Scanning height gauge: on-line inspection of packaging

In many process industries, individual products such as cans, bottles or wrapped chocolate bars are grouped and then shrink-wrapped prior to dispatch. Every such package needs to be inspected to ensure correct contents and good pack construction. Simple photo-detectors can be used to determine package length or excessive height but these need to be set, and reset to accommodate product variations, by skilled personnel. This paper briefly describes a low-cost inspection system which checks packaging and can adjust its settings automatically to accommodate new products, when required by the line operator