(PM) Burgbrohl / Munich, 10.09.2009 - The perfected HEUFT InLine inspects the container finish three times straight away and therefore avoids false rejections even more effectively. It sets new standards for the quality control of containers before filling in conjunction with a fourfold sidewall inspection and many other functions.

The device examines the critical finish areas of empty containers even more thoroughly now: three different-coloured rings of light are projected from above onto the bottle opening instead of one. Their reflections are specifically analysed. It could be a chip on the ring surface or in the inner or underchip area if one of them has been interrupted which puts the integrity of the product and the health of the consumer at risk. An interaction of high-resolution camera and precise image processing techniques clarifies whether this is really the case or whether it is simply harmless signs of wear. Even the smallest cracks which could later result in chips are identified in this way. This guarantees a very high degree of product safety and at the same time saves the costs which arise when a good container is inadvertently identified as being faulty and disposed of afterwards.

The further developed fourfold sidewall inspection which is accommodated in the particularly compact casing of the tried and tested empty bottle inspector also detects glass faults, foreign objects and contamination considerably more precisely: two cameras take photographs of the opposite sides of a container first. This is then rotated by 90 degrees and two photographs are taken of the opposite sides. Above all faults relating to frosted glass bottles and containers with special shapes or glass structures are tracked down particularly reliably in this way.

Angular containers can be inspected in addition to round containers with one and the same device. In addition to the perfected finish and sidewall inspection the new HEUFT InLine model provides proven functions for inspecting the base and thread as well technologies for the specific detection of residual liquid, mineral and rust rings.

The current improvements to the highly efficient HEUFT reflexx technology for image processing set new standards as regards the inspection of empty bottles: faults such as stress cracks can be tracked down even more reliably now - even in difficult areas such as in the container base or behind material structures (e.g. knurling). This reduces the false rejection rate to less than 0.5 percent and therefore increases the efficiency of the complete filling line. Additional further developments to the construction make it easier to clean the device and minimise wear and tear. This reduces maintenance costs.

Interested visitors to the drinktec 2009 exhibition can experience the perfected HEUFT InLine in action from 14 to 19 September on Stand 524 in Hall A5 at the "Neue Messe München" (Munich exhibition grounds).

www.heuft.com