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High-Speed RGB Print Mark Detection in Machine Automation
B&R introduces a colour vision solution integrated into the machine control loop for real-time process correction at high production speeds.
www.br-automation.com
At Chinaplas 2026, B&R (ABB’s Machine Automation division) introduced the B&R Color Camera, a vision system engineered for precise print mark detection. The solution is designed to resolve technical challenges associated with modern packaging materials—such as glossy, transparent, and multi-colored substrates—while maintaining synchronization at full line rates. By integrating vision directly into the deterministic control environment, the camera facilitates immediate process adjustments to improve First Pass Yield and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Closed-Loop Control and Real-Time Synchronization
The B&R Color Camera operates at production speeds of up to 500 m/min, providing real-time feedback for closed-loop process corrections. Unlike asynchronous standalone sensors, this camera is native to the machine control system, integrating vision, motion, and control on a single platform. This architecture eliminates latency and jitter, enabling microsecond-level synchronization. This tight integration is critical for the digital supply chain, as it allows for in-cycle corrections that reduce material waste and scrap directly at the source.
Adaptive Imaging and Intelligent Algorithms
To maintain consistent detection under variable conditions, the camera features intelligent auto-exposure functionality. This mechanism automatically adjusts exposure time and contrast during operation, compensating for changes in material reflectivity or print design without requiring manual intervention or machine stops. The technical relevance of this adaptive approach includes:
- Dynamic Sensitivity: Reliable detection on glossy and multi-colored backgrounds.
- Process Continuity: Reduction in downtime caused by manual tuning for different batches.
- Waste Reduction: Continuous adjustment ensures that print marks are captured accurately even during speed transitions.
Unified Hardware Platform for Scalability
The B&R Color Camera utilizes a single hardware platform that supports both monochrome and color image applications. This unified approach allows OEMs to scale from basic detection to complex color applications within the B&R Automation Studio environment without changing the physical hardware architecture. The software integration via mapp Vision ensures that the application remains consistent throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Benefits of the one-platform approach include:
The B&R Color Camera utilizes a single hardware platform that supports both monochrome and color image applications. This unified approach allows OEMs to scale from basic detection to complex color applications within the B&R Automation Studio environment without changing the physical hardware architecture. The software integration via mapp Vision ensures that the application remains consistent throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Benefits of the one-platform approach include:
- Engineering Efficiency: A single software environment for configuration and maintenance.
- Simplified Logistics: Reduced spare parts complexity within the automotive data ecosystem equivalent of packaging machinery.
- Cost-Effective Scaling: Transitioning from monochrome to color functionality requires no additional hardware investment.
Autonomous Vision and Sustainability
The transition toward autonomous vision systems is a strategic response to frequent design changes and the increasing complexity of sustainable packaging materials. By enabling "first-time-right" printing, the B&R Color Camera supports more sustainable manufacturing processes by minimizing the consumption of energy and raw materials. The integration into the machine control system ensures that vision data is not just an observation tool but an active component of the machine's decision-making logic, driving higher levels of autonomy in industrial printing and converting operations.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
The transition toward autonomous vision systems is a strategic response to frequent design changes and the increasing complexity of sustainable packaging materials. By enabling "first-time-right" printing, the B&R Color Camera supports more sustainable manufacturing processes by minimizing the consumption of energy and raw materials. The integration into the machine control system ensures that vision data is not just an observation tool but an active component of the machine's decision-making logic, driving higher levels of autonomy in industrial printing and converting operations.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
