WO2001028865A1 - Ensemble de decoupage et systeme de surveillance d'etancheite pour chaine de remplissage et de thermoscellage - Google Patents

Ensemble de decoupage et systeme de surveillance d'etancheite pour chaine de remplissage et de thermoscellage Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001028865A1
WO2001028865A1 PCT/AU2000/001251 AU0001251W WO0128865A1 WO 2001028865 A1 WO2001028865 A1 WO 2001028865A1 AU 0001251 W AU0001251 W AU 0001251W WO 0128865 A1 WO0128865 A1 WO 0128865A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
carriage
web
seal
container
camera
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2000/001251
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert James Laing
Original Assignee
S.P.C. Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPQ3550A external-priority patent/AUPQ355099A0/en
Priority claimed from AUPQ5677A external-priority patent/AUPQ567700A0/en
Application filed by S.P.C. Limited filed Critical S.P.C. Limited
Priority to AU78940/00A priority Critical patent/AU7894000A/en
Publication of WO2001028865A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001028865A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/56—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work otherwise than in the direction of the cut, i.e. flying cutter
    • B26D1/60—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work otherwise than in the direction of the cut, i.e. flying cutter and is mounted on a movable carriage
    • B26D1/605—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work otherwise than in the direction of the cut, i.e. flying cutter and is mounted on a movable carriage for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
    • B26D7/2614—Means for mounting the cutting member
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
    • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
    • B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
    • B26F1/40—Cutting-out; Stamping-out using a press, e.g. of the ram type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
    • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
    • B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
    • B26F1/40—Cutting-out; Stamping-out using a press, e.g. of the ram type
    • B26F1/405—Travelling head presses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/822—Transmission mechanisms
    • B29C66/8221—Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/822—Transmission mechanisms
    • B29C66/8226—Cam mechanisms; Wedges; Eccentric mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/824—Actuating mechanisms
    • B29C66/8242—Pneumatic or hydraulic drives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/824—Actuating mechanisms
    • B29C66/8246—Servomechanisms, e.g. servomotors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
    • B65B61/06—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/38—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
    • B26D2007/2607—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member for mounting die cutters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/82—Testing the joint
    • B29C65/8253—Testing the joint by the use of waves or particle radiation, e.g. visual examination, scanning electron microscopy, or X-rays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
    • B29C66/93—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the speed
    • B29C66/934—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the speed by controlling or regulating the speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
    • B29C66/94—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the time

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a cutting assembly and also to a seal integrity monitoring system, for a filling and heat sealing line.
  • Filling and heat sealing lines are used to package food products such as fruit.
  • the line includes a loading station in which fruit or other food products are loaded into cups supported on a continuous conveyor belt.
  • the cups are conveyed to a sealing station where a web is applied to the top of the cups and the web is sealed to the top of the cups to close the cups.
  • the cups then advance to a cutting station where a cutting assembly cuts the web adjacent to the periphery of the cups so that the web material can be removed with the cut web remaining sealed on the cup.
  • the cups are then collected at the end of the line for packaging and shipment.
  • a first aspect of the present invention resides in a cutting assembly for use in such a filling and heat sealing line.
  • This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a cutting assembly for a filling and heat sealing line, including; a carriage supported for reciprocating movement between a forward most position and a rearward most position; drive means for driving the carriage so that the carriage undergoes said reciprocating movement; a cutting member on the carriage for reciprocating movement with the carriage; cutting member raising and lowering means for raising and lowering the cutting member relative to the carriage ; and wherein substantially at said rearward most position, said cutting member can be lowered relative to the carriage to engage the web applied to a container and cut the web during movement of the carriage between the rearward most position and the forward most position, and at about the forward most position the cutting member is raised relative to the carriage away from the containers so that the carriage and the cutting member can be returned from the forward most position to the rearward most position by the driving means.
  • the carriage is supported on a pair of linear bearings for reciprocating movement between the forward most position and the rearward most position.
  • the drive means comprises a servo motor and at least one continuous belt coupled between the servo motor and the carriage for driving the carriage to undergo said reciprocating movement.
  • the cutting member raising and lowering means comprises; a rod mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rod; a ram pivotally coupled to the rod for rotating the rod about the longitudinal axis; at least one link fixed to the rod; a post attached to the cutting member and coupled to the link so that when the rod is rotated under the influence of the ram the post is moved vertically to raise or lower the cutting member relative to the carriage.
  • the cutting member includes a cutting member support and a cutting head, the at least one post being attached to the support .
  • Preferably four posts are coupled to the support and the rod has two links, one at each end, each link coupled with two of said posts .
  • the posts are received in guide sleaves attached to the carriage for guiding vertical movement of the posts relative to the carriage.
  • the posts include outer guide sleeves for surrounding the guide sleeves attached to the carriage to further facilitating guiding of the posts relative to the guide sleeves attached to the carriage.
  • the posts are coupled to the links by a respective beam which is attached to a pair of the posts, a track mounted on the beam and a roller on the link which is received in the track; and so that when the links are rotated with the rod the roller rides within the track and pushes the track and therefore the beam upwardly or downwardly with the movement of the link so as to raise or lower the posts and therefore the cutting member relative to the carriage.
  • the cutting member raising and lowering means comprises; a ram; a support member coupled to the ram for movement by the ram between an extended and retracted position; and a post attached to the cutting member and coupled to the support member so that when the ram is moved between the extended and retracted position the post is moved vertically to raise or lower the cutting member relative to the carriage.
