DOWNSTREAM EQUIPMENT | MACHINERY
Taking a view: latest in downstream equipment
Visual inspection of finished film is a critical process for ensuring quality – as are many other downstream techniques including web cleaning and determination of coating weight
Modern plastic film comes off the line quickly, so machinery to check its quality must be able to stand the pace. Printed film in particular relies heavily on increasingly sophisticated vision systems – though other downstream techniques are also vital if quality is to be maintained. WM Thermoforming recently introduced an AI-powered vision system, allowing automated in-line inspection of thermoformed products. As well as detecting flaws, the system – devel-
oped by Ausil Systems of Spain – helps boost machine performance, says the company. During the manufacturing cycle time, the system
uses AI techniques to analyse the presence of tray defects. Acceptance or rejection criteria can be customized according to customer requirements. When defective trays are detected, the system identifies them on the HMI and activates an alarm. The defective trays are then removed from the production line automatically. WM lists a number of advantages of the vision system. One is that there is now no need for
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manual checks – as it can detect tiny flaws much more reliably than a human operator. In addition, the power of machine learning allows the system to improve continuously, effectively ‘learning’ the difference between acceptable and unacceptable trays. The system can be integrated seamlessly into a
production line.
Web viewing Isra Vision says that ViewStar – its web viewing system for printing applications – can speed up the printing process. Its ‘Register Control’ module auto- matically sets the flexographic printing units in the register. The system uses print marks to check the position of the respective colour printing unit and adjusts it for optimum register accuracy. Automat- ed adjustment saves labour time, material and energy – leading to higher efficiency and sustain- ability in production, says Isra. The company says that, in order to optimise printing processes and save costs, printers of
July/August 2024 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 33
Main image: WM’s AI- powered vision system detects flaws and helps to boost machine
performance
IMAGE: WM THERMOFORMING
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