Assembly - January 2009 - (Page 23) solved the problem by backlighting the filters with two telecentric strobe lights positioned at an angle over each standpipe. The strobes are controlled by relays. An assembler of hearing aid batteries uses a vision system from Cognex Corp. (Natick, MA) to check multipacks for missing or extra product. Incomplete packs are unacceptable to customers, of course, while the presence of an extra battery could jam the packaging A vision system can check the length and straightness of machine when the foil backing these syringe needles at production speeds. It can also is applied. Such an application inspect the tip for burrs and measure the bevel. Photo courtesy Assembly & Test Worldwide might seem cut-and-dried, but in fact, it presented its own difeach inspection cycle is complete, a con- ficulties. Without the right lighting and trol panel displays the results from all object location software, variations in part four standpipes simultaneously. contrast and reflections from the plastic Lighting the application was chal- can cause a high number of false rejects. lenging, since the polyurethane material Not all medical device applications for is translucent and difficult to distinguish machine vision involve high-volume profrom the assembly itself. To complicate duction. In some cases, the need for absomatters, the filters move past the cameras lute precision and reliability more than at 400 millimeters per second. Engineers justifies the cost of automated inspection. Such was the case for DePuy Spine Inc. (Raynham, MA), which makes small screws and other implants for spinal surgeries. DePuy produces the implants in small batches. Instead of inspecting them manually, operators load the implants into clear plastic trays and hand them over to a tabletop Cartesian robot equipped with a PC-based vision system from Cognex. The robot moves the camera from nest to nest, inspecting the implants one at a time. The worktable of the robot is illuminated to backlight the implants, and the camera can perform several inspections at each nest. If a faulty implant is detected, an alarm is triggered and quality assurance personnel remove the product for manual inspection. For traceability purposes, the results of all the inspections are tied to a bar code on each tray. Other medical device applications for vision systems include inspecting blades for nicks and burrs; verifying placement of suture needles within retainers; gauging surgical staples; ensuring the presence of reagent pads; confirming the printed gradations on syringe barrels; and guidA ing packaging robots. Introducing the next generation! Kappa 330 Kappa 350 The New Kappa units: Less time in setup. Less wasted wire. Less operator error. Sometimes less really is more. ▲ New sensor technology gives these two new Kappa cutting and stripping machines a powerful advantage. ▲ Wire diameters are automatically detected by sensors using an inductive measuring system. This significantly shortens the setup and tool-less changeover times while reducing the chance of operator errors. ▲ Each unit covers a broad range of processing, including difficult materials.Both use intuitive software modeled after our exclusive TopWin™ interface used in Komax fully automatic equipment. And both can be optimized with a full array of optional add-ons. www.komaxusa.com Komax Corporation 1100 E. Corporate Grove Drive Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 Phone: 847-537-6640 Toll-free: 888-GO-KOMAX (888-465-6629) Fax: 847-537-5751 Professionals in Advanced Automation www.assemblymag.com January 2009 / ASSE M B LY 23 http://www.komaxusa.com http://www.assemblymag.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.