The CI-Vision division of Mettler Toledo Inc. highlighted its latest precision measurement system for bottles and containers during NPE2012, measuring diameter, seal-surface profile and thread width.
The top-of-the-line system is designed for accuracy, and is especially suited for a product such as a pharmaceutical bottle that a supplier can't afford to have defects in, said Henry Ostholthoff, CI-Vision director of marketing.
“Previously you'd take it to a lab and do dimensional sampling. This you do online dynamically with 100 percent accuracy,” he said during an interview at NPE, held April 1-5 in Orlando.
The container-inspection system uses multiple cameras and proprietary software to complete all inspections simultaneously. It also has a quick-change feature. As an example, changing from a 25-ounce bottle to a 250-ounce bottle is handled by using a touch screen to search the system library. It automatically moves the conveyors, cameras and lights to predetermined optimum positions.
CI-Vision also displayed a visual closure-inspection system that measures closure dimensions, linear integrity and decoration quality at production line speeds of up to 2,500 parts per minute.
The system verifies each item to ensure reduced spoilage, leakage or contamination, and to make sure the printing and graphics are correct. Defective items are identified for downstream rejection.
The system comes with up to three cameras, lighting, a 17-inch touch screen and appropriately sensitive reject devices. The system can be mounted directly to the production line frame, in a clamshell for ambient light shielding or over-the-line to prevent vibration or operator interference.
The Mettler Toledo Hi-Speed division brought its XS2 checkweigher, which combines a variety of conveyor sizes with an electro-magnetic force restoration weigh cell. It is of modular construction and can weigh products up to 600 grams at a production rate of up to 400 packages a minute.
The Mettler Toledo Safeline division showed its Power-PhasePRO metal detector, which can find non-magnetic stainless steel. Multiple products can be run at a single setting, eliminating the need to reset for product changes. Power-PhasePRO comes with a built-in technology monitor that warns of maintenance needs before failure.
“It is designed to inspect plastic pellets to find any metal inclusive prior to molding,” said Oscar Jeter, Safeline national sales manager.
Ci-Vision, Hi-Speed and Safeline are all part of Mettler Toledo's Product Inspection Group, which provides systems to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal-care, plastics and chemical industries.
Mettler Toledo's lab division showed the latest development for microscopic thermal analysis, a flash differential scanning calorimeter, the Flash DSC 1, which allows for the measuring and investigation of physical transitions and chemical reactions.
The chip can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 95 degees C to 450 degrees C. It has ultrahigh cooling and heating rates and a fast response sensor.
