The SEAM360 is the ultimate machine vision double seam can inspection gauge. The system is used for both three piece and two piece beverage and food cans.

Conventional seam scan technology sample seams at 2-3 points around the can. However, what about the points in between the sample points?

If you measure at a few points around the seam, using a micrometer or seam thickness gauge and destructive tests with a seam scope – you’re missing the most critical information!

Problems can arise as close as a few millimeters from your measurement point and you will not detect them. This means that if a problem is missed, it can be a few more shifts before the problem is detected – resulting in many bad cans being closed or even shipped!

Instead of trying to measure every can (100%) but at a few measurement points, the SEAM360 measures every can’s total external surface area. This exposes many issues that were so far invisible to the operator!

X-ray systems measure at only a few points around the can, and pressure systems on the seamer can miss even obvious issues because of their technology (e.g., false seams).

Using non-destructive optical technology, Quality By Vision’s new SEAM360 is capable of detecting all of these issues in a fraction of the time it takes to do a seam test and with no operator influence on the results! SEAM360 is the first system capable of checking every point on the seam, so there’s no chance of missing anything.

• Think of SEAM360 as the ultimate double seam gauge check.
• The intuitive software clearly points out what the problem is and where it occurred.
• Many tooling and seamer related issues can be fixed quickly, using the Clearance Gauge.
• If there are issues, simply cut at the exact point where the problem occurs and inspect using SEAMetal double seam analyzer.

Imagine a tool that takes the guesswork out of seamer setup, improves seam integrity and consistency, increases uptime and makes changeovers much faster than previously possible. Our Clearance Gauge is all this and more.

With rising pressures on canneries and can makers to increase productivity, minimize changeover time and unplanned stops and ensure higher quality closures, accurate seamer setup has never been more important. Often, companies make due with just meeting the seam specifications, often ignoring high variation between different heads on the same seamer and missing hard to detect issues like microleakers.

This often means that the slightest change in incoming materials, like end plate thickness, can flange, can height and the seamer’s own tolerances will cause some of the seams to go out of specs.

The Clearance Gauge is able to not only quickly and accurately set up the seamer and fix issues that come up from time to time, it makes sure that all seamer heads are performing perfectly and identically. This means that seamers will run better, and require adjustments less often and less downtime! Not only are you saving time – you are also reducing unplanned stops.

Some canners are increasing the amount and frequency of seam checks and subsequently have to stop the line more often, or use expensive systems like X-rays or online systems to ensure more seams are within tolerance. Isn’t it a better idea to simply produce better seams rather than checking more often for bad ones? The system allows you to do preventative maintenance on your seamers before they go out of specs.

Today

Today, most companies use feeler gauges or wire gauges to try and determine if there is enough distance between the roll and chuck. Of course, this is an inaccurate and difficult procedure even in the hands of experienced seamer mechanics. Similarly inaccurate methods are used for adjusting roll height off the chuck. More often than not, rolls need to be readjusted after the first seam check and as the seamer warms up. For vertical adjustment, most companies use a vertical “pin height gauge”. However, the height and lateral distance adjustment affect one another because of the shapes of the roll and chuck profiles.

In some cases, problems with the seam are often solved by tightening the 2nd operation, whereas the real solution could be that the 1st operation should actually be tightened or even loosened!

Enter The Clearance Gauge

The Clearance Gauge takes a completely different approach to the problem. Instead of focusing on checking seams after the double seam is already complete, the Clearance Gauge helps optimize the can seaming process by taking out variations between the different seamer heads and looking at the seamer itself!

Today, the Clearance Gauge is compatible with most seamer models, including most Angelus, Continental, Ferrum seamers and many more. These seamers show a clear and dramatic performance improvements using this gauge. This tool helps produce better double seams quicker. Instead of increasing the rate and frequency of seam scope checks. For the first time, you can see what your can seamer is doing before you even start running cans through the line!

Conclusions

Whereas most settings on the double seamer, such as lifter pressure and height are relatively easy to adjust and control, the roll to chuck relationship is difficult. Until today, seamer mechanics used feeler gauges, but the process was long and very inaccurate – resulting in bad and inconsistent seams, seamers going out of specs quickly and various problems that could not be easily traced.

