Antares Vision Group, a provider of traceability and inspection for quality control, will debut three new traceability solutions at Pack Expo International in November that can be deployed as integrated modules into existing production environments.
First, the introduction of the Omnivision Bottle Serialization Station is a traceability solution for pharmaceutical applications. This versatile automated serialization solution is capable of handling a wide range of bottle sizes at speeds up to 300 per minute, and can print unique helper codes on the top or bottom of each bottle, then perform a 360-degree reading of the unoriented bottle surface for recognition of printed serialized data and code association. This helper code is then used for subsequent manual or automatic aggregation phases, such as bundling or case packing. The system’s seamless product handling ensures superior printing quality, and a lateral belt system provides bottle separation. Optional topsert inspection is available.
Second, Antares will showcase its standalone semi-automatic serialization module specifically designed to handle flat, empty cartons and boxes. The Print & Check FT performs traceability functions including marking, recording, and serialization data verification. Flat cartons are loaded into a collector, which precisely feeds the conveyor belt. Cartons are then printed, with a high-resolution camera confirming data correctness and an end-of-belt reject system removing any erroneous ones.
The Print & Check FT can achieve line speeds up to 30 meters per minute and incorporate up to four thermal inkjet printing heads. Other features include an 18.5-inch touchscreen for intuitive operation, a manual code reader for product identification and re-aggregation, adjustable rubber grips to accommodate various carton sizes, and a signaling column that monitors overall machine status.
Third, the company will demonstrate its high-speed visual inspection and leak detection of liquids in glass containers. According to the company, the Visual Rotating Inspection (VRI) system is capable of inspecting up to 400 liquid-filled glass containers per minute. The machine combines sophisticated particle and cosmetic detection able to integrate with high voltage, vacuum, and headspace gas analysis (HSGA) technology-driven closure integrity verification at a rapid production pace.
The machine allows for the precise detection of cosmetic defects and particles and checks fill levels. The VRI unit can inspect liquids in a wide variety of viscosities, including water-like, oily, suspension, gel, emulsion, lyophilized, and powder products. Vials are also inspected for cosmetic defects such as crimping quality, flip-off color, neck-shoulder sidewalls, and stopper position. Molded glass and plastic containers also can be inspected for particles and cosmetic defects.
Optional add-on features include code verification, optical character recognition (OCR)-optical character verification (OCR-OCV), and serialization incorporation.
All three solutions can be deployed as integrated modules into existing production environments. Concerning traceability specifically, the company’s ultra-secure cloud-based systems enable end-to-end “full stack” connection of the physical and digital worlds. The holistic, fully validated, pre-configured platforms span serialization Levels 1 through 5, ensuring compliance and connectivity with partners and regulatory authorities, the company said.
