Banner Engineering was recently approached by a company that brews and bottles many popular brands of beer in the United States to supply a solution for a unique problem they had on high speed rotary bottle fillers.
The rotary fillers dispense beer into bottles travelling at speeds of up to 900 bottles per minute. Periodically a spreader washer or a vent tube may become loose and drop into a bottle or onto the line. Beer will continue to dispense but the bottles will not fill correctly and product will be wasted. If undetected, affected bottles may be capped, packaged and even shipped, resulting in the product having to be recalled. The company needed a solution capable of detecting spreader washers on the vent tubes as well as loose or missing tubes. However, the movement of the rotary filler and the wet wash-down environment made close proximity deployments difficult and the range required for a remote solution could compromise inspection reliability.
Banner offered the popular iVu TG vision sensor as a solution. The company installed an iVu sensor at target level, with two air knives to protect it from spray and prevent associated interference. A 50 mm C-Mount lens with extender lengthens the sensor’s working distance and allows it to be deployed away from the target while providing the resolution needed to detect loose or missing vent tubes as well as missing spreader washers.
Configured as an area sensor, the iVu TG inspects for spreader washer and vent tube location and presence within 16 milliseconds. The operator defines the region of interest using the remote 90 mm diagonal colour flat-panel touch screen. If a washer drops below the region – indicating a loose tube – or if the washer is missing, an output from the iVu is used to stop the filler. The operator can then remove any affected product, correct the problem and get the filler working again with minimal downtime.
Distance sensor for confined spaces ifm - South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
The O6D100 from ifm has been designed as a powerful all-rounder for typical applications in object detection, distance measurement and positioning.
Read more...Long-range laser distance measuring sensor Vepac Electronics
Sensors & Transducers
The MS-100A is a long-range laser distance measuring sensor with a range of 150 to 1000 mm. This sensor excels in applications requiring extended measurement capabilities, such as quality control and logistics.
Read more...Listening for damage to wind turbines
Sensors & Transducers
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, working in concert with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems, has developed a solution that can be used to identify cracks and breakage inside wind turbine blades remotely at an early stage.
Read more...Verification using Heartbeat Technology is a breeze Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Heartbeat Technology reflects Endress+Hauser’s long-term commitment to enhancing measurement reliability and efficiency across a growing product portfolio.
Read more...Enhancing efficiency and reliability in the energy sector VEGA Controls SA
Sensors & Transducers
VEGA offers practical, reliable solutions through specialised measuring instruments and deep industry know-how, all tailored to help energy companies keep costs under control while meeting strict regulatory standards.
Read more...Condition monitoring for hydroelectric plants ifm - South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
The energy company Compagnia Valdostana delle Acque generates electricity in the region’s 32 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of over 900 MW. Vibration sensors from ifm monitor the maintenance requirements of the turbines and power generators at all times.
Read more...Precision sensing for water treatment ifm - South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
ifm electronic has introduced two next-generation sensors designed for South Africa’s bulk and wastewater sector, engineered to withstand harsh environments and deliver long-term reliability.
Read more...The next generation of inductive scanning encoder solutions ATI Systems
Editor's Choice Sensors & Transducers
With the launch of the ECI 1122 and EQI 1134 rotary encoders, positioning specialist, HEIDENHAIN has introduced a new benchmark in inductive scanning technology that raises the bar for motion control and precision automation.
Read more...Telco sensors for blocked/empty chute detection
Sensors & Transducers
Telco sensors overcome the problems of contaminated environments through powerful high-performance infrared sensors that ensure penetration of harsh pollution and guarantee reliable detectio
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version