Krones Ag

Anton Niedermeier

Stefan Piana

Peter Lindner

Thomas Philipp

Rainer Kwirandt

Rudolf Fiegler

Christian Detrois

Christof Will

Herbert Kolb

Roland Ederer

Simon Moewes

Karl Aichinger

Daniel Vogler

Alexander Hewicker

Reinhard Klinger

Thomas Bock

Sebastian Steger

A method for optically inspecting containers in a drinks processing system, wherein the containers are transported as a container mass flow using a transporter and captured as camera images by an inspection unit arranged in the drinks processing system, and wherein the camera images are inspected for faults by a first evaluation unit using a conventional image processing method, wherein the camera images with faulty containers are classified as fault images and the faults are correspondingly assigned to the fault images as fault markings, wherein the camera images with containers considered to be good quality are classified as fault-free images, the fault images, the fault markings and the fault-free images are compiled as a specific training data set, and wherein, using the specific training data set, a second evaluation unit is trained in situ with an image processing method working on the basis of artificial intelligence.

Method and device for optically inspecting containers in a drinks processing system

A method for inspecting containers with closures with a cap portion and a circumferential edge extending around the mouth of the containers. The containers are transported along a transport path by a transport device. During transport, the mouth regions of the containers with closures are illuminated by an illumination device, and at least one image recording device records at least one image of the mouth regions of the containers with closures, and records at least one spatially resolved image of a portion of the circumferential edge and one structure on the circumferential edge is detected, and, at least one value of this structure, a value characteristic of a relative position of the closure relative to the container and/or relative to the rotationally symmetrical element and/or of the closure is determined.

Support ring centering for closure inspection

The disclosure relates to a method for optically inspecting containers, wherein the containers are transported to an inspection unit with an illumination unit and with a camera, wherein the illumination unit emits light from a flat light-emitting surface, wherein the light is transmitted or reflected via the containers, wherein the camera captures a respective at least one of the containers and the light transmitted or reflected via same in at least one camera image, and wherein the at least one camera image is analysed by an image processing unit for intensity information in order to identify foreign bodies and/or defects in the container.

Method and device for optically inspecting containers

Method for optically inspecting containers, where the containers are transported to an inspection unit with an illumination unit and with a camera, where light emitted from a planar light-emitting surface of the illumination unit is transmitted or reflected via said containers, where the camera records in at least one camera image at least one of the respective containers and the light transmitted or reflected via them, where the light emitted from the light-emitting surface is locally encoded on the basis of a wavelength property and is recorded by the camera in such a way that different emission locations of the light-emitting surface can be distinguished from one another in the at least one camera image, and that the image processing unit evaluates the at least one camera image for location information of the emission locations, in order to distinguish the defects from the foreign objects.

Monitoring device () for monitoring a plurality of containers () which have been printed with at least one first image element (B-B) by a direct printing machine (), having a transport device () which supplies and/or discharges the printed containers () to be monitored along a predefined transport path, in particular individually and successively, to the monitoring device (), wherein the monitoring device () monitors the printed containers () at least with respect to the first image element (B-B) applied by the direct printing machine (), and has a memory device () which stores the at least one set of first image elements (B-B) to be monitored. According to the invention, for each container () to be monitored, the monitoring device () carries out monitoring taking into account at least one image element (B-B) uniquely assigned to this container () to be monitored from the set of first image elements (B-B) to be monitored.

Apparatus and method for monitoring printed containers

A device for inspecting containers which have an opening includes a transport device which transports the objects along a configured transport path. The device includes a monitoring device which is configured to monitor at least one region of an inner wall of the container through the opening. The monitoring device is configured to capture spatially resolved images, and has a lighting device configured to illuminate at least one region of the inner wall, is arranged between the monitoring device and the container.

Apparatus for inspecting containers, in particular cans

The invention relates to a direct printing device for applying a circumferential print onto containers with at least one container seam, comprising a printhead which is configured to print directly onto a container, a detection device which is adapted such that at least one predetermined feature of the container is detected, a computing device which is configured to determine whether and possibly how the container is to be oriented in order to be moved from an actual container orientation to a predetermined target container orientation, and an orientation device which is configured to orient the container to the target container orientation on the basis of the determination by the computing device. The target container orientation is predetermined such that the container seam is oriented relative to the printhead such that a print seam, which is produced during the application of a circumferential print, substantially coincides with the container seam.

