Mettler-Toledo Safeline Introduces Four-Beam, Glass-In-Glass Jar Inspection

Mettler-Toledo Safeline, the worldwide leader in metal detection and x-ray inspection equipment, presents the GlassChekPlus x-ray inspection system – a revolutionary new detection system for monitoring high risk products in glass jars. Developed using the company´s market-leading x-ray expertise, it represents a breakthrough in modern product inspection.

Thanks to its adaptive technology, the GlassChekPlus ensures fast and reliable detection of foreign bodies such as glass, metal and stone for guaranteed product quality and safety. It works by simultaneously scanning with one vertical and three horizontal x-rays beams. This maximizes coverage and probability of detection within the jar by reducing blind spots in the base, sidewalls and neck. Multiple inspection settings can be stored on a single system ensuring optimum detection whatever the jar´s size or shape. The GlassChekPlus is especially effective for wide neck jars and offers superior detection on shards of glass, as the four beams cover many possible orientations of placement. No manual realignment of the beams is required leading to increased line efficiencies.

"Foreign body detection in glass jars is particularly challenging due to the varying thickness of the glass walls and base, which can be as much as 20%," comments Dr Frank Wang, senior engineer at Mettler-Toledo Safeline. "The GlassChekPlus software plots the individual dimensions of every jar that passes through, detecting contaminants in the product as well as possible inclusions in the glass jar itself. Optimal detection sensitivity is maintained, even when the GlassChekPlus is operating at speeds of up to 1,000 jars per minute. We are confident the GlassChekPlus will provide the greatest probability of detection (POD) of any machine on the market today."

With its user friendly, intuitive interface, product menus on the GlassChekPlus can be set up or adjusted by line operators, without the involvement of an engineer, minimizing downtime. The system can also measure product fill level in a jar and an optional bar code reader facilitates automatic product changeover for increased throughput. Its unique, variable speed scanning capability means the machine´s speed can be changed according to the customer´s production line speed – no manual resetting is required.

The GlassChekPlus complies with strict industry hygiene standards and is easy to clean and maintain. A sign-in and event log system, the first of its kind in this industry, can record all activity (hourly quality tests for example) on a database. This provides full traceability of any changes made and identifies the user who made them.

The system uses minimal power – only low heat is generated so no external water cooling is necessary. This leads to lower cost of ownership. Users of the GlassChekPlus also benefit from its small footprint which means it can be easily integrated into existing production lines.

GlassChekPlus will be showcased in Mettler-Toledo Safeline´s booth #S-713 at Pack Expo in Chicago November 9-13.