This invention relates to a system of determining which of a plurality of molds produced a particular container. A concentric ring code is molded into the bottom of each container as it is produced. The containers are then passed by a reading station, where light whose intensity is proportional to the angle of incidence is projected onto the bottom of the container. Readings are taken of the variation of intensity of light reflected to a particular point in order to determine the position of rings on the container. Suitable electronics then decode the ring position to determine the container code, thus allowing identification of the mold which produced each container.

A system is disclosed for identifying articles emanating in a predetermined sequence from a plurality of sources and formed into rows prior to conveyance to an identification area. The system is particularly useful for identifying glass bottles and, more particularly, for remote marking of defective glass bottles that emanate from glass forming molds so that the defective bottles can be later separated from acceptable ware. The electronic system utilized generates a series of pulses corresponding to formation of each row of bottles to be conveyed and these pulses are coupled to a shift register used for signal delay with the shift register also receiving pulses that are timewise related to the rate of row conveyance. The delayed pulse output from the shift register is coupled through a delay selector switch and fine adjust delay so that the pulse output is delayed a time equivalent to that required from formation of each conveyed row until that conveyed row arrives at the marking, or identification, area.

A card inspecting device in the card reader used as the numerical control device in which cards are arranged in the vertical position in the card magazine and beam from the surface of the card is refracted by the prism so that the letters on the card can be viewed by the operator.

Bottles transparent to a laser beam are molded with marks on a wall thereof. The marks serve to identify each bottle with its respective mold. The bottles are rotated and moved in a procession through an inspection area where a laser beam is directed through the wall of each bottle so that the beam strikes each of the marks. Each mark causes the laser beam to spread as the beam strikes the mark and passes through the bottle. As the laser beam emerges from the bottle, the beam is directed to a sensor which generates a digital output signal corresponding to the distribution of the marks on the bottle. Any bottle may be ejected from the procession according to the sensor output.

Apparatus for identifying which of a plurality of moulds moulded a particular container includes such moulded containers with coded combinations of lens members in their bottom, the lens members being illuminated to focus light to an optical system terminating at a photosensitive device which emits pulses as the lens members are sequentially scanned.