| SIGNUM |
Ring Code Inspection on Ampoules and Vials
The SIGNUM CL ring code inspection system is a high-resolution colour inspection system for pharmaceutical packaging materials such as ampoules and vials. The ring code inspection is used on packaging and labelling machines to exclude faulty products and undermixing of foreign products.
The system can be used for inspection of single ampoules as well as for inspection of several different products in blisters or trays.
Highlights of the Colour Code Inspection System
- True colour recognition for optimum results
- Colour code and label check in the same step
- Electronically adjustable W-LED lighting for reproducible lighting conditions
- Two lighting levels can be evaluated immediately one after the other
Application Areas of the SIGNUM CL Code Inspection
Examineable objects:- Inspection of ampoules and vials
- Multiple inspection in blister or tray
- Individual inspection on labellers
- Ampoules: Number of colour rings, ring colours, sequence of rings, ring widths, ring spacing, interruptions and length of the entire colour ring code
- Vials: presence and colour of the cap
- Parallel to this, the presence and colour of the label are checked in the same inspection step
Real Colour Detection for Reliable Results
SIGNUM CL offers true colour recognition for testing up to 9,600 product units per minute. Up to 80 product units can be checked with up to four different product types per package. Up to seven different inspection characteristics, which can be precisely parameterised individually, can be checked in a single inspection step. Up to six colour rings can be inspected per ampoule.
Software Features for Security, Usability and Efficiency
The SIGNUM CL software is structurally identical to all scanware systems, reducing operator training time.
Users can look forward to outstanding software features, such as
- Special algorithm for ring sequence detection
- Partial runs for ring colours and ring sizes
- Comprehensive audit trail
- Easy to understand menu guided operation
The learning run is menu-guided and therefore easy to use. The test windows for the individual features can be freely defined. The detection accuracy can be checked by test run and format test functions.
The skewers of the ampoules are taught-in. The contrast can be optimised by using coloured discs.
For the inspection of the labels, the lighting setting can be defined independently of that of the rings.
The evaluation of vials and ampoules in the same tray is possible.
Reteaching Function of the Product Colours
The re-teaching function enables the user to re-learn product colours at a later date. Particularly in the case of ampoules, production-related colour changes of the ring colours often occur.
In these cases, a new learning run does not need to be carried out. Instead, from the error pattern of a correct ampoule of a new batch, the changed colour can be added to the product colour. This is then recognised as correct.
Best Hardware for optimal Ring Code Inspection
True colour image processing is used, which means that the number of colours that can be recognised is unlimited.
The combination of lighting, operability and high-quality hardware forms a high-quality control system. The use of W-LEDs provides homogeneous lighting with a long service life. The menu-driven operation is particularly easy. The evaluation unit, camera and operating system together ensure evaluation at top speed.
Thanks to the high performance of the scanware evaluation unit in combination with the QNX® real-time operating system, evaluation is possible with two different lighting settings - optimised for colour rings or labels. The illumination with W-LEDs is electronically controlled and thus ensures constant results.
| Evaluation unit | 19 inch built, 42 TE |
| Industry PC for frame grabber | Compact PCI Bus Interface |
| Wide range power supply | 95-230 V ~ |
| Standard I/O System | DIO8/16/32/48/64 |
| Erweitertes I/O System | TCP/IP, EtherCAT, Integrierte SPS |
| Interfaces | 2 x COM, 3 x USB, 2 x Ethernet, VGA/HDMI |
| Festplatte | 16 GB SSD |
| Frame grabber | scanware, for matrix and line cameras in BW and colour |
| Multiplexer | scanware, for up to 15 cameras |
| Illumination | scanware, with up to 3,000 LEDs per unit |
| Illumination adjustment | scanware, 2 x 16 levels |
| Illuminant | Nichia LED |
| Illumination types | Top light, back light, side light, diffuse light |
Technical Data
| Camera technology | 1CCD or 3CCD, JAI / SONY |
| Camera resolution | 1,024 x 768 to 4,096 x 768 pixels |
| Colour resolution | 16 million colours |
| Max. products per package | 80 |
| Number of different products per package | 4 |
| Inspection criteria per product | up to 6 + label |
| Format storage | >1,000 |
| Number of cameras | 1-3 |
| Evaluation speed | up to 9,600 units / minute |
