Method and System for Checking the Color Quality of Preforms

• US 20140285805A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finatec Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Finatec Holding AG
• Inventors: Hermle, Matthias, Maibach, Fridolin, Schlup, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 9,638,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/7686 the ejected articles, e.g. weight control
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/253 Preform
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9081 Inspection especially designed for plastic containers, e.g. preforms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and the corresponding system for checking the color quality of preforms (2) intended for the manufacture of containers, in particular beverage bottles, the preforms (2) being transported to a collection vessel (4) by a transport device (3), and an image of the preforms (2) being made by means of an imaging device (6) and being transmitted to a processing device for checking, in which the preforms (2) are led unsorted into the collection vessel (4) upon leaving the transport device (3), the image being made between the leaving of the transport device (3) and the collection vessel (4), and in which the image is processed by the processing device in such a way that the color quality of the preforms (2) and/or defective preforms (2) are discovered.

Claims

1. A method of checking the color quality of preforms intended for the manufacture of containers, in particular beverage bottles, the preforms being transported by a transport device into a collection vessel, and an image of the preforms being made by an imaging device and being transmitted to a processing device for checking,

wherein

the preforms are led in an unordered way into a collection vessel upon leaving the transport device, the image being made between the leaving of the transport device and the collection vessel,

the image being processed by the processing device in such a way that the color quality of the preforms is checked and/or defective preforms discovered.

2. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 1, wherein the image of the preforms is made in front of a projection screen or a plate.

3. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein the preforms are led in free fall into the collection vessel after leaving the transport device or slide over the plate in such a way that they are led into the collection vessel.

4. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein the projection screen or the plate have a color having a good contrast to the color of the preforms.

5. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein the projection screen or the plate are at least partially transparent.

6. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein attachment means are provided with which the projection screen or the plate can be positioned.

7. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of images are evaluated in order to determine a defective series of preforms.

8. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 1, wherein the preforms are illuminated by means of at least one lighting fixture when making the image.

9. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 8, wherein the at least one lighting fixture is positioned in such a way that the preforms are illuminated from behind with respect to the imaging device.

10. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein the at least one portion of the plate is curved in at least one direction.

11. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 10, wherein the plate is curved in such a way that at least one channel for the sliding preforms is formed in the plate.

12. The method of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 2, wherein the plate is perforated.

13. A system of checking the color quality of preforms intended for the manufacture of containers, comprising a transport device for transporting preforms into a collection vessel and an imaging device for making an image of the preforms and for transmitting this image to a processing device for checking,

wherein

the preforms are able to be led into the collection vessel unsorted upon leaving the transport device, the image being made between the leaving of the transport device and the collection vessel, and

the image being able to be processed by the processing device in such a way that the color quality of the preforms are checked and/or defective preforms are able to be discovered.

14. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 13, wherein a projection screen or a plate is provided so that the image of the preforms is able to be made in front of the projection screen.

15. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein the preforms are able to slide over the plate.

16. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein the projection screen or the plate has a color having a good contrast to the color of the preforms.

17. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein the projection screen or the plate is at least partially transparent.

18. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein attachment means are provided with which the projection screen or the plate is able to be positioned.

19. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 13, wherein a lighting fixture is provided by means of which the preforms are able to be illuminated when making the image.

20. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 19, wherein the at least one lighting fixture is positioned behind the projection screen or the plate so that the preforms are able to be illuminated from behind with respect to the imaging device.

21. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of images are able to be evaluated in order to determine a defective series of preforms.

22. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein the plate is perforated.

23. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the plate is curved in at least one direction.

24. The system of checking the color quality of preforms according to claim 23, wherein the plate is curved in such a way that at least one channel for the sliding preforms is formed in the plate.