Smart label inspection at La Lorraine
- Food & beverages
- Vision and measurement systems
Quality doesn't stop at the product itself. Packaging and correct product information also play a crucial role in the food industry. To further raise the quality of its packaging process, La Lorraine looked for a reliable solution to automatically inspect the labels on cake boxes.
Avoiding incorrect or incomplete labels
In the production of cake packaging, small deviations can have big consequences. Labels with information that is not fully legible, or with printed data that is not positioned correctly, must be avoided at all costs.
The challenges of this project:
- Different customers, different label variants;
- Barcodes are positioned in a different place on the label each time;
- Label colours vary per customer;
- Different sizes of cake boxes;
- Not only the presence of the label, but also the positioning and legibility of the barcode and printed data have to be checked.
Extensive testing as the basis for the concept
Together with SICK, we first carried out various tests on supplied label samples. This analysis allowed us to determine the most suitable sensors and detection method.
Based on these results, we developed a complete vision solution that was integrated directly into the existing conveyor system.
The installation consists of several components that work together to inspect each cake box individually. An opening was made in the conveyor system between the existing chain belts, so that a sensor could be placed underneath the conveyor line.
Every box is inspected automatically during transport, without interrupting the production flow.
Detecting the distance between products
In addition to the label inspection, the position of the cake boxes on the conveyor is also monitored.
An extra sensor at the side of the conveyor detects the leading and trailing edges of each cake box. Based on this timing, the system can determine whether two boxes are too close together or even touching.
This is an important check, as the label of a second box could otherwise fall partly or completely outside the camera's field of view. When such a situation is detected, the operator immediately receives a notification so that corrective action can be taken.
User-friendly operation via HMI
An intuitive control screen was provided for the operator.
Via this interface, operators can:
- View notifications and inspection results;
- Easily teach the system to inspect new products;
- Carry out product changeovers quickly;
- Save recipes for future use.
During a product changeover, one correct reference box is presented. The system then records the position of the label, the correct print data and the timing of the product on the conveyor. These settings are saved as a recipe for future production runs.
Ready for the future
In addition to the immediate quality improvement, future digitalisation was also taken into account.
The solution is prepared for further expansion via OPC UA, so that production and quality data can be integrated into La Lorraine's higher-level data system. This creates opportunities for extensive data capture, reporting and traceability.
Result: higher quality and less risk of complaints
Thanks to the new vision solution, La Lorraine now has automated quality control that inspects every package individually. Incorrect labels, wrongly positioned barcodes and illegible product information are detected immediately, before products leave the factory.
The result:
- A scalable solution for future production lines;
- Higher production quality;
- Less risk of customer complaints.
