A 360-degree light imaging tunnel is a new form of machine vision inspection systems that combines a light and mirrors with a machine vision camera. It captures an entire image of a cylindrical product with a single image acquisition. This enables an improved inspection system, more thorough than typical machine vision systems which only show a portion of the object at a time.

Why use a 360-degree light imaging tunnel?

Some of the advantages of implementing a 360-degree light imaging tunnel specifically for several bottle inspection applications are:

More thorough inspections: The light imaging tunnel helps you identifying a wide variety of flaws, such as cracks, chips, scratches, fill level defects, capping defects, labelling faults and contamination defects.
Faster inspections: Because only one image is required to cover the whole bottle, light imaging tunnels can check bottles significantly faster than typical machine vision systems.
Lower labour costs: Machine vision systems with this lighting system automate bottle inspection therefor eliminating the need for manned inspectors.
Improved quality control: Light imaging tunnels improve the quality of your bottled products by detecting and rejecting damaged bottles.

Machine vision camera compatibility

This 360-degree light imaging tunnel is compatible with a variety of machine vision cameras and lenses. Our advice is to select one of the following global shutter machine vision cameras with a 1” or 1.1” image sensor. Global shutter cameras offer a great solution for capturing moving (cylindrical) objects in vision applications.

USB3 interface

GigE interface

For the light imaging tunnel inspection system we recommend combining one of the cameras above together with the 16MM C-mount lens for 1.1” camera sensors. The VA-LCM-20MP-16MM-F2.8-110 fits perfectly in the mounting adapter hole of the light tunnel.

Bottle inspection applications

Examples of bottle inspection applications where the 360-degree light imaging tunnel offers a great solution are:

Identifying cracks and chips in glass bottles: Even if the cracks and chips are very small and difficult to detect with the human eye, a light imaging tunnel can be utilized to identify them. This is crucial because cracks and chips in glass bottles might endanger consumer safety.
Detecting fill level faults: The light imaging tunnel can be used to detect fill level problems such as overfilling or underfilling in bottles. Overfilling can result in spillage and waste, while underfilling might result in consumer dissatisfaction.
Defective cap identification: Missing, misaligned, or damaged caps can be identified by using this type of vision system. Essential to quality control since broken or missing caps lead to contamination of the substance inside the bottle, endangering user safety.
Examining labels: Labels can be inspected for flaws such as missing, damaged, or misaligned labels using a light imaging tunnel. This is significant because product labels provide consumers with critical information about ingredients, expiration dates, and product names.
Detecting contamination: Glass or metal shards within bottles can be detected using a 360-degree light imaging tunnel. This is crucial because consumer safety could be seriously jeopardized by contamination.

Taking all into consideration, the novel light imaging tunnel is an effective piece of equipment that assists you in cutting expenses and improving the standard of your bottled goods. It is a faster, thorough, and more accurate method of inspecting bottles for flaws compared to conventional machine vision systems. If you're looking for a way to streamline your bottle inspection procedure, a 360-degree light imaging tunnel is an excellent choice to consider.

Technical specifications (Table)

Model:	VA-360-light-tunnel
Type:	Specials
Color:	White LED
Working distance:	TBD
Dimensions (W x L x H):	306 x 322 x 229mm
Max. Product size:	Ø75mm x 175mm (H)
Voltage (V):	24VDC
Power (W):	23W