  • the cutting member also includes a cutting member support and a cutting head, the at least one post being attached to the support .
  • the support member comprises beams extending between pairs of the posts and lateral cross-members coupled to the beams, the lateral cross-members being attached to a ram arm of the ram.
  • the posts are received in guide sleeves attached to the carriage for guiding vertical movement of the posts relative to the carriage.
  • the posts include outer guide sleeves for surrounding the guide sleeves attached to the carriage to further facilitate guiding of the posts relative to the guide sleeves attached to the carriage.
  • the support member further includes pedestals coupled to the carriage, the pedestals supporting a cylinder mounting plate for mounting a cylinder of the ram.
  • the invention may also be said to reside in a seal integrity monitoring system for a filling and heat sealing line for monitoring the integrity of a seal between a web and a container, including; a plurality of carrier plates for carrying containers; filling means for filling material into the containers; sealing means for sealing the web to the filled containers ; cutting means for cutting the sealed web from the containers ; a sensor for inspecting the containers; and processing means for receiving information from the sensor and from that information determining whether the web is properly sealed to the container.
  • the system includes a shroud for enclosing the sensor and a light source for ensuring substantially uniform light intensity within the shroud and over the containers .
  • the senor comprises at least one camera .
  • the invention may also be said to reside in a seal integrity monitoring method for a container which has a closure web for closing the container, the closure web being adhered to a peripheral flange of the container, said method including; detecting the adhered web and flange with at least one camera; determining the intensity of light from the web and flange; comparing the determined intensity with a predetermined intensity; and determining the integrity of the seal between the web and the flange based on the comparison with the predetermined intensity.
  • seal faults such as wrinkles, poor alignment, and product inclusions within the seal between the closure web and the flange tend to be bright against the contrasting seal.
  • Foreign matter such as hair which may locate in the seal tends to be dark against the seal.
  • the method includes the step of converting data from the camera which represents the intensity of light from the web and flange, to a digital image and enhancing the image to highlight bright and dark regions and suppresses background image to enhance sensitivity of the data.
  • seal region between the flange and web is defined for analysis while the remainder of the image detected by the at least one camera is ignored.
  • the seal region is analysed by; defining a plurality of masks about the peripheral flange of the container, each of the masks bridging a section of the flange and the adhered web; defining the average light intensity value of pixels of the camera relating to each mask; and comparing the average light intensity of each mask to the predetermined intensity.
  • the method includes rejecting containers having a faulty seal at an ejection station.
  • the method includes the step of maintaining a data bank of containers having a faulty seal so that any trends in the formation of faulty seals can be determined.
  • each container is detected by a plurality of cameras with the image from each camera overlapping that of another camera so that the entire seal region of the container is detected.
  • This aspect of the invention may also be said to reside in apparatus for monitoring seal integrity of a container which has a closure web for closing the container, the closure web being adhered to a peripheral flange of the container, said apparatus including; at least one camera for detecting the adhered web and flange; and processing means for determining the intensity of light from the web and flange as detected by the at least one camera and for comparing the measured intensity with a predetermined intensity for determining the integrity of the seal between the web and the flange based on the comparison with the predetermined intensity.
  • the processor is also for converting data from the camera which represents the intensity of light from the web and seal, to a digital image and enhancing the image to highlight bright and dark regions and suppress background image to enhance sensitivity of the data.
  • the processor defines seal region between the flange and web for analysis while the remainder of the image detected by the at least one camera is ignored.
  • the processor analyses the seal region by; defining a plurality of masks about the peripheral flange of the container, each mask bridging a section of the flange and the adhered web; defining the average light intensity value of pixels of the camera relating to each mask; and comparing the average light intensity of each mask to the predetermined intensity.
  • the apparatus includes means for rejecting containers having a faulty seal at an ejection station.
  • the processor maintains a data bank of containers having a faulty seal so that any trends in the formation of faulty seals can be determined.
  • a plurality of cameras are provided with the image from each camera overlapping that of another camera so that the entire seal region of the container is detected.
  • the apparatus includes illumination means and a shroud for housing the illumination means to prevent interference from external light and to provide a substantially uniform illumination of the container.
  • the shroud is connected to a heat sealing and filling line and the at least one camera are mounted within the shroud but separate from the shroud so that vibration imparted to the shroud from the filling and heat sealing line is not transmitted to the at least one camera.
  • Figure 1 is a view of a filling and heat sealing line according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of cutting assembly used in the embodiment of Figure 1 as shown by the arrow 2 in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a view along the line 3-3 of Figure
  • Figure 4 is a view along the line 4-4 of Figure
  • Figure 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of Figure
  • Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but of a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic view of the filling and heat sealing line as shown in Figure 1 illustrating a vision system for monitoring seal integrity;
  • Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the vision system according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG 9 is a perspective view of a shroud used in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8;
  • Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which a plurality of cameras view each container;
  • Figure 11 is a view showing how the peripheral portion of a sealed container is divided into masks for analysis;
  • Figure 12 is a diagram showing an array of pixels within each camera used in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Figures 13a and 13b are diagrams showing light intensity measured in masks shown in Figure 11;
  • Figure 14 is a diagram used to explain how data is accumulated for determining trends in faults which may occur in the sealing of containers;
  • Figure 15 is a further diagram used to maintain data
  • Figure 16 is a diagram showing how sealed containers are removed from the conveyor system; and Figure 17 is a view showing further detail of an ejection station used in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • a filling and heat sealing line which includes a continuous chain conveyor 10 which has an upper run 12 and a lower return run 14.
