Latest software optimises hot end inspection

IR-D V7 software is the result of several years’ experience and being in close contact with the many users of XPAR Vision InfraRed technology. Over the years, customers have provided their feedback for improvements or suggestions for an even better use of this system for hot end inspection and process monitoring.

From the many good ideas received, the best have been incorporated in this improved software. Compared with the current version, it incorporates major changes and improvements with regard to camera set up, functionality and last but not least, accuracy.

In general, these changes and improvements make the software much more accessible and thus easier to use and are in full alignment with XPAR Vision’s goal of bringing automation into the forming process for glass containers.

Camera set up

Until now, camera set up has been quite complex and has required a good understanding of the background of infrared camera technology. The consequence is long learning time and relatively high dependency on those people/users trained. With the latest software version, this camera set up has been simplified significantly. Camera setting has been automated and is activated by a one-button-click. It can be rightly stated that image processing is now easy. Furthermore, multi-integration and splitting have been automated and are also activated by a one-button-click.

With this simplified camera set up, the long training time and high dependency on just a few trained people will be reduced. Logically, this leads to easier and broader use in general and in particular, shortens the IR-D set-up during a job change.

Functionality

The InfraRed Dual camera system has been on the market since 2000. In the current version, the software contains detection modules for intensity/asymmetry, glass distribution, verticality, shape, distorted glass, defects, fin defects, thin spots and transport. In the latest V7 software version, these modules are improved/extended. For example thin spots set up has been made easier; for transport reject on ware position can be activated; and for each of the four modules in the distorted glass module, a dedicated name can be given. In addition to these improvements, other modules have been added.

With the latest software, it is possible to measure the absolute bottle diameter on multiple Heights in the bottle. With the diameter module, it is possible to set up limits for diameter and ovality and detect and/or reject accordingly. As with the intensity/asymmetry, verticality and shape modules, the diameter module is also supported by so-called ‘control charts’. Next to the diameter module, the hot spots module has also been added. As with the distorted glass, defects, fin defects and thin spots modules, the hot spots module supports the detection of specific defects; it is to be expected that birdswing detection (and rejection) especially will gain effectiveness due to this hot spots module.

One of the functions of the InfraRed Dual camera system (IR-D) is hot end inspection of bottles, where every bottle is compared with specific bottle settings and qualified as good or bad. Bad bottles can eventually be rejected. At the users’ discretion, images can be stored from bad bottles produced. The maximum of bottle images to be stored has been doubled. From time to time, these images are analysed for (the sake of so-called) root cause analyses.

In order to make the root cause analyses easier and/or accessible, filters for viewed images have been added. With these filters, it will be possible for example to discriminate between rejected and non-rejected bottles, to focus on all images from eg one specific mould/section and/ or to focus on images related to a specific defect. It goes without saying that with this addition of filters for view images, the analysis of images and related root causes will be much more effective than before.

Accuracy

With the launch of the V7 software, hardware and software are in full alignment again with regard to camera resolution, for example. Together with the latest smart software algorithms, the accuracy of mainly defect detection has been increased considerably. Logically, defect detection (and rejection) has gained effectiveness.

The bottom line is that XPAR Vision’s latest IR-D V7 software version brings hot end inspection and process monitoring to the next level of simplicity of use and accuracy in detection of (critical) defects. This software will be launched and rolled out from the fourth quarter of 2014 onwards. As a consequence of this development, the company has reinforced its leadership in hot end inspection and process monitoring.