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Original instructions
ii
Preface
Loma Systems
Summit Avenue
Southwood
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 ONY
England
Email: sales@loma.co.uk
Web: http://www.loma.com
The Loma X4, and this documentation are copyright material. No part of this documentation may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language, or
computer language in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Loma Systems.
The Loma X4 is a trademark of Loma Systems. All other product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
Important Note
No liability is accepted for errors and omissions in this document. If users are uncertain about any
aspect of the installation, commissioning, operation or servicing of the equipment they should
contact an authorised service centre. Details of these are given on page ix or can be obtained
from www.loma.com.
The information in this guide is believed to be correct at the date of publication. However, our policy
is one of continuous improvement and so the information in this guide is subject to change without
notice, and does not represent a commitment on the part of Loma Systems.
X4 X-ray
iv
Preface
Safety Warnings
Listed below are all the safety warnings that are used throughout this manual. It is strongly
recommended that personnel who are, or will be, responsible for installing, maintaining or
operating the equipment described in this manual should read and understand these
warnings.
1. LETHAL HAZARD – ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES. A current of 100 milli-amps passing through the
body for one second can kill. This can occur at voltages as low as 35 V ac or 50 V dc. The
equipment described in this manual uses electrical power which can be lethal. Unless absolutely
necessary, cleaning, inspection and maintenance must not be carried out without first isolating
the equipment from all electrical supplies.
2. LETHAL HAZARD – RADIATION. Whilst every precaution has been taken to make sure that
all the necessary guards and safety devices have been fitted to the Loma X-ray unit, it is
recommended that all operatives are trained in the use of X-ray food inspection machines.
Furthermore it is the responsibility of the employer to create a set of local rules (see Appendix
A Radiation Safety) regarding the safe use of X-ray food inspection systems. In the U.K. this is
in compliance with the Ionising Radiation’s Regulations 1999, users outside of the UK should
consult the relevant health and safety executive.
3. LETHAL HAZARD – COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLIES. The equipment described in this manual
may be supplied with a compressed air supply operating at a pressure, which may be lethal.
Unless absolutely necessary, cleaning, inspection and maintenance must not be carried out
without first isolating the equipment from all compressed air supplies. In addition, it should be
checked that all air pipes are properly connected.
5. REJECT DEVICES. At no time, with compressed air and/or electrical power applied to an
automatic reject device, should any part of the body be placed within the operating area of the
reject device. In addition no attempt should be made to operate the X4 X-ray machine without
the reject bin or guards in place.
6. EXCESSIVE NOISE. When an air blast reject device operates, the noise emitted may constitute
a noise hazard. While short exposure to this noise will not normally cause permanent damage to
hearing, prolonged exposure may cause some damage. Modular belts when run at higher
speeds (typically above 50 m/min) can also generate noise levels in excess of 70dB(A). It is
recommended that ear defenders are worn by personnel who are regularly exposed to the noise.
7. HEAVY EQUIPMENT. The equipment described in this manual is extremely heavy and
considerable care must be taken when handling it. Sufficient personnel and a suitable forklift
truck or pallet truck must be used to ensure safe handling. In addition attention should be paid
to the X4 Lifting Points drawing in the Installation section of this manual.
WARNING - The Loma X-ray machine is a high performance system and as such contains
several sensitive components. For this reason the system is fitted with internal shock sensors
to monitor whether the system has been subjected to inappropriate handling. Activation of this
shock sensor may invalidate the system warranty
v
Preface
8. LIFTING EQUIPMENT. Use only the correct slings and lifting tackle to move heavy items
of equipment described in this manual. Inspect all slings and lifting tackle prior to lifting the
equipment to ensure that:
a) The safe working load will not be exceeded. Please see Product Description section for
details of approximate system weights.
b) There are no frayed or broken strands.
c) Hooks, rings, etc. are not damaged.
WARNING - The Loma X-ray machine is a high performance system and as such contains
several sensitive components. For this reason the system is fitted with internal shock sensors
to monitor whether the system has been subjected to inappropriate handling. Activation of this
shock sensor may invalidate the system warranty
9. MOVING THE MACHINE. The centre-of-gravity of the conveyor is high. Care must be taken
when moving such equipment on a slope to ensure that it does not topple over. This could result
in death or severe injury to an individual and/or severe damage to the machine (refer to X4 Lifting
Points in the Installation section of this manual).
WARNING - The Loma X-ray machine is a high performance system and as such contains
several sensitive components. For this reason the system is fitted with internal shock sensors
to monitor whether the system has been subjected to inappropriate handling. Activation of this
shock sensor may invalidate the system warranty.
10. CONTAMINANTS. Oils and greases must always be handled with care. Prolonged bare skin
exposure to certain oils and greases can cause skin problems. Always handle oils and greases
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (for types used see section on routine
maintenance).
11. TRAPPED FINGERS. Do not place fingers on the underside of the x-ray conveyor belt when the
machine is operating. It is possible for fingers to be trapped and subsequently crushed between
a moving and fixed component of the machine.
WARNING LABELS. The Loma x-ray machine has a number of warning labels and engravings
throughout the system. Particular attention should be paid to the location of these warnings and
their significance in operating the machine safely. If necessary because of local requirements
some labelling may also be provided in a second language.
