Armstrong Optical, UK representative of Precitec Optronik, has supplied the Chrocodile M4 system for measuring the dimensions of glass bottles and containers to a major European manufacturer.
Although the manufacturer was already using an ultrasonic method it was not reliable enough, too intrusive and too slow for the required line speeds.
By fitting the Chrocodile M4 thickness measuring system, a machine capable of non-contact inspection of up to 350 non-round containers per minute for thickness, glass shape, roundness and glass quality was developed with four simultaneous- operation measurement probes.
This measuring system is able to read, and reliably inspect, all hollow containers; bottles can be various shapes and colours and may have steeply sloping surfaces or angled sides.
All round or non-round individually formed products can be measured, and inspection can cover all areas of the product.
Varying the distance from the optical probe or changing the colour of the bottles being inspected will have no effect on accuracy - neither does the temperature of the glass or the shimmering effects due to super-heated air from ovens.
The Chrocodile M4 captures the data just as reliably at the cold end of hollow glass production as it does inline at the hot end of the bottle production belt.
The sensor is able to report any quality defects detected to the process control system via RS232 and RS422 interfaces.
This can be achieved without the need to take specimens during the production process and readjust the plant after the production of a number of defective products.
Chrocodile sensors can easily be integrated into existing plants, and the sensors have been calibrated in the factory and are designed for years of maintenance-free operation.
A comprehensive software package can be supplied for the automatic analysis of measured values based on the experience gained in several hundred installations of the Chrocodile series of sensors.
The sensor's full command set and DLLs are available for use by plant designers so that the Chrocodile M4 in its 19-inch rack can easily be incorporated into existing inspection stations.
