitting output information,
• blow-molder sensors associated with said blow-molder to identify said molds and spindles and provide input to said microprocessor from which it can associate said output information with the mold and spindle which made said container, and
• said source of light emitting light of two different wavelengths.

Apparatus for inspecting for a container attribute of a plastic container formed by a blow-molder which has a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles and is operably associated with blow-molder sensors comprising

• at least one source of light for impinging said light on said container from the exterior thereof,
• at least one detector for receiving light passing through two walls of said container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals,
• a microprocessor for receiving said electrical signals and determining whether the container attribute is within desired limits and emitting output information related to said electrical signals, and
• said microprocessor structured to receive input from said blow-molder sensors from which it can associate said container output information with the mold and spindle which made said container.

Apparatus for inspecting for a container attribute of a plastic container formed by a blow-molder which has a plurality of molds and a plurality of spindles and is operatively associated with blow-molder sensors comprising

• at least one source of light for impinging said light on said container,
• at least one detector for receiving light passing through said container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals,
• a microprocessor for receiving said electrical signals and determining whether the container attribute values are within desired limits and emitting output information related to said electrical signals,
• said microprocessor structured to receive input from said blow-molder sensors from which it can associate said output information with the mold and spindle which made said container, and
• said source of light emitting light of two different wavelengths.