Product quality, verification and package inspection
February 2018
Sensors & Transducers
In addition to improving material handling, logistics efficiency, product quality and package safety and integrity, machine vision can also be implemented on the processing side to reduce scrap, improve productivity and quality control, as well as enhance brand image.
For example, vision systems can sort food and beverage products by colour or shape. It can detect defects, verify proper assembly, detect fill levels, count and provide guidance for robotic pick and place or palletising operations to achieve improved manufacturing and packaging flexibility.
Another application is orienting bottles based on shape when they enter the machine in random positions. Machine vision can identify correctly facing bottles and allow them to pass through. Incorrectly facing bottles are detected by the vision sensor which signals an actuator mechanism to rotate the bottle to the correct orientation.
Process control and supply chain management
The better and more precise the track and trace system, the faster users can identify and resolve problems. If profit margins are narrow, reduced manufacturing and supply chain costs can often be the difference between profit and loss.
Traceability
• Improves management of work in process.
• Reduces inventory.
• Optimises availability and use of production tools.
• Minimises distribution of non-conforming products.
Cognex offers the widest range of vision and ID products available from a single source to provide a solution for every application and budget.
Application examples
• Verify presence of caps and safety seals on bottles.
• Colour sorting and inspection.
• Automate production with the ability to sort products or orient them for filling or packaging.
• Detect presence of inserted or attached leaflets on packaging.
• Check for missing, incorrect, or damaged product.
• Inspect for particulates or flawed product in bottles and other packaging.
• Check label position.
For more information contact Westplex, +27 (0)11 787 0473, info@westplex.co.za, www.westplex.co.za
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