The Clearance gauge solves all of these problems by offering an easy solution to seamer setup and adjustment.

The QVIS-E1 system is a user-friendly machine vision system for 100% inspection of can ends. The system uses a single, high resolution, high speed color camera, advanced optics and illumination components to capture a highly accurate image of the end that reveals all defects. The super-simple QVIS software runs on the familiar Windows 7 or 10 Operating System, allowing users with any level of expertise to easily learn and master the software and control the types of defects and sensitivity level of the inspection.

All system components, including the optical system, electrical panel, computer and touchscreen monitor can be housed in a single, compact, floor-mounted unit. For inclined conveyors or tight spaces, the controls can be mounted on an arm.

The QVIS-E1 Inline Vision Inspection System for Ends provides a high quality vision inspection system in a convenient, easy to use and affordable package.

LDDS-200 is able to scan and analyze a complete lacquered sheet (at the coating line) or blanks (before welding), including the lacquered area and margins, using high resolution vision inspection.

The system is able to detect:

• Contamination in the margins – preventing weld issues
• Lacquer splatter
• Margin width issues (too much or not enough lacquer applied)
• Misalignment – skewness of the sheet or blank
• Scratches or missing lacquer in the lacquered areas
• Misapplication of lacquer

The system is able to inspect up to 7000 sheets/hour, eject the bad ones or detect trends in order to alert operators or stop the line.

The system uses the latest in area scan cameras in order to capture and process the data in real time and in extremely high resolution (100 microns).

By continuously monitoring the margin positions and width (coating registration) automatically, the LDDS-200 saves the plant from having to remove sheets for measuring the margins, saving even more valuable resources. The measurement is done on every sheet, in real time!

The system can be installed:

• On the coating line (before the oven)
• Above the line (using retractable crane)
• Below the line (using retractable shelf)
• Before the welder (for blank inspection)

NEW SEAMETAL 6.0
for Windows 10

Using the same software as the acclaimed SEAMetal HD for double seam measurements, the SEAMetal SD double seam scope is the perfect tool for companies that don’t require the high resolution capabilities of the High Definition version.

The SEAMetal SD system is the latest version of our SEAMetal 9000 seam scope, the most widely used seam inspection system in the world, with over 1,000 units installed. SEAMetal 9000 was also the world’s first automatic seam inspection system, introduced in 1993.

New version 6.0 offers SEAM doctor, which helps you in determining the root cause of the issues you are seeing and assists you in fixing them!

Destructive double seam measurements are critical to ensure that the can is closed properly, meaning it will not leak or be exposed to harmful pollutants and contaminants. For this purpose sampling of cans using an optical double seam visual inspection is necessary.

SEAMetal SD is a low cost, high quality, repeatable and flexible can measurement solution to your double seam requirements. It is easy to learn and master and it holds the highest GR&R (repeatability and reproducability) ratings in the industry, in trials held by customers and independent third parties.

The latest verison of SEAMetal SD offers features like microsoft Excel integration, zoom in, automatic email alerts, network connectivity, Windows 10 support, a new SPC system and a new reporting system. You can now see the image better and get a more accurate measurement than ever before, all for a competitive price.

Our Can Profile Analyzer is the first and only one of its kind to use laser profiling technologies for a non-contact profiloscope can inspection!

The Can Profile Analyzer uses an ingenious new method of analyzing the can profile for the first ever completely automated solution for bead measurements.

This new system, running under microsoft Windows (including Windows 7!) allows can manufacturers to accurately measure cans in the production environment in record-breaking speeds. Using state-of-the-art optics, a typical can profile can be measured in seconds. The completely automated software automatically detects the beads, flanges and can height in optimal accuracy at this top speed.

Ad-hoc measurements can also be taken using the mouse, using reference lines and measuring both lengths and angles taken anywhere on the scanned profile.

Other profile analyzers don’t have nearly the same resolution or accuracy of CPA. They are often both inaccurate and slow.

