DE102018116063A1 - Test part for a foreign body detector - Google Patents

Abstract

Test part (1) for testing the function of a foreign body detector, in particular a metal detector and / or X-ray detector, the test part (1) having a base body (2) and a test body (3) arranged in the base body (2), which is made of a metal and / or a ceramic, the base body (2) being produced from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer and the test body (3) being arranged in the base body (2) and the base body (2) being the test body ( 3) fully encased.

Description

The present invention relates to a test part and a method for producing a test part for testing the function of a foreign body detector, in particular a metal detector and / or X-ray detector according to the features of the independent claims.

Foreign body detectors, such as metal detectors or X-ray detectors, are preferably used for the conveyance of food or pharmaceuticals. This is intended to prevent contaminants from contaminating the product. In order to ensure the function of the foreign body detector, it must be checked at suitable intervals. For this purpose, test parts are used in which an impurity or a test specimen, such as a metal or a ceramic, is arranged and must be detected by the foreign body detector.

For example, from the JP 2007047086 AA known a cube-shaped test part, which consists of plastic, with a metallic impurity in the form of a ball. Furthermore, the WO 2009/112852 A1 a test part, which consists of a laminated card with a metallic contamination. Labels are affixed to the card, with each label containing a barcode that contains data on the test piece.

A disadvantage of the test parts used to date and known from the prior art is primarily the high manual effort required and the lack of automation. There is also the problem that the test parts are glued and there is a possibility that the test specimens will be lost. In addition, the test part can get into the good flow, which must not contain any foreign bodies and only the test body is discharged into the bad flow.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a test part of the type mentioned at the outset which can be produced both simply and inexpensively and in an automated manner and which has a captive marking which does not wear out.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a test part of the type mentioned at the outset in that the test part has a base body and a test body arranged in the base body, the base body being produced from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer and the test body in the base body is arranged, the base body completely enveloping the test body.

The filament preferably consists of a thermoplastic, in particular of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylic ester-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactide (PLA) , Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). When using the test part in the food industry or in the pharmaceutical industry, a filament made of polylactide (PLA) with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is particularly preferred.

The powder consists of a powdery or powdery granulate made of plastic, for example a polyamide is used. It is also possible that a composite material is used.

In the prior art, when testing the function of foreign body detectors, the test parts are inserted or placed in a product. The test parts have test specimens which consist in particular of iron, non-ferrous metals, aluminum or brass and stainless steel, in particular V2A and / or V4A. Alternatively, the test specimens can also consist of a non-metallic material, in particular glass or ceramic. Precision spheres are particularly suitable as test specimens, since both the exact dimensions and their exact material or metal composition are known for these spheres. These primarily used precision balls are made of suitable metal and are available in all required accuracy classes.

Due to the production of the base body from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer, the geometric dimensions can be changed as desired, so that the test part can also have the shape of a product which is checked by the foreign body detector. For example, the test part can have the dimensions and shape of a bread or a tablet. The test part preferably has a spherical, cylindrical or cuboid geometry. The test part particularly preferably has a cylindrical geometry, since this geometry is particularly well suited for stacking in a storage system. In addition, the test parts can be differentiated based on the different diameters. However, a spherical geometry is preferred for checking foodstuffs, since a spherical test part can be easily inserted into a product and, thanks to the geometry, enables residue-free cleaning easily and quickly.

If the test part is in the form of a product, the filament and / or the powder and / or the photopolymer can be mixed with appropriate additives, for example in order to generate the same product signal in a metal detector as the actual product. This is of particular interest for foods with a high moisture or salt content, since they themselves generate a signal that can only be distinguished with difficulty from a foreign body or from a metallic contamination.

