New Jenoptik label discrimination system boosts can production

Citation

(2005), "New Jenoptik label discrimination system boosts can production", Sensor Review, Vol. 25 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2005.08725bad.002

New Jenoptik label discrimination system boosts can production

New Jenoptik label discrimination system boosts can production

Keywords: Machine vision, Packaging

Jenoptik has developed a label discrimination system (LDS) to sort cans during the manufacturing process. The new LDS identifies and sorts cans by their barcodes, thus avoiding many of the pitfalls of conventional colour or image identification systems and reducing the percentage of cans which are rejected unnecessarily (see Plate 2).

Modern can production demands the highest manufacturing efficiency, especially in terms of the filling process, where safety requirements are paramount. Efficient sorting in production is vital to ensure the integrity of a product. Also, mixed production or changes in can design often mean special requirements in process control.

Plate 2 Jenoptik's label discrimination system

Traditional colour or image identification systems decide which way to sort on the basis of threshold values. Depending on the definition of the threshold value and the belt speed in production, the sorting speed can be increased, but this inevitably causes increased wastage by rejecting a higher number of acceptable cans. There is also no guarantee that the system will pick up 100 per cent of the cans that should be rejected.

The limitations of these conventional sorting systems led Jenoptik to develop its label discrimination system which identifies and sorts cans by barcode. The cans pass a scanner box incorporating eight optically-isolated laser scanners which read the codes. These scanners are able to identify all standard barcodes, including EAN codes, and can safely recognise cans with special finishes such as gold or clear varnish coating. The system can also recognise codes regardless of the orientation of the label.

The LDS system can discriminate between two different reference barcodes and other barcodes or illegible barcodes. The reference codes are inputted automatically by an upstream scanner or through any network PC. Cans identified as carrying a different code are removed from the production line by a “blow- off” unit, eliminating 100 per cent of “foreign” cans and less than 0.1 per cent of “good” cans. Maximum belt speed is 3.7m, or about 40 cans, per second. “Foreign” or cans with illegible barcodes are tracked until a control system confirms that they have been removed from the belt.

This high level of accuracy in selection removes the need for manual monitoring of the belt and means belt stoppage is at a minimum when using cans of a different design. This helps to make small-batch production much more economical. Self-monitoring of each module means that faults are quickly identified and warning signals ensure that they can be quickly rectified.

Jenoptik's new label discrimination system can be completely integrated within the production line control system. This enables statistical data, such as the total number of cans inspected including those rejected, to be logged. As a result, the system achieves sustained improvement in the control efficiency and flexibility of can production and is already in use by a market leader.

Commenting on Jenopik's new label discrimination system, Bill Hogan, UK Director, says “Manufacturing efficiency is paramount in modern can manufacturing plants. Whilst throughput speeds have always been important, the potential for substantial product liability claims has brought a particular focus on efficient control. Our new LDS provides a unique answer to current canning industry concerns and UK firms have already shown considerable interest.”

For further information, please contact: Bill Hogan, Jenoptik (UK) Limited. Tel: 01462 650730; Fax: 01462 650731; web site: www.jenopitk-uk.com