  • the upper run 12 moves in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1 from a filling station (not shown) at which containers 15 (see Figure 5), such as cups, held within carrier plates 16 are filled with contents such as chopped or sliced fruit and juice.
  • the cups 15 are conventional in design and have a generally cylindrical wall, a base and an open top.
  • a peripheral flange extends about the open top integral with the cylindrical wall and, as will be explained hereinafter, to seal the container a web of material is adhered to the flange to provide a closure to the container in a heat sealing process as is well known.
  • the carrier plates 16 have two apertures 18 each for receiving a cup 15 so as to advance the cups 15 from the filling station to a dispensing station where the cups are removed from the carrier plate 16 and packaged for shipment.
  • the cups 15 are advanced by the chain conveyor 10 they move to a sealing station 20 in which a web 22 of material is guided by rollers 24 to a position adjacent the cups supported in the carrier plate 16.
  • the heat seal station 20 seals the web 22 to a flange adjacent the open end of the cups 15.
  • the cups having the web 22 sealed to them are then advanced past a seal integrity monitoring system 26 to a cutting station 28 at which the web 22 is cut about the periphery of the flange of the cups so as to leave a closure sealed to the cups.
  • the web 22 which has apertures 30 which are formed by the cutting operation is guided away from the carrier plates 16 via rollers 32 and 34 onto a wind up roll (not shown) .
  • the cups then continue to a dispensing station (not shown) where the cups are removed from the carrier plates 16 and are packaged for shipment .
  • the cutting station 28 includes a cutting assembly which is shown in detail in Figures 2 to 5.
  • the cutting assembly includes a support frame made up of vertical supports 36 and horizontal frame members 38 (best shown in Figure 4) .
  • Cross frame members 40 are also provided for supporting the upper run 12 of the chain conveyor 10 and also the lower run 14 of the chain conveyor 10.
  • the members 36 and 38 may form part of the frame support structure for the chain conveyor 10 or may be additional frame members included only in the cutting assembly 28.
  • the frame members 36 support upper beams 42 on which are mounted linear bearings 44.
  • the linear bearings 44 include a rail member 46 and a slide 48.
  • the slides 48 are connected to a carriage plate 50.
  • the carriage plate 50 is generally of u-shaped configuration and carries four support sleaves 52. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5 the support sleeves 52 have an upper portion 53, a flange 54 which sits on and is connected to the carriage plate 50 and a lower section 55 which extends through and below the carriage plate 50. Each of the sleeves 52 receives a post 56 which has an outer guide sleeve 58 coupled to it. The outer guide sleeve 58 is a generally tight fit on the sleeve 53 and can slide on the upper portion 53 of the guide sleeve 52. The bottom end of the posts are connected to cutting head support plates 57. The plates 57 each support a beam 59 which can facilitate alignment of the cutting assembly as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
  • a cutting head 60 is connected to the support plates 57 via coupling plates 61.
  • Bolts 62 pass through the coupling plate 61 into the cutting head 60 and the plates 61 are also bolted onto the adjustment beams 59.
  • the cutting head 60 can be removed from the cutting assembly by simply releasing the bolts 62 at each end of the plates 61.
  • the plates 61 are also bolted to the adjustment beams 59 by bolts 63.
  • the cutting head 60 is conventional in design and therefore will not be described in detail .
  • the cutting head 60 includes conduits 69 for supply of heating current / fluid to operate the cutting head 60.
  • the cutting head 60 includes knife edge portions 190 which are carried by a lower plate 191 of the cutting head 60.
  • Bolts 192 extend between an upper plate 194 of the cutting head 60 to which the coupling plate 61 is connected.
  • the plate 194 can move relative to the plate 191 during application of the cutting head 60 to the web 22 and cups 15 to facilitate downward pressure of the cutting head 60 onto the web 22 to cut the web 22.
  • the carriage 50 has a pair of upstanding support brackets 70 in which are journaled a rod 72.
  • the rod 72 has a link 74 fixed to it and the link 74 is pivotally connected to ram arm 76 of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 78.
  • the arm 76 is pivotally connected to the link 74 by a bifurcated bracket 78 and a pivot pin 79.
  • the cylinder 78 is pivotally coupled to the carriage 50 by brackets 80 (only one shown in Figure 5) and pivot pins 82.
  • the ends of the rod 72 have fixed links 88 which at their fee ends carry rollers 90 mounted on axels 92 fixed to the links 88.
  • the rollers 92 are received within tracks 100.
  • the tracks 100 are attached to support beams 102.
  • Each of the support beams 102 are coupled between a pair of the posts 56 and their respective outer guide sleeves 58.
  • a servo motor 120 is mounted between the upper run 12 and lower run 14 of the chain conveyor 10.
  • the servomotor 120 has an output shaft 122 on which is mounted an output pulley 124.
  • the output pulley 124 receives an endless belt 126.
  • the endless belt 126 also surrounds a large pulley 128 mounted on a shaft 130.
  • the shaft 130 also carries a small pulley 132.
  • Guide pulleys 134 and end pulleys 136 receive an endless belt 138 which also engages the pulley 132.
