X-Ray Based Visual Inspection

Our X-ray inspections allow a large number of applications to meet the highest demands. Hidden particles, defects on glass or under packaging such as curl can be reliably detected. We provide X-ray inspection solutions for laboratories, as well as high-speed in-line inspection of up to 600 products/min. X-ray inspection can also be combined with our other inspection technologies.

Why X-rays are important

During glass container handling, the two most important critical process quality attributes are maintaining sterility and keeping the closed container free of foreign particles. We have developed a foreign particle detection system based on X-ray. Low-energy X-ray sources, coupled with highly sophisticated image recognition and processing techniques, can detect invisible particles in lyo cakes, powders, emulsions and suspensions. Available in different sizes of vials, ampoules and syringes. The X-ray-based system can also detect glass defects under the vial crimp caps and functional defects such as misalignment of syringe needles.
 

The working principle of X-ray flaw detection

When passed through a low-energy X-ray field, any visible and invisible particles are amplified onto an array of fast CMOS detectors. From the distance relationship between the X-ray source/sample and the sample/detector, the size of the particle image can be calculated.

The detector converts incoming X-rays into light and transmits the image to an array of CMOS diodes. Results are immediately available and evaluated instantly, allowing processing of high production speeds.

X-ray is an imaging technique that produces two-dimensional images that can then be inspected for defects. In X-ray imaging, not only the detector needs to meet certain requirements, but also the X-ray source itself needs to obtain some key properties. These properties are defined by the application domain. In short, this technology defines two types of X-ray tubes. The first is a closed tube design that produces radiation focused between 800µm and 1500µm, and the second is a microfocus tube design that focuses between 1µm and 5µm. In general, it is the focal diameter that determines the spatial resolution of such an imaging system, or the smallest object that can be seen in such a picture.