Pattern, overhang and wrap integrity check of pallet loads

Need

A pallet load is large and only two faces are visible from one viewpoint. Stretch film glares and hides the case edges; a small overhang or lean cannot be told apart from film reflections and loose film tails in a colour image.

Solution approach

The pallet is imaged at every quarter turn of the turntable; the 3D camera captures a height map of the face, the colour camera the film and the cases. The four views are merged using the table angle, an enclosing box is fitted, and overhang and lean are measured. Layer count and case pattern are compared with the recipe; the film-covered height comes from the colour image.

Process steps

1. 01

   Infeed

   The pallet moves from the roller conveyor onto the turntable.

2. 02

   Rotate and image

   While the table turns the load is wrapped and imaged from four sides.

3. 03

   Envelope and pattern

   The outer envelope is fitted; overhang, lean and layer pattern are measured.

4. 04

   Decide

   Measurements are compared with the limits and the pattern with the recipe.

5. 05

   Discharge

   A conforming pallet goes to dispatch, an out-of-limit pallet to the rework lane.