One application approached wenglor with a specific quality assurance task: three QR code labels are applied in a single work step during the production process for plate heat exchangers. In future, this process is to be safeguarded by an automated optical inspection – quickly, reliably and without additional manual effort.
The Smart Camera solution is designed to ensure that all three labels are present and that the QR codes on all labels have identical content.
This guarantees that each product is clearly and correctly labeled. In addition, the system should be able to be robustly integrated into existing processes and be controllable via an interface such as Ethernet/IP or PROFINET to enable communication with the plant control system.
The weQube – the Smart Camera is ideal for this application. The modular camera platform can be individually configured depending on the task at hand – for example with auto-focus or C-mount lenses and various software modules.
The camera can read both 1D and 2D codes (e.g. QR, DataMatrix) and perform additional quality checks. The combination of image processing, pattern recognition and code reading algorithms makes it ideal for checking the three labels for presence, position and content match.
A similar system is used in the quality control of Euro pallets, for example: There, a weQube-Smart Camera monitors whether the EPAL logo has been printed in full, while a second camera reads the 2D code for traceability. Incorrect or incomplete markings are automatically detected and sorted out.
This principle can be transferred to the application on the plate heat exchangers – with adapted optics and software. The component size, code resolution and label dimensions are decisive for the optimum solution.
If particularly small codes or larger working distances are required, the Smart Camera B60 can be used as an alternative. It offers a higher image resolution and therefore extends the range of applications, especially for detailed or low-contrast labels.
With the weQube+ or B60 Smart Camera, wenglor offers a powerful and flexible solution for the automated inspection of QR code labels. The system reliably detects whether all labels are present and have the same serial number. This allows the quality assurance process to be automated efficiently – and incorrect labeling is detected at an early stage before it leads to cost-intensive reworking.
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