May 2019

TECHNOLOGY n 17 www.drivesncontrols.com May 2019 THECHESHIRE-BASED coding and print inspection specialist AutoCoding Systems has collaborated with the sensor-maker Sick to develop what they claim is the first fully-automatic smart vision inspection system for printed coding andmarkings on food, pharmaceutical and other consumer goods packaging. The jointly-developed 4Sight automatic print inspection system performs “error-proof” high-speed inspection of printed codes such as dates, and batch and line numbers. Printed messages can be communicated directly from any make of printer using inkjet, laser or thermal transfer technologies, eliminating the costly “nuisance stops” and time- consuming set-ups that conventional vision systems need for them to be taught thousands of images and fonts, as well as the context of the surrounding packaging design, which can affect the inspection. The application combines AutoCoding’s 4Sight software with Sick’s Inspector P smart vision camera. It is one of the first to be developed using Sick’s AppSpace software platform, which runs apps on board the camera. The technology allowed AutoCoding “to think about print inspection systems in a completely new way,” explains managing director, Mike Hughes. “The result is a directly networked connection between the printer and the smart camera, coupled with the 4Sight software’s unique ability to self-optimise the code inspection process. “As the artificial intelligence is already pre-trained in the application, the AutoCoding system knows exactly the printed message it is looking for,” he adds. “So, the system adjusts automatically when the printer changes to a new job. There’s also much more opportunity to finesse the vision inspection criteria and avoid unnecessary line stops, because there can be no false reads as a result of the packaging background, or due to natural variation in the location of the printed code.” The software checks in one operation that the printed code is correct, present and legible. Because the application is running onboard the high-resolution camera, there is no need for a lineside PC. Users can define what they class as a good, bad or no-read for each product. There’s no need to teach fonts, configure features or regions of interest on the packaging, or to fixture against an edge or logo. The system can process inspection images with short cycle times and be used in high-speed applications such as bottling and canning lines. It can be configured to connect with devices such as encoders, and with other systems – to control a rejection processes, for example. The 4Sight system can provide diagnostic reports and event logging, and will store and forward inspected images to a chosen network location. “All too often we are called in to help production teams who have ended up disabling their vision systems altogether because of the nuisance caused by frequent, unnecessary line stops as a result of an overly-sensitive system,” says Neil Sandhu, Sick’s UK product manager for imaging, measurement, ranging and systems. “The problem is too complex for the operators to fix, so the vision system simply becomes a white elephant. As a result, the manufacturer remains at risk of receiving penalties and damaging their customer relationships if code inspections on delivery result in products being returned. “That’s why the 4Sight system is such an important breakthrough – because it offers a high-performance, dependable solution that’s easy to set up and use.” www.autocodingsystems.com www.sick.co.uk Automated print inspection avoids nuisance stops and lengthy set-up times “All too often we are called in to help production teams who have ended up disabling their vision systems” ABB HAS ADAPTED its smart sensor technology, previously used to monitor the condition of electric motors, to help users of pillow block bearings to minimise downtime. The Dodge brand smart sensor, which is part of ABB’s Ability powertrain condition- monitoring portfolio, provides early warnings of possible bearing problems by analysing vibration and temperature data. ABB says that 80% of bearing failures are due to lubrication problems, and the sensor will detect overheated bearings that may indicate inadequate lubrication. Unusual vibrations may indicate system problems. The easily-attached sensor communicates wirelessly with a smartphone or a Bluetooth gateway. This simplifies access to data from bearings in awkward or dangerous locations. “Bearings are critical components in conveyors and are often the first indicator of a plant problem,” says Jonas Spoorendonk, ABB’s digital portfolio manager for motors and generators in Germany. “Displaying the condition of the bearing allows personnel to identify a potential problem quickly and reliably so that maintenance can be scheduled and an unforeseen shutdowns can be avoided." www.abb.com Smart sensor checks the condition of pillow block bearings The jointly developed print inspection systemwill save time when checking food and other consumer goods packaging