Direct printing device for applying a circumferential print

A container inspection device and a container inspection method for inspecting containers are provided. The container inspection device comprises at least one light fixture for illuminating containers at a predetermined inspection instant of time for inspecting the containers, and an electrical line for connecting the at least one light fixture to an electrical energy supply and to a bus system, so that the electrical line serves both to supply the at least one light fixture with electrical energy and to connect with a real time data network.

Container inspection device and container inspection method for inspecting containers

An optical inspection method for containers. A container is at least partly illuminated or transilluminated with light of an illuminating device and captured from different viewing directions (R-R) as a camera image in each case by at least one camera. In a first image analysis step, first image information of a first inspection zone (A) of the container, for example a stain on a container front face, is ascertained from at least two of the camera images by stereoscopically pairing image points. In a second image analysis step, an individual camera image of the two camera images is analyzed, wherein the first image information is first excluded and second image information of a second inspection zone (B) of the container, for example a crack of a container rear face, is then ascertained.

Optical inspection method and optical inspection device for containers

A test container for checking container inspection machines, which inspection machines are suitable for examining at least a first category of containers for the presence of foreign bodies, with a main body in which a liquid is disposed, with a mouth via which the liquid is able to be introduced into the container, with a first closure by which the container is closed, wherein a foreign body which can be detected by the inspection machine is disposed in the container is provided. The container and/or the liquid disposed therein has a further substance or for example a transmitting device which can be detected by a user and/or by a detection device in order thus to distinguish the test container per se from another container of the category to be inspected.

Test container for testing inspection devices

A method and an apparatus for detecting bubbles and/or creases on labeled containers. Bubbles/creases can be detected without comparison with a previously stored reference recording by virtue of the fact that a label to be examined is illuminated with a first flash of light, for example using the surface radiator, and is recorded in a first camera image, that the label is also illuminated with at least one second flash of light, for example using the directional radiator, with a changed directional characteristic and is recorded in a second camera image, and that a brightness difference between the first and second camera images is calculated.

Method and apparatus for detecting bubbles and/or creases on labeled containers

A test container for checking container inspection machines, which inspection machines are suitable for examining at least a first category of containers for the presence of foreign bodies, with a man body in which a liquid is disposed, with a mouth via which the liquid is able to be introduced into the container, with a first closure by means of which the container is closed, wherein a foreign body which can be detected by the inspection machine is disposed in the container is provided. The container and/or the liquid disposed therein has a further substance or for example a transmitting device which can be detected by a user and/or by a detection device in order thus to distinguish the test container per se from another container of the category to be inspected.

An apparatus and a method for aligning containers, in particular bottles, in a labeler, the apparatus having rotatable holders for containers to be aligned, and a camera unit for imaging the containers as well as a proximity switch for triggering an imaging function of the camera unit. This allows a precise alignment in combination with a reduced expenditure of time and reduced space requirements.

Apparatus and method for aligning containers, in particular bottles, in a labeler

An apparatus for processing strips of labels includes a strip of labels having a plurality of individual labels following one after the other. The apparatus includes a conveying device that conveys the strip of labels along a conveying path, and a position detection device provided along the conveying path that detects a position of the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a processing device that is provided along the conveying path. The processing device includes a cutting unit that is constructed and arranged to cut the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a labelling device that is arranged downstream with respect to the processing device along the conveying path. The labelling device is constructed and arranged to attach processed labels to containers. The position detection device includes an image detection device that is configured to capture two-dimensional images of regions of the strip of labels.

Apparatus for processing strips of labels and methods of processing strips of labels

A method for quality control of a stretch-blow-molded plastic container by inspecting its base, which method is easy to execute and is not highly susceptible to faults. Such inspection of the container bases includes determining quality features such as the surface area of an unstretched and/or only slightly stretched region of the base of the plastic container.

Growing community of inventors

Offenstetten, Germany

Anton Niedermeier