Foreign Object Inspection

  • Foreign Object Inspection
  • inspection machine
  • inspection machine
  • foreign object detection

HEUFT spotter II SF

Inspecting full bottles precisely: complete examination without blind spots.

The HEUFT spotter II SF identifies low density foreign objects which are floating in the product or have sunk to the bottom such as film remnants, bits of paper, insects and mould in glass and PET bottles filled with transparent liquids just as reliably as scratches, cracks, inclusions, chips, breaks and other material defects. It is based on the highly automated HEUFT SPECTRUM II platform and achieves full detection and operational reliability during the optical complete inspection of the entire container volume.

Foreign Object Inspection

optical base inspection

Leaving nothing out:  continuous complete inspection of the total container base.

Paper, film and mould:  the system identifies minute low density foreign objects on the base of the full bottle using the HEUFT sinker technology.  Special optics even make transparent and reflective objects visible.

A precise servo-controlled rotation of the containers ensures that these are each optimally aligned at several detection units and that the inspection covers the whole base of the bottle.  Even faults covered by glass marks or embossing cannot escape the examination.  The specially developed evaluation procedures of the HEUFT reflexx A.I real-time image processing system ensure this.

360° sidewall inspection

Not overlooking anything:  safe all around due to optical all-around inspection.

Defects, cracks and floating foreign objects:  the HEUFT floater technology tracks downs such faults at the sidewall and inside the bottle reliably.  A combination of special illumination and camera technologies carries out the precise identification of objects which can hardly be perceived by the naked eye – even transparent and reflective scraps of film are reliably detected in this way.

The servo-controlled alignment of each individual bottle ensures a complete 360° sidewall inspection.  Therefore this guarantees, together with the HEUFT reflexx A.I real-time image processing system with teaching in capability, that nothing is overlooked.

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 autoamtically:  self-actin 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 spotter II SF already has an unprecedented level of automation and support for the user in order to carry them out quickly, easily and without errors: the height and alignment of all the detection units adapt to the changed container format just as automatically as the position and passage width of the servo-controlled belt drive for aligning the bottles. 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 SPECTRUM II systems with their modular design can be extended at any time.  In this way the range of functions of the HEUFT spotter  II SF can be optionally expanded with powerful detection units for checking the fill level as well as the closure and label presence.  The HEUFT sonic additional module checks the tightness of metal closures.

HEUFT SPECTRUM II

HEUFT SpectrumSimply 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 ReflexxHEUFT 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 NaviHEUFT 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 Check pointHEUFT 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.

HEUFT CleanDesign

Cleaning quite simply:  hygiene-optimised construction.

Accessible, clean and safe:  its HEUFT CleanDesign predestines the system for use in hygienically sensitive areas.

Sloping surfaces facilitate cleaning and prevent the accumulation of stubborn dirt.  Special channels and openings allow the liquids required for cleaning purposes to be drained off completely.  Consequently dangerous germs and bacteria have no contact surface whatsoever.  Specially constructed casings and doors create optimum accessibility.  The electronics are totally encapsulated.  Sensitive areas such as the inspection units are dust-proof and protected against contact as well as water jets.

HEUFT rejector

Removing faulty products:  the right rejector for all cases.

For example, the compact single-segment HEUFT flip 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 faulty full containers.

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