Patent attributes
A container inspection apparatus and method measures both warp and off-level of an annular sealing surface of a container. The apparatus preferably has a warp gauge device and an off-level gauge device suspended over a container support and base by at least one column for the warp gauge device and a pillar for the off-level gauge device. When measuring for warp, the off-level gauge device is constructed and arranged to pivot clear of the warp gauge device, and vice-versa when measuring for off-level. The container preferably is held laterally or radially in place by two V-bracket assemblies, and vertically in place by a container support. The V-bracket assemblies are adjustable vertically to accommodate containers of differing diameters and heights. A spring loaded roller assembly supported by the pillar biases the sidewall of the container against the V-bracket assemblies assuring multiple points of contact properly to orient the container for distortion measurements by both the warp and off-level gauge devices. The V-bracket assemblies preferably are associated with a scale for orienting the containers of differing diameter along a common centerline utilized by both the warp and off-level gauge devices.