  • the endless belt 138 is clamped to a bracket 140 by a clamp plate 142, clamp pads 144 and bolts 146.
  • the bracket 140 is also bolted to the carriage 50 by bolts 149 (see Figure 2) .
  • the endless belt 138 is coupled to the carriage 50 by the bracket 140.
  • the pulleys 132, 134, 136 together with the endless belt 138 may be housed within the housing 150 which has an opening 152 to receive the shaft 130 which is also coupled to the pulley 128.
  • the pulley 124 When the servomotor 120 is operated the pulley 124 is driven to in turn drive the belt 126 which drives the pulley 128.
  • the pulley 128 rotates the shaft 130 and therefore the pulley 132 which drives the belt 138 around guide rollers 134 and end rollers 136. Since the carriage plate 50 is coupled to the belt 138 via the bracket 140 the carriage 50 is driven with the belt 138 with the carriage 50 riding on the linear bearings 44.
  • the carriage 50 can therefore be driven from a rearward most position P in Figure 3 to a forward most position PI in Figure 3 and then by reversing the servomotor 120 can be driven back from the position Pi to the position P.
  • the carriage 50 and therefore the entire cutting assembly can reciprocate back and forward between the positions P and Pi in Figure 3 under the control of the servomotor 120.
  • the servomotor 120 is controlled in speed and the reduction ratio between the pulley 124 and 128 is such that the speed of movement of the carriage 50 from the position P to the position Pi is the same as the speed of movement of the chain conveyor 10 which conveys the carrier plate 16 and therefore the cups 15 through the cutting station 28.
  • the return speed from the position Pi to the position P can be much faster so that the carriage 50 can quickly return from the position Pi after a first cutting operation on a number of the carrier plates 16 is performed so that the cutting operation on the next set of carrier plates 16 (and the cups 15 and webs 22 associated with them) can be preformed.
  • the cylinder 78 is actuated to move the ram arm 76 between an extended and a retracted position so as to pivot link 74 between the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 and the position shown in phantom in Figure 5, as illustrated by arrow C.
  • Extension and retraction of the arm 76 therefore rotates the rod 72 about its longitudinal axis which causes the links 88 to rotate with the rod 72 in the direction of double headed arrow D between the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 and the position shown in phantom in Figure 3.
  • the rollers 90 will roll within the tracks 100 which are connected to the beams 102 and the pivotal movement of the links 88 and rolling of the rollers 90 will cause the beams 102 to raise or lower in the direction of double headed arrow E in Figure 5. This in turn will cause the posts 56 and the outer guide sleeve 58 to raise and lower relative to the sleeves 52 to in turn raise and lower the cutting head 60.
  • the links 88 are in an almost horizontal position with the rollers 90 at one end of the tracks 100 and therefore the beams 102 and posts 56 are in a lower most position in which the cutting head 60 is forced down against the web 22 and cups 15 to cut the web 22 about the flange of the cups 15 so as to separate the adhered portion of the web 22 which is connected to the cups 15 from the remainder of the web.
  • the sequence of operation is that when the carriage 50 has been moved by the servo motor 120 to the rear most position P shown in Figure 3 the cylinder 78 has retracted the cutting head so that the cutting head 60 is in the upper most position shown by the upward position P2 of the beam 102 identified in phantom in Figure 5.
  • the cylinder 78 is operated so as to cause the beams 102 to move downwardly in the direction of arrow M so that the cutting head 60 engages the web 22 and the cups 15 within the carrier plates 16.
  • a cutting operation therefore takes place so as to cut the web 22 as the carriage 50 moves from the position P to the position PI. Since the movement is a linear movement the time of engagement of the cutting head 60 with the web 22 is relatively long and therefore a good cutting operation can be performed.
  • the ram 78 is operated so as to cause the cutting head 60 to move to the uppermost position away from the web 22 and the servomotor 120 is very quickly reversed so that the carriage 50 moves rapidly back to the position
  • the movement of the carriage 50 allows a lengthy engagement between the cutting head 60 and the web 22 and cups 15 to cut the web during movement from position P to Pi and then rapid return of the carriage 50 back to the position P for the next cutting operation.
  • the cutting head 60 can be adjusted in position relative to the conveyor 12 during assembly by six nut and bolt assemblies 180.
  • the assemblies 180 which are best shown in Figure 2 include a nut 181 which screw threads through a lug 182 which is fixed onto one of the support plates 57.
  • the nuts 181 carry abutment nuts 183 at their end which engage a side or an end of the adjustment beams 59.
  • the beams 59 can be moved in position slightly in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor by manipulation of the assemblies 180 at each end of the adjustment beams 59.
  • the assemblies 180 on side of the adjustment beams 59 the cutting assembly 60 can be angled slightly to ensure that it is in proper alignment with the conveyor 12 and the carrier plates 16 carried by the upper run 12 of the conveyor chain 10.
  • the adjustment assemblies 180 also enable slight adjustments to be made of the position of the carrier head 60 relative to the plate 16 from time to time during operation of the line should that be necessary.
  • Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of a mechanism for moving the carrier head 60 into engagement with the carrier plate 16 for performing a cutting operation. This embodiment may be preferred over the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 because it involves less moving parts and therefore is less susceptible to wear. Like reference numerals used in Figure 6 illustrate the same parts as those described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
  • the carriage 50 supports a number of pedestals 232 (only two shown in Figure 6) instead of the support brackets 70.
