The inline seam control (ISC) system is designed to control the seam quality in canning facilities. It uses the analog signal from load cells measuring the force during the second operation of the seaming process. The system detects seaming problems at the typical maximum food production speed of 20 cans per second with the systems computing power being sufficient for high speed beverage canning as well. It provides an efficient method to detect problems like lid in the seamer, pillar/letter box and product in between of lid and can. A kicker signal for faulty cans is generated, an optional tracking/rejection system is available on request. Depending on the product related main problem cause return of investment can be typically achieved within 6 month of production
ISC provides efficient means to detect and reject cans with the following problems:
Product inclusion
Damaged can
Missing cover
Double cover
In addition following machine settings and problems are recognised:
Broken chuck
Cover in seamer
Low seaming force
High seaming force
The complete system consists of the strain gauges in the seamer head, a signal conditioning unit, an ISC processor with a digitizer frontend and the host PC. Up to six seamer lines can be handled by one (ATX mainboard) PCI based PC. A graphical user interface allows the user to control and parametrise the system.
Recent installations comprise full can tracking in conjunction with pneumatic pushers without the need for additional external PLC hardware. Part of the tracking is implemented in software, the rest is handled by the ISC line interface (photograph).
Find below the photograph of an ejected can with a seaming error caused by product inclusion.
Find below the photograph of a rejected can with a knock down seaming error.
A sketch of the system setup is shown below.
NOTE: The ISC system is available in the U.S. through Pneumatic Scale/Angelus
Last update 23.05.08 by Matthias Kirsch