The Group completes and extends its metal graphics inspection and quality control range. Two versions, DECO and COAT, are available for the in-line inspection of decoration and coating quality over the entire surface of the metal sheet.
After ELIOSCAN – the latest step in the development of the MVS (metal vision system) range for in-line quality control of metal container decoration - Sacmi presents ECLIPSIM, the vision system for the inspection of lithographed and/or coated metal sheets that extends and completes the Group's "total quality control" capacity in the packaging field.
By focusing and enhancing the know-how developed in designing ultra-high speed in-line quality control systems, Sacmi has developed this latest machine which acts upstream from the can or cap component forming process. Traditionally, in fact, the metal sheets used to make the pack are lithographed and coated before the article is actually made, thus making it necessary to identify any defects before this happens.
Two machine versions have been developed and marketed. The first, ECLIPSIM-DECO, inspects lithographed sheets as large as 1000 x 1000 mm or even 1200 x 1200 mm. The inspection system also employs a linear colour video camera underneath which the metal sheet is 'photographed' to an accuracy of one tenth of a millimetre: this allows the system to identify every tiniest flaw of both the diffuse type (no colour or generalized colour alterations, colour adjustment or decoration squaring defects with respect to the edges of the sheet) and the point type such as the so-called "bull's eye" (small ring-like spots), scratching, smudging, missing ink, black dots and any contamination not immediately detectable with traditional solutions.
Following colorimetric science principles, ECLIPSIM DECO analyses the colour in the LAB space and measures any deviation of colour with respect to the ∆E parameter. Maximum inspection rates are 7,000 sheets per hour, with detection of even the slightest variation in the set lithography.
The same inspection rates and technology (linear camera) are also seen on ECLIPSIM- COAT, the second model developed by Sacmi for the inspection of painted (coated) metal sheets. Unlike ECLIPSIM-DECO, this version uses patented Chrometriq lighting technology, already developed and used extensively in the MVS range. This technology takes into account the different behaviour of painted surfaces (they’re particularly reflective) and the peculiarities of their defects which, using traditional lighting techniques, would give rise to false rejects or false approvals. With Chrometriq, the lighting maximizes the contrast of the defect against the surface, ensuring it is detected by the CVS3000 software. Again, the high-resolution acquisition system ensures high-precision inspection as regards both diffuse defects (e.g. total or partial absence of paint) and ‘point’ defects (e.g. small black dots caused by soot, denting, oxidation, stains, oil contamination, mineral grease, water, lumps.
With ECLIPSIM, Sacmi essentially provides the world’s first complete inspection range for every step in the metal packaging manufacturing process (cans, lids, caps), from sheet to pack, from lid to complete can: in short, another milestone in "total quality control" at the service of food & beverage.
