Smartronic – empty container inspection in the low 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 with a height between 150 and 350 mm and a diameter between 50 and 80 mm 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. The smallest chip length to be detected can be individually adjusted. 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. A test container programme using multifunctional containers in the machine checks the inspection results. All relevant production data is saved to be on the safe side when it comes to product liability.
A Smartronic empty bottle inspector can be maintained via Krones Teleservice.