Missing THT date: now what?

Even if the quality of a packaged fresh food product is as good as it is: if the sticker on the package is incorrect, the product is unsaleable. For supermarket chain Jumbo, among others. This chain therefore asked supplier Hessing whether the packaging or THT date was always printed. With this question, the company went to machine builder IFS Netherlands. Vierpool was called in to help think of an innovative and cost-effective solution.

IFS Netherlands is exclusive agent of Marel end-of-line equipment in the Benelux and focuses in particular on end-of-line processing at fresh packers. This is the process after packaging in consumer units and includes weighing and labeling systems. One of its customers is Hessing, which supplies Jumbo supermarkets, among others. This supermarket chain expressly wanted to control the labeling process. 

Need

This question did not come out of the blue. The information on, among other things, compiled
fresh meals and other food products is produced by printing or labeling systems. In doing so, it is crucial that each package is properly labeled with information about the contents - in the correct language - but also with the correct best-before date or packaging date. Due to staff shortages, increasing automation and the increasing throughput rates, it can happen that an incorrect label or missing THT date may not be noticed until late, or not at all, until the supermarket or end user concerned contacts slightly irritated.

Solution

One way to check the presence of the date and the accuracy of the label is to employ a sophisticated vision system. Good and reliable, but also often expensive and complex. Together with Jumbo, Hessing was looking for a more solid, smart solution. IFS Netherlands then recommended the Smart vision sensor from Datasensing, which is supplied by Vierpool. The operation of this sensor is based on Artificial Intelligence Technology and Machine Learning algorithms. Through a teach-in button, it first learns in a short time what a "right" and a "wrong" label is and that there should be a THT date on the package. After this learning process, he is able to independently determine at speeds of up to 1,200 products per minute whether a package is right or wrong. He reports his findings directly back to the controller. Any packaging that is "right" goes unhindered. If the sensor gives a "no go" - for example, because the date is missing - these packages will be ejected from the line.

The proposed solution has now been tested in practice in a collaboration between Hessing, IFS and Vierpool. Based on the findings, IFS incorporated this sensor into the machine for Hessing. 

Convenience for the machine builder

In addition to being significantly less expensive than a complete vision system, the vision sensor offers further advantages for the machine builder including easy assembly and installation. Positioning and mounting, for example, is done using visible and bright red alignment spots. Adjustment is also easy with manual or remote operation of the aforementioned teach-in button. And of course, the vision sensor is also suitable for a multitude of other applications. In fact, anywhere that involves reliable and efficient detection or monitoring of objects: are they present at all, are they positioned correctly? And so on. The Electronic Focus Control in combination with High Power white polarized lighting makes detection also possible on "tricky" materials such as metal, glass or otherwise shiny surfaces. 

Contact Vierpool to discuss the possibilities in your application. Experienced specialists are knowledgeable about a variety of applications and will be happy to come by with no obligation to test your application as well.