In the prior art, the test part is introduced into the product at any position, which may result in the test part falling out of the product and the metal detector not being checked with the test part in the product, but rather the test part lying on the conveyor belt and thus generates a much larger signal swing in the metal detector than if the test part were arranged in the product. In addition, finding the test part involves a lot of effort if the test part falls out of the product. Furthermore, the repeatability of the test of the foreign body detector is limited, since the product in which the test part is arranged can spoil. The spoiled product must therefore be exchanged for a new product, the new product having to be equipped with a test part and the positioning of the test part in the new product again taking place at an arbitrary point. In addition, there is the problem that the test part can be arranged at a point in the product where the metal detector has a high sensitivity. However, the aim of checking the metal detector is that the test part is also detected at the point at which the metal detector has the lowest sensitivity.

Because of this problem, it is preferred that the test part has the same shape and / or generates the same signal in a foreign body detector as the product to be tested. In order to generate the same signal as the actual product, it is preferred that, for example, a metal wire or a metal powder or a metal-containing additive is integrated into the filament and / or the powder and / or the photopolymer in order to produce the signal that the test part generates in the foreign body detector, adapt to the product signal of the actual product. Furthermore, the test specimen can be arranged at a defined location within the test part. Due to the defined position of the test specimen and the defined signal of the test part, there is a high level of repeat accuracy when checking the foreign body detector. In addition, the test part cannot spoil.

In a further embodiment, the base body is formed in one piece and the test body is arranged in the base body, the base body completely enveloping the test body. Because of this configuration, the test specimen is arranged captively in the base body. In the test parts known from the prior art, the test specimens are arranged in a bore in the base body and the bore is closed with a stopper or the bore is cast. However, the problem here is that the stopper or the potting compound can come loose and the test specimen can thus come loose from the base body.

In a further embodiment, the base body is made of the same material from a first part and a second part. This enables a base body to be used for a large number of test specimens and thus the test part can be equipped with different test specimens. This reduces the number of test parts to a minimum.

In order to ensure a reliable closure of the base body, the base body has a non-positive connection, in particular a screw and / or snap-in connection, the non-positive connection being formed uniformly and in one piece on the first part and / or the second part. As a result, the test part can be manufactured without additional assembly of add-on parts, which both lowers production costs and also enables automated production, since the test part can be produced in one machine without additional work steps for add-on parts being necessary.

The first part preferably has an external thread and the second part has a corresponding internal thread, so that the two parts can be screwed into one another. In addition, a locking connection can be arranged as a securing means on the first part or the second part, which prevents the screw connection from being accidentally released. For this purpose, the latching connection can engage in a holder on the first part or the second part as soon as the first part and the second part are completely screwed together. The holder can be designed in the form of a circumferential or punctiform groove or a circumferential or punctiform bead. This locking connection thus also serves to prevent the thread from being overtightened. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the latching connection, a roughened, grooved or toothed surface can be present on the contact surfaces of the first and second part, which prevents the screw connection from being accidentally loosened.

Furthermore, instead of a screw connection, a snap connection, which is arranged on the first part and / or on the second part and in a holder on the corresponding other part engages. The holder can be a groove or a bulge, which can be formed all the way around or only at points. In addition, the first part can be connected to the second part via a hinge which is made of the same material and in one piece with the first part and the second part. This has the advantage that the first part and the second part are firmly connected to one another and so none of the parts can fall off when opened.

In a further embodiment, the test part is printed with a 3D printer, in particular with a 3D printer based on selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, additive layer manufacturing, stereolithography, digital light processing, multi jet modeling or film transfer imaging. This is particularly advantageous, since it enables a quick and easy production of the test part and the geometry of the test part can be changed easily and can be individually manufactured according to customer requirements with a high repeatability.

In the manufacture of the test part, the test part is made of a single material from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer, a first part of a base body being produced in a first operation, a test body being subsequently introduced into the base body and in a second operation the base body is completed by connecting a second part of the base body in one piece and / or in the same material to the first part. Alternatively, the base body can also be produced around the test body in one operation. In the first as well as in the second work step, a marking can be generated on an outer surface of the test part, the marking being made in one piece and uniformly with the test part. In addition, an anti-loss device is manufactured in one piece and with the same material as the base body.

