HEUFT eXaminer – Foreign Object Inspection

HEUFT eXaminer II XS
Pulsed X-rays in a confined space: slim turnkey solution for a careful and precise foreign object detection at the end of the line.

The HEUFT eXaminer II XS is the space-saving alternative especially for beverage cans and cartons, stand-up pouches and other full containers with straightforward packaging structures. The modular, flexibly configurable stand-alone system of the new generation makes the further optimised pulsed X-ray technology, only available from HEUFT, for the reliable identification of foreign objects also suitable for use in filling plants with little space at the end of the line.

Foreign object detection on the base

Oblique flash and clear vision: unfolded view of the bottom of the container.
Cans, composite packaging and stand-up pouches: it is clear where small pieces of metal, glass splinters, hard plastic fragments and other high density foreign objects which might have entered such primary packaging material, when filled with liquid contents, can be found. Gravity pulls them down to the flat bottom of the respective beverage packaging. A single lateral X-ray flash module which can be flexibly positioned and aligned is all that is needed to reliably detect them there.

The further optimised pulsed radiometric technology, which only HEUFT has to offer, with new high-voltage components, X-ray generators and full-field image converters achieves more coverage, resolution and sensitivity than ever before with minimum radiation and a significantly extended lifetime. Only one single X-ray pulse lasting a millisecond is directed at the lower part of the container, which is free standing on the moving conveyor, from the side and at exactly the right moment in order to inspect its entire base without gaps. The HEUFT reflexx² image processing system in combination with an oblique alignment during the flashing process produces an “unfolded” base view so that even flat objects which are close to the bottom can be identified reliably and are clearly visible in the view. An inspection covering the complete fill volume can even be achieved with just one X-ray pulse in the case of smaller cans and stand-up pouches.

Lateral inspection with full coverage.

A gapless examination: complete inspection withour blind spots.
Smoothies, dairy drinks and liquid food: a base inspection alone may not be sufficient in order to detect foreign objects in full containers with such contents. In this case the foreign objects do not always sink directly to the bottom of the packaging but can also get stuck further up in the more or less paste-like product or remain on the filling line. And a gapless complete inspection of the full container volume is often advisable even for completely liquid products, for example, in order to also detect packaging defects and product incompleteness or to carry out the first determination of the filling quantity. For this purpose a second detection module with electric height adjustment and exact alignment capability can be easily integrated into the extremely space-saving HEUFT eXaminer II XS casing, directly on the conveyor, the X-ray pulse of which covers the entire upper area of the container.

This makes a complete inspection without blind spots and a straight view of the sensitive area around the filling line possible even in the case of higher full packaging materials. Risks to the product safety can even be seen twice where the two X-ray flashes overlap – from two different perspectives thus again increasing the detection accuracy of the careful pulsed radiometric inspection significantly. The HEUFT reflexx A.I image processing system creates real added value in the course of this by dividing the detected objects into different contrast categories and thus reliably differentiating between critical contaminants based on their X-ray absorptivity and harmless product inhomogeneities or packaging structures.

Fault rejection

Preventing recalls: the reliable rejection of faulty containers.
Fast, careful and accurate: highest precision when detecting faults is only effective if the products in question are also removed afterwards. The single-segment and multi-segment rejection systems of the HEUFT rejector series deal with this both precisely and carefully.

Product monitoring and self-tests

Playing it safe: exact product tracking and regular self-tests.
Always knowing the current location of a particular product: each one is tracked precisely for this. This ensures that none remain uninspected.

The integrated reject verification checks that each product identified as faulty is really removed. Standard test programs guarantee a regular examination of the detection performance. Network-based continuous documenting and long-term archiving of the results.

Easy brand changes.

Adapting automatically: self-acting and assisted format changes.
Brand and format changes are the order of the day in modern beverage filling plants. The higher-level HEUFT SPECTRUM II control unit of the HEUFT eXaminer II XS already has an unprecedented level of automation and support for the user in order to carry them out quickly, easily and without errors: this means, for example, that the height and alignment of the upper X-ray flash module adapt automatically to the changed container format. The HEUFT NaVi user guidance provides the user with audiovisual step-by-step assistance which not only makes brand changes simply easy.

