Glass Container X-ray Inspection Systems
Product safety and quality assurance for glass containers
Glass Applications
METTLER TOLEDO Safeline offers glass x-ray inspection systems that are relied upon by food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide to protect product safety and integrity. X-ray inspection systems are ideal for detecting physical contaminants in glass containers (such as bottles and jars) containing a broad range of products such as condiments and sauces, meat, poultry, fish and seafood, fruit and vegetables, infant feeding products, ready meals, and dairy as well as beverages and medicines.
High-speed Inspection
Glass container x-ray inspection systems can detect a wide range of physical contaminants such as shards of glass, metal, calcified bone and high density plastics. Detection is possible irrespective of contaminant shape, size or location within the glass container, and can be inspected at high line speeds. Our automated x-ray inspection systems help to protect consumers against substandard products, minimizing the risk of product recalls and helping manufacturers uphold brand integrity.
Product Safety and Quality Control
Our glass container x-ray inspection systems are able to provide contamination detection while simultaneously performing a range of quality control checks. Manufacturers can optimize overall production line efficiency, avoid product waste and keep customer satisfaction high by detecting under-and over-filling of products in glass packaging such as bottles and jars. In addition, examining for the presence and secure positioning of lids will protect product freshness and avoid the potential risk of bacterial contamination.
Improved Container Inspection
All of our x-ray inspection systems detect glass contaminants, but our systems specifically developed for glass-in-glass detection provide all-round glass inspection by reducing blind spots in the base, sidewalls and neck of the glass container. Optimal glass-in-glass detection can be obtained using either a combination beam x-ray system, or a system with an angled single x-ray beam. Solutions are available which can detect and remove glass contaminants within glass packages at high throughputs.
FAQ's
What are the challenges with inspecting glass containers for contaminants?
Glass containers are one of the most challenging products to inspect, mainly because the primary contaminant is glass, which is the same material and density as the packaging. The density of the material, the base, sidewalls and neck of the glass container can all cause blind spots, making the inspection even more challenging. This means potential contaminants - such as a shard of glass - can go undetected. METTLER TOLEDO offers a range of glass inspection systems to provide detection for all physical contaminants.
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Can glass containers diminish the performance of industrial x-ray inspection systems?
Glass containers often have many natural variations and inconsistencies throughout the container material. While the overall weight and outer shape of a bottle or jar remain consistent from the mold, the varying thickness of the glass walls, and particularly the inner base, can be as much as 20 percent. This can make contamination detection challenging. METTLER TOLEDO offers a range of glass inspection systems to ensure all your physical contaminants are detected.
Various industrial x-ray inspection systems are available for the inspection of glass jars, bottles, and other glass containers, including systems with single beams, split beams, combination beams and angled beams.
How does an x-ray inspection system work to inspect products packaged in glass containers?
When it comes to inspecting products packaged in glass, horizontal beam x-ray systems are best suited for glass-in-glass inspection. The key factor in detection sensitivity for glass containers is the container depth, as the x-ray inspection beam has to pass through the product. The x-ray generator of a horizontal beam system is mounted in the side of the machine cabinet, scanning through the side of the container. This allows for easier contaminant detection in difficult-to-inspect areas such as the sidewalls and the base of the containers, which in turn minimizes false rejects.
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Do multiple beams offer advantages when inspecting glass containers?
The probability of contaminant detection can be improved by using two or more x-ray beams. For example; a fragment of glass is never a perfect sphere, rather it tends to be an irregularly-shaped shard. The more the physical contaminant lies in the path of the x-ray beam, the more product is displaced by the denser material, which makes the contaminant easier to detect. Inspecting the same container simultaneously from different angles increases the chance of shard detection.
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What types of test pieces should I use for validating glass x-ray inspection performance?
It is recommended that glass test pieces are made from the same material as the glass container you are inspecting, as this glass type is most representative of a possible contaminant. It is also recommended that irregularly-shaped glass fragments are used as these will provide the greatest challenge to x-ray inspection software tools.
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How can I prevent glass containers from being damaged when rejected from high-speed production lines?
A number of different reject systems are available for automated x-ray inspection systems. The correct choice will depend on several factors, such as the environment, belt speed and the weight and size of container. For high-speed applications, more advanced reject systems with careful product handling can be used. These smoothly divert containers at high speeds onto a parallel reject conveyor, preventing damage to the glass ccontainer.
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Can glass container x-ray inspection systems provide additional checks over and above contamination inspection?
In a single pass at high speeds, glass container x-ray inspection systems can perform several inspection tasks simultaneously including:
- Monitoring fill levels
- Detection of damaged containers
- Checking closures
This helps manufacturers protect the quality and integrity of their product before it leaves the manufacturing plant.
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White Paper: X-ray Inspection is More Than Just Contamination Detection
Are x-ray systems designed to inspect glass containers expensive to service?
Service contracts should form part of any industrial x-ray system purchase. Regular servicing of an x-ray system, including performance verification, will keep it operating at the optimum level of performance. Preventative maintenance enables manufacturers to avoid downtime issues due to unexpected maintenance work.
All METTLER TOLEDO X-Series X-ray System generators offer a five-year warranty when a service contract is purchased. By protecting the most valuable part of the x-ray machine, manufacturers can be confident that production uptime is maximized.
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