an x - ray inspection apparatus and method allow inspection of the contents of containers moving rapidly past an inspection station . the system includes an x - ray source pulsed by control logic , an image amplifier for converting an x - ray image of the container contents to a visible image and a solid - state camera for converting the visible image into video signals which are processed by a computer - controlled image processor . clear images are produced of the contents of rapidly moving containers by pulsing the x - ray source . control logic and a reject mechanism eject containers having foreign contaminants . image illuminance stability is enhanced by feedback signals from the vision computer which operate a motorized camera lens .