Vision software copes with challenge of crates

A Digital Inspection Systems product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 2, 2005

Scorpion Vision Software forms the basis of a novel reverse vending machine for beverage crates.

Repant is a supplier of complete high-quality reverse vending systems for both one-way and refillable beverage containers.

The systems include reverse vending machines (RVM), deposit cash flow systems, service management systems and container logistics management systems.

Reverse vending systems enable efficient deposit based recycling of beverage containers.

Repant's objective was to enhance its product range as a supplier of solutions for the grocery store.

The company's desire was to develop a reliable solution for beverage crates handling literally hundreds of different bottles.

The challenge was to develop a reliable solution for beverage crates handling hundreds of different bottles - plastic, glass, brown, green transparent, small and bigger.

These bottles are sold in many different crates - red, white, black, grey, brown and of different sizes.

Repant Crate should ensure effective handling of all of these variants.

High reliability and effective handling of new bottles and crates was key to reducing maintenance costs as well as the workload for the shop staff.

After evaluating different vendors, Scorpion Vision Software was chosen.

Lars Guntveit, Technical Director, explains: "Tordivel (the company behind Scorpion Vision) was able to come up with a demo system and prototypes for testing in grocery stores in a matter of days and weeks".

"No one else could so clearly demonstrate the capabilities of their solutions".

"It is obvious that Scorpion is a flexible and adaptable software, with a rapid configuration and deployment concept".

The crates are recognised by using an advanced multiple-camera solution with Scorpion Vision Software, in addition to an electronic scale.

The machine can be remotely operated via modem from a central administration and service system (RCC).

Repant Crate is now a reverse vending machine (RVM) for beverage crates.

The machine can be sold as an integrated unit in Repant Universal or as a stand alone machine.

Designed for operation in grocery stores, the Scorpion solution meets the requirements of a reliable and flexible remote system.

Says Lars Guntveit: "It is critical that Scorpion is stable and with extensive and easy to use support for remote operation".

"On site service would be extremely costly due to the number of locations".

"Fortunately, Scorpion has proven to be a robust and stable system".

Thor Vollset, Managing Director of Tordivel, says: "When we first were approached by Repant, we understood that we needed to do something different to make a solution".

"The combination of low cost and the number of different crates and bottles types were from a vision engineer's point of view a real challenge".

"We concluded that based on Scorpion's FireWire imaging and multicamera concept it would be possible to get the sufficient information from four to six cameras at different angles and positions".

"By selecting the low cost Fire-I FireWire camera from Unibrain we could meet the cost requirement with a PC based solution and enjoy the flexibility of this platform".

"Through one prototype and three demonstration units tested in shops in Sweden and Germany we are extremely proud about the fact that Scorpion has been chosen by Repant".

"The Repant engineers are in charge of further development and adjustments towards new products and markets with backoffice support from the Scorpion team of developers".

"All challenges in configuring the systems have been solved by ourselves with support from Tordivel".

"The easy to use Scorpion toolbox and the Python scripting capability give us all the flexibility needed to make a good customer solution", concludes Lars Guntveit.