  • the pedestals 232 support a ram mounting plate 234 on which is mounted cylinder 235 of a ram 236.
  • the ram 236 has a ram arm 238 which is coupled to lateral cross-bars 230 (only one shown) .
  • the lateral cross-bars 230 in turn are coupled to support beams 237 which extend between posts 56 on respective sides of the mechanism shown in Figure 6.
  • the ram arm 238 is extended or retracted to raise or lower the lateral crossbars 230 which in turn raises and lowers the posts 56 in the same manner as previously described to raise and lower the cutting head 60.
  • shock absorbers 238 may be interconnected between the carriage 50 and the coupling plate 61 for damping movement and vibration of the cutting head 60.
  • the seal integrity monitoring system 26 previously mentioned with reference to Figure 1 includes a shroud 300 which is mounted on the filling and heat sealing line as will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 8.
  • the shroud 300 contains one or more light sources which are preferably linear fluorescent lamps 302 which are driven at high frequency (of for example 85 Khz) by light driver (not shown) .
  • the light provided by the lamps 302 is intended to be uniform, flicker-free and consistent to allow optimum conditions for image analysis and in particular to achieve maximum contrast between the background and the sealed region of a container which is the region where web 22 is adhered to the peripheral flange of the cups 15 in the sealing station 20.
  • a plurality of cameras 310 are arranged within the shroud 300 (shown separate in Figure 7 for ease of illustration) and are coupled to a processor 320 for the processing of data provided by the camera 310.
  • a monitor 322 is coupled to the processor 320 for displaying information produced by the processor 320 and also inputting commands into the processor 320.
  • the processor 320 is also coupled to a pneumatic ejection system 330 which is of conventional design and which is shown schematically in Figures 16 and 17 for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • a pneumatic ejection system 330 which is of conventional design and which is shown schematically in Figures 16 and 17 for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the pneumatic ejection system 330 was used to divert filled containers to enable sampling to take place or to dump unwanted product which may be produced during initial set up of the machine and which may not be properly prepared due to it being cold etc.
  • the pneumatic ejection system 330 operates in identical fashion to conventional systems expect that rather than being manually controlled by an operator, when the operator whishes divert containers, the ejection system 330 is actuated by the processor 320 when the processor determines that the faulty seal does exist between the cup 15 and the web 22.
  • the processor 320 is also coupled to a servomotor schematically shown by reference numeral 325 in Figure 7 which controls speed and movement of the continuous chain conveyor 10 so that positional information relating to the position of the carrier plates 16 can be determined to trigger the cameras 310 when containers carried by the carrier plates 16 are at a predetermined position beneath the cameras 310.
  • the shroud 310 is mounted on frame members 36 of the filling line via support frames 340 and cross frame members 342 (only one shown in Figure 8) .
  • the cameras 310 are mounted on a camera head 310 which inserts into the top of the shroud 300 and which is supported by a support beam 344 which is integral with a support post 346 which is fixed to the floor or ground on which the filling line is supported.
  • the support posts 346 and the camera head 312 is separate from the filling line so that any vibration of the filling line is not imparted to the camera head 312 and therefore the cameras 310.
  • a outer frame structure 350 may be provided about the filling line for supporting cables and other electrical wiring required to operate the cameras 310 and lamps 302.
  • the shroud 300 is open at top 301 so that the camera head 312 can be inserted into the shroud 300 without contacting the shroud 300.
  • the shroud 300 is, as would be obvious, open at the bottom and may have cut-outs 303 (only one shown in Figure 9) so that the shroud 300 can easily nest over the carrier plates 16.
  • the shroud 300 may also have doors 305 and 307 so that access can be gained to the interior of the shroud 300 for adjustment and maintenance of the cameras 310 and lamps 302 if required.
  • each of the carrier plates 16 carries two cups in side by side relationship.
  • two lines of cups 15 are advanced along the filling and heat sealing line past the monitoring system 26 by the continuous chain conveyor 10 as shown by arrows A and B in Figure 1.
  • the camera head 312 supports eight cameras 310 so that four of those cameras inspect one cup in one of the apertures 18 of each carrier plate 16 and the other four cameras inspect the other cup 15 in the other aperture 18 of the carrier plate 16.
  • the camera arrangement may comprise a single camera for viewing a single cup carried by the carrier plate 16. This reduces the number of cameras which are required in the system.
  • each cup 15 has a flange 15a to which the web 22 is adhered in the heat sealing station 20.
  • the seal region of the cups 15 is effectively defined by the flange 15a.
  • Four cameras shown by reference numbers 310a to 310d in Figure 10 inspect each cup 15 by dividing seal region formed by flange 15a into quadrants . This achieves a high level of resolution of the seal region. As shown in Figure 10 there is some overlap between each camera 310a to 310d to ensure analysis of the full seal region.
  • a faulty seal can be created by wrinkles within the seal region formed by a wrinkling or folding of the web 22, air bubbles within the seal region, a poorly aligned seal, or product contamination such as food product within the seal, or other contamination such as hair or the like within the seal.
  • the inspection of the seals was performed after the cups 15 were produced and allowed to incubate for a predetermined time (such as two weeks). Thus, inspection was not on line.
  • the inspection took place by manual inspection of containers before final packaging and shipment. Obviously this repetitive human response can tire and loose precision and is always subject to human error and is therefore somewhat ad hock in the detection of improperly sealed containers .
