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It allows to detect typical defects on PET preforms, which may be originated by improper injection moulding, improper preform handling or off-spec/contaminated PET chips fed into the injection moulding machine.

The Preformer has been validated after longrun tests by AMCOR, the biggest american manufacturer of PET preforms.

It is the first System really capable to match requests of moulding and blowing machines producers, of small companies trasforming plastic materials and of companies bottling water at spring.

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TYPICAL COMPOSITION Vision System

ACQUISITION UNIT

Up to five Monochromatic Camera Dedicated Lighting System (led stroboscope and fluorescent) Special Optical System Special Structure to support cameras and lighting system

PROCESSING UNIT

FALCON P4 Platform (based on Pentium 4 processor) Dedicated Software, easy to use by an user friendly Man-

Machine Interface (MMI)

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The System detects defects on the following zones:

Top sealing surface :ovalization, breaks, material leak, crystallizations

Lateral surface : inclusions, bubbles, burns, burned annular areas, flashes, streaks, malformations, colour changes, long injection point, scratches, dirt, humidity trace, contamination.

Bottom : crystallizations, burns, injection point deformity, contamination.

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Examples of TIPICAL DEFECTS ON TOP / BOTTOM SURFACE

TOP

material lack

BOTTOM

humidity trace

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TIPICAL DEFECTS ON LATERAL SURFACE

bubbles humidity trace inclusions

contamination injection point deformity streaks

GENERAL FEATURES (1)

The System can be used:

- before blowing station; - after press; - in stand alone configuration for selection

Maximum Production Rate: 22 * 103 pcs/h

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THE PREFORMER CAN HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF PREFORMS TYPES ANDDIMENSIONS WHILE JOB CHANGE IS EASY AND REQUIRES A RATHER SHORT TIME;THE PREFORM FEEDER IS A JAM-FREE DEVICE DUE TO ITS SPECIAL DESIGN

THE PREFORMER IS ABLE TO COUNT THE PROCESSED PREFORMS WITH VERY HIGHPRECISION AND RELIABILITY

Stand Alone ConfigurationPreformer Off-Line System

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The off-line configuration provides the installation of:

• a preform loading bin, fully built in AISI 304 stainless steel with internal plastic lining ableto prevent preforms damage during the unloading operation of the box; •·a preform elevator, able to carry the preforms up to the unscrambler section level• a preform unscrambler section, able to put the preforms in upright position• a preform gravity feeding section (feed ramp), equipped with two preform guides manuallyadjustable in accordance to the preforms size by means of a hand-wheel device•the standard Quality Control Module

HANDLING PRECISION

A SAFE AND VIBRATION FREE PREFORM HANDLING SYSTEM, COMPOSED OF ARUGGED BUT FULLY MACHINED CHAIN, FITTED WITH 30 AUTOMATIC GRIPASSEMBLIES EACH EQUIPPED WITH ONE FIXED ARM AND ONE MOVABLE ONE,WHICH CAN BE EASY REPLACED BY ONE ONLY FIXING SCREW: EACH PREFORM IS CARRIED IN FRONT OF THE CCD CAMERAS IN A VERY STABLE AND VERTICALPOSITION, ENSURING THE SHOT OF A HIGH DEFINITION IMAGE

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Working principle (1)

Lateral controlFor lateral surface defect detection the system elaborates the image of the sample illuminated in transmission. In this case defects (a bubble or a foreign body for example) scatters out radiationfrom the image and they will appear darker than the surroundings.

Generally theminimum defect that can be detected depends on the optical system parameters and on the quality of the illumination system.The system is able to detect defects smaller than 0.35 mm when inspecting a 150 mm region.

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Bottom control

The method to detect defect on the bottom of the preform is similar to the lateral control.

Back light

Camera

Working principle (2)

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Working principle (3)

Ring control

To detect preform ring defects Falcon system observes the light reflected by the ring. Ring defects reflect light out of the main beam and they appear darker then the rest of the image.

Camera

Special led unit

Defect reflects light at large angles and are notcollected by camera lenses

SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATION(click on image to start movie)

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PRODUCT SPECIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE (OFF-LINE SYSTEM)

Inspection scope: top sealing surface, sidewall, bottomfinish dimension: ->to be designed and offered as an option

Speed: max. 22,000 preforms/hour

Preform type: Length from 50 to 180 mm or 2-8 inches for bottle capacity from 0.5 to 3 litresFinish from 28 to 43 mmWeight from 14 to 100 gramsColour any colour including but not limited to clear, brown, green and blue

Job change: from 15 to 60 minutes when necessary parts are available

Certification of parts: CE, TUV

UtilitiesElectrical power: 3-phase 400 V-50 Hz or 440 V-60 HzCompressed air: 7 bar/100 psiOperating environment :up to 40° C (limitation due to computer system)

View of the Preformer for off-line selection

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