Empty container inspection for each output range

Krones has designed the new empty bottle inspector Smartronic with a maximum speed of 18,000 containers per hour specifically for mid-tier companies. It is equipped with high-resolution DART camera technology (Distributed Architecture for Real Time) which excels in terms of high grey scale resolution. Its compact dimensions allow for easy integration into already-existing filling lines.

Inspection of empty containers comprises four units:

• a base inspection unit,
• a sealing surface inspection unit,
• a residual liquid detection unit with high-frequency technology, and
• a sidewall inspection unit.

A Flexipush or a Directpush with counters are used for rejection. This control feature causes the machine to stop in the event of a rejection failure.
The base is inspected by means of stroboscobic illumination. For sealing surface inspection with CCD camera, the sealing surface is illuminated from above with LEDs in a dome-shaped array. This inspector model does with only one sidewall inspection module. A CCD camera records several views of a container via a mirror system. An integrated scuffing detection with rejection limitation that can be set in per cent generates a separate rejection signal. Colour and contour detection are possible, too, within a specific limit.
A high-frequency (HF) caustic detection feature distinguishes the conductivity of different media and is able to diagnose even a moist bottle. All relevant production data is saved to be on the safe side when it comes to product liability.

For glass fragment detection at high speeds, Krones still offers the full bottle inspector RotoCheck that detects the tiniest of glass fragments, with an edge length of 0.5 mm and larger in filled and closed containers, depending on the product involved and the bottle's shape and colour.