In a further embodiment, the test part has a Shore hardness of less than 90. As a result, the test part is relatively soft and elastic, so that the test part is not destroyed in the event of a fall or greater force. This is particularly advantageous because the test part can fall on a floor and still be used. On the other hand, the test part is hard enough to protect the test specimen from damage.

In a further embodiment, the test part has a captive device. This is connected to the test part in one piece and in the same material. In the case of a two-part test part, the captive device is connected to the first and / or the second part in one piece and in the same material. For example, the anti-loss device can also be the hinge that connects the first part to the second part. In particular, the captive device is designed in a bow-like manner on the test part, so that a strap can be guided through the captive device and attached to it. U-shaped is to be understood as a U-shaped geometry, which can have both a U-shaped and a round recess. This makes it possible to quickly and easily find and pull out the test part in a product stream, such as a dough.

In a further embodiment, a marking is formed on the test part in the same material and in one piece with the test part. The marking is preferably raised or embossed on the test part. In addition, the marking can have a different color than the test part and thus the legibility can be improved. This type of labeling is particularly advantageous because it means that no label can be lost on which the properties of the test part are noted. Furthermore, the marking cannot wear off as with printed markings. This ensures permanent identification of the test parts even under harsh conditions.

In a further embodiment, the test part has an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface having a degree of filling of 100% and the inner surface having a degree of filling below 100%, preferably between 20% and 70%, particularly preferably between 20% and 50%. The degree of filling indicates whether a surface has a continuous, completely closed surface that is of uniform material or the surface has recesses. A degree of filling of 20% means that 20% of the area is filled with a structure and the remaining 80% are not filled.

The degree of filling results in a high elasticity of the test part. Furthermore, the outer surface fulfills the function that no further impurities can get into the interior of the test part and that the outer surface is easy to clean. For this purpose, the inner surface has a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm, preferably from 0.4 mm to 1.5 mm, particularly preferably from 0.4 mm to 100 mm, and the outer surface has a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm, preferably from 0.4 mm - 1.5 mm, particularly preferably from 0.4 mm - 100 mm. Furthermore, the different degrees of filling allow material to be saved in the production of the test part. The inner surface preferably has a honeycomb structure, preferably a polygonal, particularly preferably a hexagonal honeycomb structure.

• 1: einen Querschnitt eines einteiligen Testteils
• 2: ein zweiteiliges Testteil

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the test part according to the invention are illustrated below with the aid of figures.

• 1 : a cross section of a one-piece test part
• 2 : a two-part test part

1 shows a cross section of a cylindrical test part 1 , the test part 1 from a basic body 2 and one in the body 2 arranged test specimen 3 so that the test specimen 3 from the main body 2 is completely enveloped. The basic body 2 is made from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer.

The basic body 2 is made in one piece. Because of this configuration, the test specimen 3 captive in the body 2 brought in.

The test part 1 is preferably generated with a 3D printer. When producing the test part 1 becomes the test part 1 Made of the same material from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer, with a first part in a first operation 4 of a basic body 2 is generated, then a test specimen 3 in the main body 2 is introduced and in a second step the base body 2 is completed by a second part 5 of the basic body 2 one-piece and uniform with the first part 4 is connected. Preferably the first part 4 printed so far in the first step that the height H of a recess for the test specimen 3 at least the radius of the test specimen 3 corresponds, particularly preferably the height H of the recess is equal to or greater than the diameter of the test specimen 3 ,

Furthermore, the test part points 1 a loss protection 6 on. This is with the test part 1 connected in one piece and uniformly. The loss prevention 6 is bow-shaped on the test part 1 formed and has a circular recess 7 on so that a tape through the captive 6 can be guided and attached to it. However, it is also possible that the recess 7 is U-shaped. At the loss protection 6 For example, a tape is attached so that the test part 1 can easily be found in a product stream or in a collecting container.

