Medical Device Link.

PACKAGING RESOURCE CENTER



Bar Code Reader

A bar code reader is designed for detecting all standard bar codes including1-D and 2-D codes and copy bar. The CopyGuard stand-alone reader is designed to scan every product and reject or shut down when mixed product or poorly printed codes are detected. The system features a high-speed code reader that can scan 2000 reads per second in straight-line or raster mode. It also features individual scanning trigger software. Good-read, no-read, and no-match outputs are indicated on the display screen. Cartons with incorrect, unreadable, or missing bar codes will automatically shut down the machine or track the carton for automatic rejection. The system can be programmed to shut down the machine after consecutive failures. Bar codes can be stored in the system. W. H. Leary Co. Inc., Tinley Park, IL; 708/444-4900; www.whleary.com.

Insert/Outsert Counter

A provider of machine vision prod-ucts offers a PC-based, automated insert/outsert counting system. The Count Accura is specifically designed for use when exact counts of boxes or trays of inserts/outserts are required for FDA compliance, validation, or reconciliation purposes. It features a six-megapixel, high-resolution camera and lens with proprietary image processing and analysis software. The imaging hardware and lighting system are designed to supply uniform illu-mination over larger fields of view. The counter can handle boxes of inserts/outserts up to 12 × 24 in. in size, containing a maximum of eight rows of up to 250 inserts each. Custom solutions can be configured for boxes that exceed the standard system’s capabilities. All configurations created during setup are stored in data files. The counter also features a 300% redundancy check in its processing in addition to an optional manual verification mode. The Value Engineering Alliance, Cambridge, MA; 617/492-1252; www.The-V-E-A.com.

Vision Inspection System

A company offers a vision inspection system for quality control to be used in offset applications and large-format printing processes. The company has partnered with Cruse GmbH to equip its inspection systems with Cruse’s large-format print scanners. The scanners use flatbed technology designed to allow edge-to-edge inspection and avoids mechanical stress on the print samples during the scanning process. Print samples are placed on the scanner face up, which enables offset applications that involve wet print samples to be scanned right off the press. The company also provides offline print inspection systems and automated content verification solutions for narrow-web, large-format, and offset applications including heat-transfer labels, pharmaceutical inserts, and folding cartons. The company’s Proofiler machine is designed to scan a set of folding cartons on a 28 × 40-in. print sample in about 80 seconds. It generates a full report after a few minutes of inspection. EyeC-America LLC, Akron, OH; 330/644-6841; www.eyec-america.com.

Particle Inspection

A company offers an automatic vision inspection machine for particle inspection of ampules, vials, or dental cartridges. The Model K32 can inspect both liquid and lyophilized products. The system features multiple reject trays that allow for separation of rejected containers into reject cat-egories. It also is designed to use bubble-removing techniques to distinguish naturally occurring bubbles from particles. The machine uses an LED light source and a programmable logic controller. The company also offers additional inspection methods. Brevetti CEA, Sovizzo, Italy; +39 0444 551988; www.brevetti-cea.com.

Color Inspection

A color-inspection system is designed for pharmaceutical lines. The VisioChrom HR features line-scan technology with a pixel resolution up to eight times higher than a matrix camera system. This enables the system to detect small impurities and defects. A second camera can detect defects on the bottom side of the product after sealing. The system also features a PC with external interfaces, a touch screen camera unit with an illumination device, and it can be linked to a line or superordinate network. The company’s VisioScan inspects surface areas of aluminum foils and films that are subjected to mechanical stress during the packaging process to detect damage in the material down to 10 µm. Both inspection systems are part of the company’s Visio4U system. Uhlmann VisioTec GmbH, Laupheim, Germany; +49 73 927 020; www.ulhmann-visiotec.com.

Thickness Measurement

A precision thickness measurement system is designed for gauging measurement of multilayer extrusions, flat stock, adhesives, and injection-molded parts. The OptiGauge system features a noncontact IR probe that scans at 30 Hz+ and can be installed on the manufacturing line, in the QC lab, or both. The system provides simultaneous, multiple-layer readouts of plastic or glass components from thicknesses of 12 µm to 20 ml with an accuracy of 0.1 µm. The system’s telecom-grade fiber-optic probes can be multiplexed for up to eight inspection points with almost any distance separation. The system can read wall thickness, ID, OD, and opposite wall thickness without using water immersion for on- or off-line medical tubing inspection. It can produce up to 30 measurements of thickness per second of all layers in a single pass when monitoring cast and blown films and packaging. Lumetrics Inc., Rochester, NY; 866/524-2455; www.lumetrics.net.

Rugged Sensor

A stainless-steel vision sensor meets IEC specifications for shock and vibration and achieves an IP 68/NEMA 6P rating that stands up to chemical wash-down and submersion. The In-Sight 5400S can be used to sort objects, detect proper fill levels, inspect labels and safety seals, verify date and lot codes, read linear and 2-D codes, and count and verify products in cartons. It can be supplied with a library of vision software as well as built-in Ethernet communications and In-Sight Explorer software with advanced tools to simplify application development and network administration. PatMax, which can be used for feature and object location, is available as an option. Cognex Corp., Natick, MA; 877/264-6391; www.cognex.com.

Spectrometers

Portable postdispersive spectrometers can be used with solids, powders, slurries, and liquids in many forms. The LabSpec 2500/2600 series features an ultrarugged package with nonslip urethane end caps and expanded temperature-operating parameters for use in extreme environments. The spectrometers feature enhanced re-mote diagnostics, embedded remote trigger ports, and the company’s new NIR cooled InGaAs TurboScanner. In addition to running the firm’s Indico Pro software, the series in-cludes streamlined compatibility with LabView software for autonomous control of the spectrometer. Analytical Spectral Devices, Boulder, CO; 303/444-6522; www.asdi.com