6 replies to this topic

[Rizwan Ali]

Dear Fellows,
We are using returned glass bottles for the production of beverage. As bottle returns they contain foreign matter like straw, wrapper and other transparent plastics.In bottle washer, bottles are cleaned but these foreign matters are not being removed in bottle washer as there is o such mechanism in machine. We have deployed manual segregation step after washing to remove bottles containing straw. Bottles are also inspected for presence of foreign matter after filling of beverage.
Now some time it happens that these two controls fail and bottle with foreign matter goes to consumer/shopkeeper. We have asked our machine manufacturer to supply some suitable electronic solution. They have offered electronic bottle inspector for this purpose. but when installed bottle with even a single scratch outside was also rejected.
Can any one has similar experience and suggest some better solution or some machine which detects foreign matter only????

[Simon]

Hi Rizwan, sounds like you need something like the equipment described in this news article: X-Ray Inspection System Enhances Contaminant Detection in Glass Jars and Bottles

Regards,
Simon

[MKRMS]

Hi Rizwan,

Would re-calibrating the detection system so it doesn't discard bottles with minor differences from the idea solve your probleml? Adjusting the system's sensitivity might reduce the bottles that are incorrectly discarded. Another option might be to collect all discarded bottles and re-sort them manually (only bottles that ar reliably uncontaminated to be allowed to re-enter circulation.

At the same time it might be useful to discard not only heavily soiled bottles but also those that are (significantly) damaged to avoid or reduce accidental breakages on the filling line.

Regards,

MKRMS

[Rizwan Ali]

Dear Simon, yes I need similar solution but for low density contaminants. any further if you can...

Dear

MKRMS

, I will try this one also but I am doubtful about results.

[Dr Vu]

Try Quidview from Smiths detection

[GMO]

I don't have experience of this but I would suggest trying to work on the bottle washer first is the most important thing as no detection system is 100% effective. Are the bottles inverted as part of the washing process?


Also don't forget people, sometimes they can be just as effective as a fancy, shmansy detector, especially if used in combination with other methods and well supervised. Are the bottles put on manually? Can you ask them to remove the ones with straws? Could you not reimburse for bottles returned with items inside? Might not be practical but just trying to suggest there are lots of ways to approach this problem, sometimes we jump to automation when something else might be more effective.

[Charles.C]

Dear Rizwan Ali,

I assume you are refilling these bottles with intended ready-to-drink product.

After reading yr OP, i am surprised that you don't get consistently unacceptable micro.results.

As per previous post, it sounds like the bottle washing procedure is simply below standard.

Rgds / Charles.C