In addition, the test part shows 1 a label 8th on which is uniform and one-piece with the test part 1 is trained. The labeling 8th is raised or embossed on the test part 1 appropriate. In addition, the labeling 8th a different color than the test part 1 have and thus the readability are improved. The labeling 8th can in the manufacture of the test part 1 both in the first operation and in the second operation on an outer surface 13 of the test part 1 generated, the labeling 8th is made in one piece and uniform with the test part. In addition, the loss protection 6 in the second step in one piece and with the same material as the main body 2 manufactured.

2 shows a two-part body 2 , the main body 2 uniform material from a first part 9 and a second part 10 is made. This enables a basic body 2 for a variety of test specimens 3 can be used and thus the test part 1 with different test specimens 3 can be equipped.

For a reliable closure of the basic body 2 to ensure, the base body 2 a positive connection. The screw connection, not shown, is of the same material and in one piece on the first part 9 and / or the second part 10 educated. This allows the test part 1 can be manufactured without additional mounting parts. The first part 9 can for example have a thread and the second part 10 a corresponding counterpart, so that the two parts can be screwed into each other. In addition, at the contact areas 12 of the first part 9 and the second part 10 each have a roughened, grooved or toothed surface that prevents accidental loosening of the screw connection.

The test part 1 has an outer surface 13 and an inner surface 14 on, the outside surface 13 a fill level of 100% and the inner surface 14 has a degree of filling below 100%, preferably between 20% and 70%, particularly preferably between 20% and 50%. The inner surface 14 preferably has a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm and the outer surface 13 a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm.

The loss prevention 6 is with the first part 9 and / or the second part 10 connected in one piece and uniformly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

test part

2

body

3

specimen

4

first part 3D printing

5

second part 3D printing

6

captive

7

Recess protection slot

8th

Labelling

9

first part test part

10

second part test part

12

contact surfaces

13

outer surface

14

Inner surface

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• JP 2007047086 [0003]
• WO 2009/112852 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Test part (1) for testing the function of a foreign body detector, in particular a metal detector and / or X-ray detector, the test part (1) having a base body (2) and a test body (3) arranged in the base body (2), which is made of a metal and / or a ceramic, characterized in that the base body (2) is produced from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer, the test body (3) being arranged in the base body (2) and the base body (2 ) completely envelops the test specimen (3). Test part (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the base body (2) is formed in one piece. Test part (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the base body (2) is made of the same material from a first part (9) and a second part (10). Test part (1) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the base body (2) has a non-positive connection, in particular a screw and / or latching connection, the non-positive connection being made of the same material on the first part (9) and / or the second part (10). Test part (1) after Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the test part (1) can be equipped with different test specimens (3). Test part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test part (1) has a captive device (6). Test part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the test part (1) an identification (8) is formed uniformly and in one piece with the test part (1). Test part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test part (1) has an outer surface (13) and an inner surface (14), the outer surface (13) having a degree of filling of 100% and the inner surface (14) one Filling degree between 20% and 70%. Test part (1) after Claim 8 , characterized in that the inner surface (14) has a honeycomb structure, in particular a polygonal honeycomb structure. Test part (1) after Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the inner surface (14) has a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm. Test part (1) one of the Claims 8 to 10 , characterized in that the outer surface (13) has a wall thickness of at least 0.4 mm. Method for producing a test part (1) for testing the function of a foreign body detector, in particular a metal detector and / or X-ray detector, the test part (1) being produced uniformly from a filament and / or a powder and / or a photopolymer, in a first A first part (4, 9) of a base body (2) is produced, then a test body (3) is introduced into the base body (2) and the base body (2) is completed in a second operation by a second part (5 , 10) of the base body (2) is connected in one piece and / or with the same material to the first part (4, 9). Procedure according to Claim 12 , characterized in that the test part (1) is generated with a 3D printer. Procedure according to Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that an identification (8) of the test part (1) is introduced into an outer surface (13) of the test part (1), the identification (8) being produced in one piece and uniformly in the first operation and / or in the second operation. Procedure according to one of the Claims 12 to 14 , characterized in that an anti-loss device (6) is produced in one piece and with the same material as the base body (2) in the second operation.

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