PREFORMER It allows to detect typical defects on PET preforms, which may be originated by improper injection moulding, improper preform handling or off-spec/contaminated PET chips fed into the injection moulding machine. The Preformer has been validated after longrun tests by AMCOR, the biggest american manufacturer of PET preforms. It is the first System really capable to match requests of moulding and blowing machines producers, of small companies trasforming plastic materials and of companies bottling water at spring. PRODUCT FAMILIES PRODUCT FAMILIES

TYPICAL COMPOSITION Vision System ACQUISITION UNIT u Up to five Monochromatic Camera u Dedicated Lighting System (led stroboscope and fluorescent) u Special Optical System u Special Structure to support cameras and lighting system PROCESSING UNIT u FALCON P4 Platform (based on Pentium 4 processor) u Dedicated Software, easy to use by an user friendly Man- Machine Interface (MMI) PREFORMER

PREFORMER The System detects defects on the following zones: Top sealing surface : ovalization, breaks, material leak, crystallizations Lateral surface : inclusions, bubbles, burns, burned annular areas, flashes, streaks, malformations, colour changes, long injection point, scratches, dirt, humidity trace, contamination. Bottom : crystallizations, burns, injection point deformity, contamination.

PREFORMER Examples of TIPICAL DEFECTS ON TOP / BOTTOM SURFACE TOP material lack BOTTOM humidity trace

PREFORMER TIPICAL DEFECTS ON LATERAL SURFACE bubbles humidity trace inclusions contaminationinjection point deformitystreaks

GENERAL FEATURES (1) u The System can be used: - before blowing station; - after press; - in stand alone configuration for selection u Maximum Production Rate: 22 * 10 3 pcs/h PREFORMER THE PREFORMER CAN HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF PREFORMS TYPES AND DIMENSIONS WHILE JOB CHANGE IS EASY AND REQUIRES A RATHER SHORT TIME; THE PREFORM FEEDER IS A JAM-FREE DEVICE DUE TO ITS SPECIAL DESIGN THE PREFORMER IS ABLE TO COUNT THE PROCESSED PREFORMS WITH VERY HIGH PRECISION AND RELIABILITY

Stand Alone Configuration Preformer Off-Line System PREFORMER The off-line configuration provides the installation of: a preform loading bin, fully built in AISI 304 stainless steel with internal plastic lining able to prevent preforms damage during the unloading operation of the box; ·a preform elevator, able to carry the preforms up to the unscrambler section level a preform unscrambler section, able to put the preforms in upright position a preform gravity feeding section (feed ramp), equipped with two preform guides manually adjustable in accordance to the preforms size by means of a hand-wheel device the standard Quality Control Module HANDLING PRECISION A SAFE AND VIBRATION FREE PREFORM HANDLING SYSTEM, COMPOSED OF A RUGGED BUT FULLY MACHINED CHAIN, FITTED WITH 30 AUTOMATIC GRIP ASSEMBLIES EACH EQUIPPED WITH ONE FIXED ARM AND ONE MOVABLE ONE, WHICH CAN BE EASY REPLACED BY ONE ONLY FIXING SCREW: EACH PREFORM IS CARRIED IN FRONT OF THE CCD CAMERAS IN A VERY STABLE AND VERTICAL POSITION, ENSURING THE SHOT OF A HIGH DEFINITION IMAGE

PREFORMER Working principle (1) Lateral control For lateral surface defect detection the system elaborates the image of the sample illuminated in transmission. In this case defects (a bubble or a foreign body for example) scatters out radiation from the image and they will appear darker than the surroundings. Generally the minimum defect that can be detected depends on the optical system parameters and on the quality of the illumination system. The system is able to detect defects smaller than 0.35 mm when inspecting a 150 mm region.

PREFORMER Bottom control The method to detect defect on the bottom of the preform is similar to the lateral control. Back light Camera Working principle (2)

PREFORMER Working principle (3) Ring control To detect preform ring defects Falcon system observes the light reflected by the ring. Ring defects reflect light out of the main beam and they appear darker then the rest of the image. Camera Special led unit Defect reflects light at large angles and are not collected by camera lenses

SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATION (click on image to start movie) PREFORMER

PREFORMER PRODUCT SPECIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE (OFF-LINE SYSTEM) Inspection scope: top sealing surface, sidewall, bottom finish dimension: ->to be designed and offered as an option Speed: max. 22,000 preforms/hour Preform type: Length from 50 to 180 mm or 2-8 inches for bottle capacity from 0.5 to 3 litres Finish from 28 to 43 mm Weight from 14 to 100 grams Colour any colour including but not limited to clear, brown, green and blue Job change: from 15 to 60 minutes when necessary parts are available Certification of parts: CE, TUV Utilities Electrical power: 3-phase 400 V-50 Hz or 440 V-60 Hz Compressed air: 7 bar/100 psi Operating environment :up to 40° C (limitation due to computer system)

View of the Preformer for off-line selection PREFORMER