ALcheck with Smart Vision Camera

ALcheck is our proven free-standing checking and inspection system that is intuitiveto use and simple to configure.

ALcheck has been extensively developed to make use of the varied and comprehensive range of Omron colour smart cameras, providing an almost endless array of possible inspection solutions, as well as and including more traditional barcode reading in 1D and 2D formats, at inspection speeds up to impressive 300 pieces per minute, depending on the application.

Possible inspection algorithms to draw upon include:

• Pattern match (artwork shapes, product rotation etc)
• Edge detection (product / label position)
• OCV/OCR (alpha or numeric character checking/reading)
• 1d/2d barcode reading
• Colour checking
• Pieces counting

ALcheck provides a control device for the camera ('s), locking out a connecting machine or process unless the ALcheck device is running and an authorised user logged in. It then allows selection of a pre-defined recipe (which in turn recalls a defined inspection or set of inspections in the camera) and confirms the result, which can either be a pass/fail or defined string (like a barcode). Where multiple cameras are connected, these can perform individual inspections and the various results confirmed correct for the recipe, potentially at different points on the line (around the ALcheck device) and dynamically selecting different cameras depending on the requirement associated to the recipe.

Possible ALcheck inspection solutions include:

• Checking a product has been placed on a machine in the correct orientation
• Checking printing such as Best Before/Batch Code dates are present and have been correctly printed
• Checking (or recording) the correct contents of printed text (or barcodes
• Checking the presence and/or correct placement of labels
• Checking the colour of items

A particular strength of a smart vision solution over a more traditional 2D imager barcode scanner is its ability to also check text along side a barcode; we even have the possibility to cross reference text in real-time with printed barcode information to ensure the human-readable matches the content of the barcode (with optional log reporting, to record this).

Another possibility is to combine traditional barcode reading and checking functionality, perhaps checking a 2D code to confirm label type and revision correctness with some other feature of the product; e.g the cap or bottle colour. With a vision camera the range of possible inspections is truly endless, but more importantly surprisingly affordable for almost any business.

ALcheck is a fully in-house developed product with an already extensive range of solutions developed. However, on the rare occasion you require a solution not already in our library, we have the resource and technical know how to develop a unique solution for your business.