  • the system according to the preferred embodiment of the invention overcomes these problems by automating the monitoring of the seal integrity and ensuring that a much better level of detection of faulty seals is achieved and preferably all faulty seals are detected and identified.
  • the image obtained by the cameras 310 for each of the containers 15 comprises an image of the seal region of the cups 15 and this image is analysed for variations and uniformity of the seal region so that any variation in uniformity is detected and the relevant cup 15 can be removed for closer inspection or complete rejection.
  • the cameras 310 are preferably solid state black and white shutter cameras suitable for high speed operation (1/2000 sec.) cameras and composed of array of pixels or. Each pixel measures the intensity of light that it is exposed to. The measurement of light is related to a grey scale where there are 256 shades of grey ranging from the lowest intensity which is black (0) to the highest intensity which is white (255), within the processor 320.
  • resolution of the camera 310 is X x Y pixels.
  • the number of rows X shown in Figure 12 may be 484 and the number of columns Y may be 512 making 484 x 512 pixels.
  • Light L from the region 15a images on the pixels 370 produces an output voltage from each pixel which is dependant on the light intensity which images on the pixel.
  • the cameras 310 are mounted directly above the carrier plate 16 as previously described.
  • the cameras 310 are triggered by the processor 350 based on data received from servo-motor 325 so that the cameras 310 are triggered exactly when cups 15 are presented below the cameras 310 and with each cup in turn being presented in exactly the same position for imaging by the cameras 310.
  • the output from the pixels 370 (namely the output from the cameras 310) is received by the processor 320.
  • Initial data from the cameras 310 which is analogrue data is converted to a digital image within the processor 320 and can be enhanced for evaluation within the processor 320.
  • the enhancement may include edge enhancement which functions to highlight bright and dark regions and background suppression which alters the grey scale to enhance sensitivity of the data.
  • the processor 320 determines the average value of the pixels within each mask 360 as shown schematically in Figure 13a and 13b for two such masks .
  • the masks shown in Figure 13 which may be defined by 63 pixels may have an average density value of 120.
  • this is intended to represent a properly sealed region of the flange 15a.
  • the masks 360 shown in Figure 13b has an imperfection in the seal which is shown by the circle in Figure 13b. This imperfection results in some of the pixels having a different light intensity from the others due to the imperfection increasing or decreasing the average light intensity of the pixels within that mask.
  • the average light intensity of the pixels in Figure 13b may be a value of 145 in view of the imperfection shown by the circle in Figure 13b.
  • the imperfection is detected as an increased light intensity and when measured against the grey scale may have a value of 145 as mentioned above compared to the value of 120 for the properly sealed region identified by the mask 360 in
  • the processor 320 is programmed to provide a grey scale value or range of grey scale values which will identify a properly sealed container and any value outside that range is taken as being an improperly sealed container.
  • the predetermined intensity value of the grey scale may be an average density value of from 115 to 125.
  • the average density value of 145 for the mask 360 shown in Figure 13b falls outside the predetermined range of 115 to 125 therefore indicating an improperly sealed container.
  • the processor 320 outputs a signal to the pneumatic ejection system 330 to cause the appropriate container to be ejected by the ejection system 330 when that container reaches the ejection system 330.
  • the signals from the servo-motor 325 are used to monitor the progress of the faulty cup 15 along the heat sealing line until that cup reaches the ejection system 330 so that the ejection system 330 can be triggered at the right time to eject the faulty cup 15.
  • the ejection system which is of known design, is schematically shown in Figures 16 and 17 and includes a rotary member 372 which includes cam portions 374 which engage the bottom of the cups 15 as the cups 15 progress towards the end of the line and lift the cups 15 upwardly out of the carrier plates 16.
  • a paddle conveyor 370 which includes paddles 371 onto rails 380, 381 and 382.
  • the paddles 371 push the sealed cups 15 along the rails for collection at a packaging station where the cups may be packaged or collected for packaging into boxes for shipment.
  • one of the cups 15 carried by the carrier plate 16 will be received on rail 380 and rail 382 (i.e. that in line A) and the other cup 15 (i.e. that in line B) carried by the same plate 16 will be received on the rail 381 and the rail 380.
  • the rail 382 is a common rail for engagement beneath flanges 15a for both cups to support the cups as the cups are advanced by the paddle conveyor 370 between the rails 380-382 or 381-382.
  • part of the rails 380 and 381 are formed by a moveable section 383 which is connected to a pneumatic or hydraulic ram 384.
  • the rams 384 are controlled by processor 320 via signals which are applied on lines 321 and 322.
  • the processor 320 In the event of a faulty seal being detected the processor 320 outputs a signal on one of the lines 321 or 322 to cause the appropriate cylinder 384 to move the section 383 outwardly so as to provide a gap in the rail 380 or 381.
  • the container 15 When the container 15 reaches that gap it simply falls through between the rails 380-382 or 381-382 and is collected on a removal conveyor (not shown) below the rails 380, 382, 381 for transport to a rejection station.
  • the cup 15 can simply be rejected if desired or further inspected to determine the appropriateness of the seal.
  • the processor 320 triggers the cylinder 384 based on data received from the servomotor 325 which will be used to determine when the appropriate container 15 has travelled along the line to the ejection station 330.
  • the servo-motor 325 controls the movement of the chain conveyor 10 the exact position of the appropriate carrier plate 16 can be monitored, until the carrier plate 16 reaches the end of the line 10 and the cups 15 are transferred onto the rails 380 to 382.