Optional additional functions.

Detecting even more: extensions to the range of functions.
The HEUFT eXaminer II XS can be very easily integrated even into small installation gaps because the actual X-ray station is accommodated directly on the conveyor in an extremely space-saving manner. Its highly automated HEUFT SPECTRUM II control terminal with a unique machine human interface and the audiovisual HEUFT NaVi user guidance requires even less space than the safely enclosed X-ray strobe and can be positioned flexibly and even further away from it. Numerous additional detections can be connected to this central “head” of the modern HEUFT solutions without a problem. The space-saving turnkey solution then carries out further valuable tasks for a sustainable in-line quality assurance in the same work process parallel to a reliable foreign object detection. The spectrum ranges from an additional, even more precise fill level detection and internal pressure measurement to a label and marking inspection. Almost the entire relevant safety and quality criteria of the freshly filled full container can therefore be checked in-line all at once in the tightest of spaces with the slim turnkey solution.

Lifetime-optimised pulsed X-ray

Simply better and more sustainable detecting: Unique technology with extended reliability.
More precise, gentler, more durable: what makes the HEUFT X-ray systems so unique is above all the pulsed X-ray technology which is exclusively available from us. Instead of an uninterrupted continuous beam only a short X-ray pulse of a millisecond is emitted. And only at the moment when a product to be examined for dangerous foreign bodies and other safety risks is actually in the detection area. Even if the line speeds are extremely high or fluctuate, full detection reliability is achieved with unrivalled low radiation. The specially developed X-ray tube and other sustainably optimised components not only increase the coverage and sensitivity of radiometric inspection. The same applies to reliability and lifetime, so that the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is significantly reduced.

Long before individual X-ray components can lose performance or fail, users are also informed in good time so that they still have enough time for preventive maintenance. Filaments are even integrated redundantly: if one should fail, the other takes over immediately and fully automatically, so that production can continue without interruption. Furthermore novel full-field image converters for which HEUFT can now guarantee a lifetime of eight years* within the framework of an existing maintenance contract and a free replacement within this period in the case of a defect ensure considerably more sensitivity, availability and operational reliability with a reduced TCO.

HEUFT SPECTRUM II

Simply automating: universal device platform for maximum performance.
Highly automated, universal and powerful: the HEUFT SPECTRUM II ensures optimum detection and operational reliability during an in-line quality assurance for the sustainable safeguarding of product quality and line efficiency.

The cross-system control unit with multiprocessing capability for different modules, systems and applications convinces due to its exceptional degree of automation. Brand and format changes can be carried out without manual intervention. The unique human machine interface of the universal device platform is self-explanatory. Human resources are effectively saved in this way. In-house developed hardware and software of the latest generation and a future-proof network connection achieve highest computing power and data transmission in real time. The result: maximum precision during purposeful product tracking, inspection and rejection.

HEUFT reflexx A.I.

Simply detecting more: real-time image processing with artificial intelligence.
The AI discipline of machine learning for targeted object classification has been mastered by our self-developed image processing since 2010! And since then it has learned a lot: intelligent filters distinguish drops of water on the container from air bubbles in the glass and even make it possible to identify tiny defects which are hidden behind ACLs or embossings. HEUFT reflexx A.I. now also uses deep learning!

Appropriately trained neural networks are used for example to denoise X-ray images or to find dangerous foreign objects in structured products and to reliably distinguish them from good objects which are extremely similar in their shape, size and density. With true artificial intelligence, the hardware and software from our own development and production again increases detection reliability – and minimises the false rejection rate. The smart image processing can be directly integrated into the HEUFT reflexx A.I. camera which was developed in-house and which processes and evaluates its own images directly in real time and raises the adaptive image analysis to a top level.

