Trio Motion Coordinator means flexibility for new can inspection machine

Citation

(2003), "Trio Motion Coordinator means flexibility for new can inspection machine", Sensor Review, Vol. 23 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2003.08723baf.005

Trio Motion Coordinator means flexibility for new can inspection machine

Trio Motion Coordinator means flexibility for new can inspection machine

Keywords: Motion Coordinator, X-ray, Inspection

A revolutionary new can inspection machine offers exceptional programming flexibility and low maintenance costs through the use of a Trio Motion Technology Motion Coordinator.

The X-seam double seam analyser from Sencon uses X-ray technology to inspect the vital joint between food or beverage can ends and sides. Failures here could mean that filled cans might be exposed to contamination, leak or even burst. In the constant search for ever higher quality, leading companies are investing in new methods of testing and improving can integrity.

Traditionally, manufacturers take samples from the can filling line, remove the contents and cut open the can to inspect seam dimensions. Disadvantages of this method are the time taken to perform each test, the profile damage and deformation which may be caused by the action of cutting through the seam, and the great difficulty in measuring very small deviations from the norm which may be exaggerated by operator error.

Manual testing is known to have a relatively poor repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) rating, meaning that there will be little accurate repeatability of results between different operators and even between results from the same operator over time.

The new Sencon X-seam analyser eliminates the need to perform manual, destructive testing by using X-rays to generate images of the filled can at a number of points around the seam. A sophisticated image processor then measures each critical point and produces a report based upon pre-determined standards. Typically, measurements are made to 0.001 mm and have excellent "R&R" standards of better than 20 per cent.

As the can is not damaged by the process, it may be returned to the production line. Sencon's machine will perform tests on 18 cans in around 21 min, where the manual method could take more than 2 h.

Sencon chose a MC202 Motion Coordinator, two CAN 16-I/O modules and one CAN analog input module from Trio Motion Technology to control the entire mechanical elements of the X-seam analyser. These consist of input and output can conveyors, a vacuum lift mechanism which moves cans from the input conveyor to the measuring point and removes them to the other conveyor, and a chuck assembly which clamps the can firmly and moves it to the X-ray generator head. During measurement, the chuck assembly rotates to four pre-set positions, providing four images of each can seam for analysis (Plate 4).

Plate 4 X-ray head and can support chuck

The chuck is rotated by a stepper motor sourced through sister company, Sencon Inc. in Chicago, to provide a degree of component commonality between different machines. A second stepper motor drives the ball screw to move the chuck into position. All other movements, including vacuum pick-up and can transfer, are actuated pneumatically using limit switches and controlled by the MC202. The whole assembly is therefore completely "stand-alone", needing only a start signal to begin operation and an indication of how many cans are to be tested.