  • the sections 383 are close to the location where the cups 15 transfer from the carrier plate 16 onto the rails 380 to 382 so that a short amount of travel along the rails 380 to 382 is required before the ejections station 330 is reached.
  • faulty cups 15 can be accurately rejected at the station 330 and then the cylinder 384 deactivated to cause the section 383 to again align with the rails 381 or 380 so that further properly sealed containers simply move along the rail 380-382 or 381-382 to the packing station.
  • Figures 14 and 15 show how trends in faulty sealed cups can be monitored so the data base can be maintained which can be used to determine whether there is a particular sealing head or a particular carrier plate which is contributing to faulty seals so that appropriate maintenance can be performed if desired.
  • Figures 14 and 15 are diagrams showing displays which may be displayed on the monitor for displaying information and also which may be used to input commands by touching the monitor. Alternatively commands could be input by a keyboard, mouse or the like as is known.
  • Figures 14 and 15 also serve the purpose of illustrating storage locations within the processor in which data is stored for ease of explanation.
  • Figure 1 is performed by, for example sixteen sealing heads.
  • sixteen sealing heads move down and engage eight of the carrier plates 16 during each cycle so as to seal the sixteen cups carried by those eight carrier plates 16.
  • each carrier plate 16 carries two cups and therefore some 16 cups are sealed in each cycle of the sealing station 20.
  • the sixteen sealing heads are aligned in two lines each having eight heads and corresponding to the lines of cups 15 marked A and B in Figure 17.
  • the cups which are advancing in one line A are, as identified in Figure 14, sealed by sealing heads which are identified by the references Al to A8.
  • the cups advancing in line B are sealed by sealing heads identified by the reference numerals Bl to B8.
  • the continuous chain conveyor 10 may carry, for example 312 carrier plates 16.
  • sealing head Al and the sealing head Bl will engage, for example carrier plate number 1, sealing head A2 and B2 will engage carrier plate number 2 and so on with sealing head A8 and B8 engaging carrier plate number 8.
  • sealing heads Al and Bl will engage carrier plate number 9 sealing heads A2 and B2 will engage carrier plate number 10 and so on with sealing heads A8 and B8 engaging carrier plate number 16.
  • the sealing head members Al and Bl will engage carrier plate number 17, the sealing head members A2 and B2 will engage carrier plate number 18 and so on with the sealing heads A8 and B8 engaging carrier plate number 25.
  • the carrier plate carrying the faulty cup can be identified from the positional data provided to the processor 320 from the servo-motor 325.
  • an entry is made in the storage location TOT shown in Figure 14 associated with the sealing head which was used to seal a particular cup. For example, if sealing head Al has produced a faulty cup the value in TOT is incremented by one.
  • the storage location SPL associated with each of heads Al to A8 and Bl to B8 shown in Figure 14 relates the number of faults which are detected in a particular sampling period.
  • the number of faults in the SPL storage location may be compared with a predetermined alarm value so that if the number of faults in a sampling period has recorded in the SPL storage location equals the alarm value number an alarm can be given.
  • a particular sample size can be set and displayed in sample size location 391 shown in Figure 14.
  • a sample size may be for example five-thousand indicating that the sample size required the inspection of five-thousand cups.
  • the alarm value may be set as five in the alarm value display 392 in Figure 14. Thus, in a sample period of some five-thousand cups faults will be recorded in the SPL storage locations and if the SPL value for any sealing head matches the number five an alarm will be given. After each sample size has been sampled the SPL value is reset to zero.
  • the TOT value for the heads Al to A8 are maintained to continue as record of the number of faults and is not reset after each sample period.
  • the TOT value could be reset daily or some other arbitrary time period as is required.
  • the reset totals display 393 in Figure 14 can be used to reset the sample size 391 or alarm value 392 if necessary or required.
  • Figure 15 shows a display which can be produced on monitor 322 by the processor 320 showing memory location associated with of the carrier plates 1, 9, 17, 26, 33 ...305 which are engaged by sealing head member Al.
  • the memory location TOT for carrier plate no. 89 is incremented by one.
  • the SPL value is incremented in so that when the SPL value reaches that number set in alarm value 392 an alarm can be given.
  • the TOT and SPL values for sealing head Al in Figure 14 are incremented by one as are the TOT and SPL values for carrier plate no. 89 in Figure 15 incremented by one.
  • an inspection of the display in Figure 15 will indicate whether the fault is actually being caused by the sealing head Al or by a particular one of the carrier plates which is associated with the sealing head Al .
  • the display 15 shows a random number of faults through the carrier plates 1, 9, 17, 26 up to 305 then it can be assumed that the carrier plates are not faulty and that the problem probably resides with sealing head Al in the sealing station 20.
  • an inspection of the display shown in Figure 15 reveals that all of the faults, for example are associated with carrier plate number no. 89 then it can be assumed that the carrier plate no. 89 is creating the problem and not the sealing head Al.
  • this enables the sealing head Al to be replaced or repaired as desired or the carrier plate no. 89 to be replaced or repaired as required.