HEUFT NaVi

Simply knowing what to do: self-explanatory audiovisual user guidance.
Intuitive, individual and audiovisual: previous knowledge is not required in order to operate the HEUFT SPECTRUM II systems reliably. The HEUFT NaVi user guidance is self-explanatory and supports the respective user step by step.

An RFID login with user-related access rights provides an overview and makes the respective user’s work simply easy: he only sees what he really needs to on the clearly arranged touchscreen user interface with a flat menu structure, integrated tutorials and precise auxiliary tools in order to fulfil his specific tasks optimally. He is supported by a virtual assistant in the course of this. She speaks to him and clearly explains what has to be done when and where. Purposeful and focussed on the essentials – the audiovisual HEUFT NaVi user guidance makes the reliable operation of HEUFT systems simply easy!

HEUFT checkPoints

Simply seeing where what has to be done: trouble-free localisation.
Clear, direct and purposeful: the user can cope immediately on the rare occasions when manual intervention is needed. Because eye-catching HEUFT checkPoints make it clear at a glance exactly when it is necessary to take matters in hand in addition to the audiovisual information which the HEUFT NaVi provides.

The orange tags not only flash on the touchscreen but also at the respective component if the worst comes to the worst. The problem is located without a long search. This saves time and human resources, shortens standstills and therefore increases productivity.

Network technologies

Networking everything:  online connection for increased efficiency and quality.

Information transmission in real time, production data acquisition, line analysis and remote maintenance:  networking is the answer!

HEUFT systems have future-proof network interfaces (Gigabit Ethernet and TCP / IP) for an online connection via the Internet and the database interface (SQL / DDE) for top line efficiency and an optimum quality management with considerably faster and easier workflows.  Therefore production data, shift records, productivity faults and HACCP limit value analyses are available network-wide.  The result:  early identification of quality and efficiency problems.  The firewall protected direct connection to the HEUFT TeleService makes competent remote maintenance possible all around the clock.

Compact construction

Space-saving integration:  full detection in a confined space.

Up to two flexibly positionable X-ray flash modules fit into the extremely space-saving casing, when arranged vertically, which can be placed directly on the conveyor but also further away from the central HEUFT SPECTRUM II control unit.  This makes the HEUFT eXaminer II XS a particularly space-saving compact system at the end of the line.  It provides optimum accessibility for cleaning and maintenance work.  Lifetime optimised, partly redundantly integrated X-ray components ensure that this is reduced to a minimum.  Therefore ensuring full detection and operational reliability in the long term in the tightest of spaces.

HEUFT rejector

Removing faulty products:  the right rejector for all cases.

For example, the compact single-segment HEUFT pusher and HEUFT mono systems as well as the multi-segment HEUFT DELTA-K and HEUFT DELTA-FW rejectors are ideally suited for the reliable rejection of beverage cans, composite cartons and stand-up pouches contaminated with foreign objects.

  • space-saving stand-alone system for a careful and precise foreign object detection in full beverage containers in the smallest of spaces
  • maximum detection reliability with minimum radiation due to pulsed X-ray technology available exclusively from HEUFT
  • performance and lifetime optimised, partly redundantly integrated X-ray components for simply more coverage, penetration, resolution, precision and availability during a radiometric lateral inspection
  • reliable complete inspection of larger container areas due to extended sensitive detection surface
  • independent of product’s own signal and metal packaging components
  • high-resolution X-ray images without distortions or motion blurs
  • HEUFT reflexx A.I real-time image processing with learning ability for detailed fault detection and reliable differentiation of the most varied objects
  • highly automated HEUFT SPECTRUM II platform with self-explanatory HEUFT NaVi user guidance
  • automatic adjustment of the detection units during brand and format changes
  • straightforward integration of additional detection modules for highest product quality
  • compact turnkey solution for a reliable full container inspection at the end of the line
  • online connection for remote maintenance and production data acquisition
  • performance range – up to 72,000 full containers per hour

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