Automated machine vision system enhances bottling line accuracies

Winery achieves more precise inspection of bottle fill height and corking/capping/labeling efficiencies.

VIVID VISUALS. Large touch-screen display lets operators view and zoom in on each inspection image.
VIVID VISUALS. Large touch-screen display lets operators view and zoom in on each inspection image.

 When The Wine Group was planning a new filling line for its Concannon Vineyard in Livermore, CA, key performance criteria included complete, accurate inspection of bottle fill height, cork/cap presence, cork insertion depth, capsule presence, and label presence and positioning. The winery wanted to be able to closely analyze and quickly correct any filling, capping, or labeling defects that were identified.

The goal was to implement a consistently reliable automated machine vision system that would eliminate as many manual labor and human vision inspection requirements as possible. Kent Vos, senior project manager for The Wine Group, explains, “An automated vision system affords much greater repeatability and accuracy than manual inspection/rejection operations.”

After evaluating available systems and suppliers, The Wine Group chose CIVision (www.civision.com) to design and install an automated vision system at the Livermore facility. This choice, according to Vos, was based both on cost and functionality. He says, “Originally, CIVision was quoting only on the label inspection part of the project. But when CIVision specialists looked at the entire project, they recommended grouping the various inspection subsystems in such a way that gave the result we wanted and also worked with our existing line layout.”

Following preliminary meetings with The Wine Group and an analysis of the new line, CIVision specialists determined the best solution would be provided by its LOMAX® P high-speed packaging inspection system. This versatile, stand-alone system can coordinate up to 10 cameras and offers many equipment options, including a mix of black-and-white or color cameras with a range of resolution choices for each camera.

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