  • a data bank of the faults actually recorded in the sealing of cups can be maintained to enable a determination to be made as to whether the faults are being caused by a faulty sealing head in the sealing station 20 or by faulty carrier plate 16 which carry the cups 15 along the line.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble de découpage et un système de surveillance d'étanchéité destinés à une chaîne de remplissage et de thermoscellage. Ce dispositif comprend un convoyeur continu (12) servant à déplacer des récipients (15) au-delà d'une station de remplissage, une station de thermoscellage (20), un système de surveillance d'étanchéité (26) ainsi qu'une station de découpage (28). Cette station de découpage (28) comprend une plaque de transport (50) et un élément de découpage (60, 190) monté sur cette plaque de transport (50). Une courroie d'entraînement (138) est reliée à la plaque de transport (50) de façon à entraîner ladite plaque de transport (50) sur des supports linéaires (44), un organe de levage (78, 238) étant destiné à lever l'ensemble de découpage (60), ledit ensemble de découpage (60) pouvant ainsi être levé et baissé au cours d'une opération de découpage. Un système de surveillance d'étanchéité comprend des caméras (310) permettant de surveiller la zone de scellage d'un récipient et d'acheminer des informations vers un processeur (320). Ledit processeur (320) analyse les données reçues par les caméras en déterminant l'intensité de gris de la lumière reçue et en comparant cette intensité de gris avec des intensités prédéterminées de façon à déterminer si le scellage est intact ou non.
PCT/AU2000/001251 1999-10-20 2000-10-13 Ensemble de decoupage et systeme de surveillance d'etancheite pour chaine de remplissage et de thermoscellage WO2001028865A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU78940/00A AU7894000A (en) 1999-10-20 2000-10-13 Cutting assembly and seal integrity monitoring system for a filling and heat sealing line

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPQ3550A AUPQ355099A0 (en) 1999-10-20 1999-10-20 Cutting assembly and seal integrity monitoring system for a filling and eat sealing line
AUPQ3550 1999-10-20
AUPQ5677 2000-02-16
AUPQ5677A AUPQ567700A0 (en) 2000-02-16 2000-02-16 Cutting assembly and seal integrity monitoring system for a filling and heat sealing line

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001028865A1 true WO2001028865A1 (fr) 2001-04-26

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WO2004020966A1 (fr) * 2002-08-30 2004-03-11 Tropicana Products, Inc. Procede de test d'integrite de fermeture pour operation d'embouteillage par remplissage a chaud
WO2006010086A2 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-01-26 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Machine pour la fermeture de cartons
US7798328B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2010-09-21 Meadwestvaco Corporation Insert for sleeve-and-insert type package
US7845496B2 (en) 2005-08-10 2010-12-07 Meadwestvaco Corporation Packaging system with an improved inner structure
US8132671B2 (en) 2004-10-11 2012-03-13 Meadwestvaco Corporation Blister card for child-resistant package
EP2520500A1 (fr) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-07 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co KG Station de découpage avec unité de découpage
EP2886472A1 (fr) * 2013-12-19 2015-06-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Système et procédé permettant d'assurer la précision de coupe dans un emballage de courrier
WO2015128198A1 (fr) * 2014-02-28 2015-09-03 Hochland Se Procédé et dispositif de guidage d'un outil
EP2800699B1 (fr) 2012-01-06 2016-01-06 GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH Machine d'emballage avec poste de découpe
US9994353B2 (en) 2014-04-25 2018-06-12 Westrock Mwv, Llc Lockable packaging
NL2022572B1 (en) * 2018-04-11 2019-08-26 Univ Xihua Test platform for sheared metal material wear with variable parameters

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US7105350B2 (en) 2002-08-30 2006-09-12 Tropicana Products, Inc. Closure integrity test method for hot-fill bottling operation
WO2004020966A1 (fr) * 2002-08-30 2004-03-11 Tropicana Products, Inc. Procede de test d'integrite de fermeture pour operation d'embouteillage par remplissage a chaud
WO2006010086A2 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-01-26 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Machine pour la fermeture de cartons
WO2006010086A3 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-08-10 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Machine pour la fermeture de cartons
US8561798B2 (en) 2004-10-11 2013-10-22 Meadwestvaco Corporation Slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve
US8132671B2 (en) 2004-10-11 2012-03-13 Meadwestvaco Corporation Blister card for child-resistant package
US9546035B2 (en) 2004-10-11 2017-01-17 Westrock Mwv, Llc Slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve
US8991603B2 (en) 2004-10-11 2015-03-31 Meadwestvaco Corporation Slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve
US7845496B2 (en) 2005-08-10 2010-12-07 Meadwestvaco Corporation Packaging system with an improved inner structure
US7798328B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2010-09-21 Meadwestvaco Corporation Insert for sleeve-and-insert type package
US9580193B2 (en) 2011-05-06 2017-02-28 Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller Se & Co. Kg Cutting station with complete cutting tool
DE102011100784A1 (de) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-08 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Gmbh & Co. Kg Schneidstation mit Komplettschnittwerkzeug
CN102774541A (zh) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-14 莫迪维克贸易有限公司 具有完结切割刀具的切割站
EP2520500A1 (fr) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-07 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co KG Station de découpage avec unité de découpage
EP2800699B1 (fr) 2012-01-06 2016-01-06 GEA Food Solutions Germany GmbH Machine d'emballage avec poste de découpe
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WO2015128198A1 (fr) * 2014-02-28 2015-09-03 Hochland Se Procédé et dispositif de guidage d'un outil
US10279406B2 (en) 2014-02-28 2019-05-07 Hochland Se Method and device for guiding a tool
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