Competing products typically have various speeds, each with its own accuracy level. Typically, the slowest speed holds the required standard accuracy level. Since operators don’t have time to operate at these slow speeds, they typically go for higher speeds, consequently reducing the accuracy level of the entire measurement. Quality By Vision’s Can Profile Analyzer, however, has one speed – typically faster and more accurate than competing products.

A certified calibration gauge can be added to the system for full ISO 9000 compliance.

The Can Profile Analyzer can integrate additional measurements and values into its reports (e.g., additional can diameters) using standard gauges/calipers or even using the keyboard.

Measurements and reports can be exported into any popular file format, including Microsoft Word, Excel and even Internet formats.

The EPA – End Profile Analyzer is an all-in-one can end measurement system, which uses a combination of laser profiling and mechanical gauging technologies in order to measure the end.

Incorrect values on the ends can often cause major issues at the seamer like deadheads, stuck ends, false seams and bad double seams. Also, can end curl specifications are very difficult to measure and confirm today without the End Profile Analyzer.

The End Profile Analyzer (EPA) also replaces “go-no-go” gauges (like pin fit, chuck fit) and destructive measurement methods for sanitary and easy open ends which are inaccurate, time consuming and give different results for different operators. With laser profiling technology, the EPA is able to measure all important end specifications using a non-contact optical laser measurement system:

• End Material Thickness
• Outside diameter
• Inside Diameter
• Chuck Fit Diameter (an actual measurement, not go-no-go!)
• Curl Width / Seam stock (for the first time, a non destructive measurement!)
• Curl Height
• Curl Radius
• Countersink
• End flanges
• Pin Fit
• First bead height
• New: Overall end height
• New: Second countersink
• New: Chuck wall angle (optional)
• New: Countersink bottom radius (optional)

Quality By Vision’s Score Residual Gauge is an inexpensive, accurate and feature-rich gauging solution for any type of Easy Open end. 

Because the difference between a good end and an end that doesn’t open or a tab that breaks off is only a few microns, high accuracy repeatable measurements are necessary. Manually focusing on the score groove using a microscope or positioning anvils inside the score can be operator-specific (one person saying this point is in focus, while another says it is not).

There are other accepted methods for measuring easy open ends (e.g., pop & tear). However, these will only indicate high or low pull values. Pop & tear gauges can’t specify where the problem is located and what’s causing it (low or high residual value, tooling wear, etc).

Until today, alternative microscope-based gauges depended on skilled operators who manually focus on the score groove using an external video monitor and micrometer. The high reliance on operators produces a lower GR&R rating, as different operators will evaluate the correct focus differently. A study conducted by our customers indicates that the repeatability of such systems is approximately 5-7 microns (0.0002″-3″)!

These systems are usually quite expensive, as they require an external monitor, an expensive indicator and decoder. They provide SPC and reporting through an additional computer system and software that increase the costs even more. The Quality By Vision approach is to utilize our expertise in optics, software and laser technologies to provide a reliable accurate measurement, improving the measurement repeatablity regardless of the operator. Our Score Residual Gauge is extremely cost effective, and based on 3rd party customer’s studies, produces a repeatability of +/- 1 micron (0.00005″)! The system is easier to maintain there are no additional peripherals (e.g., decoders or video monitors). The gauge is directly connected to the computer via a single USB cable.

In addition to the high accuracy score residual measurement, the gauge can now perform additional important measurements at no additional cost! The Score Residual Gauge can now scan a score groove profile, effectively replacing the need to epoxy the end and do a metallurgic cross section! It can even measure rivet thickness and rivet diameter (optional).

This makes the Score Residual Gauge a robust, accurate and affordable solution to easy open end measurements, score groove profiling and more.

The ALT-100 is Quality By Vision’s latest Axial Load (Crush) Tester for can makers. The ALT-100 quickly, safely and accurately measures a can’s resistance to axial load (crush) force and displays the result in kg or lbs on the built-in display.

The gauge can be used stand alone or it can be connected with the supplied cable to Quality By Vision’s Symphony software for reporting and SPC. Numerous safety features such as door sensors and emergency stops as well as regulators for the max force, crush speed and height make the ALT-100 the safest and most easy to use Axial Load testing gauge on the market.