3D Final Product and Packaging Inspection

Inspecting for defects or inconsistencies in final food products numbering into the thousands or millions using manpower would be painstakingly boring and difficult. When boredom sets in, humans lose focus, leading to inaccurate assessments. Plus, why put many employees to inspection when one machine system can complete the job a lot faster? 3D inspection technologies help automate inspection tasks, allowing operators, managers, and other line workers to work on other production tasks.

Some areas of production have strict regulations regarding seal integrity, labeling quality, and accurate declaration of product information. 3D systems help check whether all aspects of final products conform to established quality regulations, allowing food producers to avoid fines and legal battles.

Incorrect sealing, bottle leakages, and punctured packaging are some issues that can introduce contamination and decrease product shelf life. A 3D inspection system can help check for these problems during final packaging, ensuring high-quality products reach consumers.

Verification of product positioning addresses areas such as incorrect insertion, overlaps, and empty spaces. With the capability to capture depth information, three-dimensional inspection systems can recognize when, for example, a product is lying horizontally instead of standing vertically.

Inaccurate or unclear coded data or printed information on food labels disempowers the consumer when making buying decisions. 3D inspection systems follow a set of rules to recognize and isolate labeling issues during final packaging inspection.

Consumers do not appreciate receiving less for what they paid for in full. Using 3D inspection systems can help detect low fill levels in drinks and beverages.

The ability to measure height (depth) data during inspections is one of the features that make 3D inspection systems useful. A 3D laser profiler, for example, can create a three-dimensional profile of products under its inspection, enabling all angle checks.

3D inspection systems such as laser displacement sensors can help complete inspection tasks for thousands of food products in a fraction of the time it would take a team of human checkers.

Human checkers and traditional inspection systems are liable to misclassifications due to fatigue and design limitations. 3D-based inspection systems typically consist of sensors, optics, and software algorithms that all contribute to accurate inspection results.