Infrared Capsule Seal Detection for Pharmaceutical Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pharmaceutical production facilities lack a flexible and reliable method for detecting the sealing status and drying status of capsules without relying on color distinguishability of the sealing liquid and adjoining capsule sections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an infrared camera or a camera with an infrared filter to detect temperature changes during the application and drying of the sealing liquid, allowing for automated evaluation of sealing status and position, orientation, and spatial extension of the sealing liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a line sensor camera is used to detect seal status based on color differences, then the seal status can be detected, but the method lacks flexibility and requires color distinguishability between sealing liquid and capsule sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from optical color properties to thermal properties. Instead of using a line sensor camera that detects color differences, an infrared camera is employed to detect temperature differences and temperature changes in the sealing area, providing a more versatile detection method that does not depend on color distinguishability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical detection system (line sensor camera) with a thermal detection system (infrared camera). This substitution enables detection based on temperature fields rather than optical fields, overcoming the limitation of requiring color distinguishability and enhancing detection flexibility.
2Reliability
If traditional visual inspection methods are used, then the system is simple, but reliable detection of sealing status and drying status is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temperature as an intermediary parameter to indirectly detect the sealing status and drying status. Instead of directly observing seal quality, the infrared camera measures temperature changes in the sealing area, which serve as reliable indicators of sealing completion and drying progress, enhancing detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring temperature changes in the sealing area and using this information to determine sealing status. The evaluation unit processes temperature data to provide feedback on seal quality, enabling reliable automated detection and control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple and reliable detection of sealing status and drying status of capsules, facilitating automated sorting of defective seals and optimizing sealing processes based on temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
An infrared camera or camera having an infrared filter enables the detection of infrared radiation and a visual detection of a temperature of at least one partial area of a capsule
Implementation Method 2
During subsequent drying of the sealing liquid, the solvent of the sealing liquid evaporates, by which heat is withdrawn from the sealing liquid. Such a discharge of heat is detectable by the infrared camera or the camera having an infrared filter
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical production facility (10) comprising a measuring device (30, 32) for monitoring a seal of capsules (20). The capsules have a capsule shell which is made of a first shell part and a second shell part, said shell parts being provided with a sealing liquid in a sealing region, wherein the measuring device comprises an infrared camera (34) or a camera with an infrared filter, and the measuring device detects the temperature or a change in the temperature of the scaling region and/or capsule sections adjoining the scaling region.