12. GUARDS. No machine is to be run without guards fitted unless for maintenance purposes and
only if adequate precautions have been taken. Under no circumstances is any interlock to be
defeated. This could lead to serious leakage of radiation if operated with x-rays on in such a
manner.
13. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION WARNING. “In the USA, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (O.S.H.A.) Acts quite clearly place the burden
of compliance on the user of equipment, and the acts are generalised to the extent that
determination of adequacy of compliance is a judgement decision on the part of the local
inspector. Hence Loma cannot be held responsible for meeting full requirements of O.S.H.A. or
O.H.S.A. with regards to any equipment supplied, nor can Loma be held liable for penalty which
may be assessed for failure to meet the requirements of the acts as interpreted by an authorised
inspector. Loma, however, does act in a responsible manner with regard to safe design of
equipment and will always work with customers to assist where possible in the remedy of any
violations at a reasonable cost to the buyer.”
vi
Preface
Emergency procedures
3. Audible Warnings
The x-ray machine is fitted with a multi-tone alarm, which operates in the event of a fault
condition when a contamination detected in the product. The maximum volume of the alarm is
type dependent and lies in the range of 110 dB(A) at i metre.
4. Visual Indications
The x-ray machine is fitted with indicator lamps, which operate to show a particular status or in
the event of a fault condition. The machine must not be operated unless all such indicators are
fully operational. There are also more detailed fault listings displayed on the operator screen.
5. Radiation Levels
Each Loma x-ray inspection machine has a radiation survey to ensure that the radiation levels
emitted from the system are within the specified allowable limits. In fact at Loma we strive to
be well inside the allowable limit to maximise confidence in a safe system. The legislative figure
in the UK is 1 μSv/h but on a typical machine we generally achieve 0.3 μSv/h on average.
In addition when a system is commissioned on a customers‘ premises a critical examination is
carried out and the results stored on record at Loma. A copy of which is also provided to the
customer (see Appendix B Radiation Surveys).
vii
Preface
Quality Assurance
By your selection of a Loma X-ray system you have demonstrated your intention to assure the
quality of your products, and thereby protect your customers.
The following points are recommended:
1. Once your Loma system is installed you should contact your local Loma Service Department
to have the system commissioned.
2. Regularly check the operation of your system (once an hour is recommended). Keep accurate
records of those tests and the samples being used, along with the product details.
3. If the x-ray fails the test, quarantine the product from the last test and re¬introduce through the
x-ray once the equipment is fit for use.
4. Have the equipment supported by a Planned Preventative Maintenance Contract. Details can
be obtained from your local Loma Service Department.
5. If you have or intend to have BS EN 9000 accreditation, write a section into your Operating
Procedures manual covering x-ray procedures and have each x-ray system regularly calibrated
with a certificate issued.
6. Finally, at least on a yearly basis, have your operators, QA and maintenance personnel trained
in the use of the equipment. Details of available training can be obtained from your local Loma
Service Department.
The metal detector is considered to be a Large-scale Stationary Industrial Tool (LSIT) as defined in
Article 2 of the WEEE Regulations. Consequently it is the responsibility of the user of the equipment
to ensure the safe disposal of the machine at the end of its useful life.
viii
Preface
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We hereby declare that the following machinery complies with the essential health and safety
requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and with the protection requirements
of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2004/108/EC, EU-Directive 1935/2004/EC
(Materials for Food Contact) and EU- Directive 2011/10/EC (Plastic Materials and Articles
intended to come into contact with food).
Machine Description: Inspection machine for the analysis and classification of food
and non-food related products by non-destructive means.
Machine Type:
Serial Number:
This machinery has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the following
transposed harmonised European standards
EN ISO 12100:2010. Safety of Machinery. General principles for design. Risk assessment and risk reduction.
EN ISO 13857:2008. Safety of Machinery - Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by upper and lower limbs.
EN 349 : 1993, +A1:2008. Safety of Machinery - Minimum gaps to avoid crushing of parts of the human body.
EN ISO 13849-1:2008. Safety of machinery – Safety related parts of control systems. General principles for design.
EN 60204 part 1:2006, +A1:2209. Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines. General requirements.
EN 61000-6-2:2005. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Immunity for industrial environments.
EN 61000-6-4:2007, +A1:2011. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Emission standard for industrial
environments
A technical construction file for this machine is retained at the following address:
Being the responsible person appointed by the manufacturer or nominated representative of the
manufacturer established in the EC, and employed by:
China Benelux
Sales and Customer Support Sales and Customer Service
Loma Systems Shanghai (Asia HQ) Loma Systems
Shanghai Daalderweg 17
Loma Systems 4879 AX Etten-Leur
Door 3, No. 15, Lane 1985 Netherlands
Chunshen Road, Shanghai, 200237 PRC
France Germany
Sales and Customer Service Sales and Customer Service
Loma Systems France Loma Systems
120, rue Jean Jaurès Magnusstrasse 18
92300 Levallois-Perret Dinslaken
France D-46535
Deutschland
Tel.: +33 (0) 155 695778 Tel: +49 (0) 511 9666811
Fax: +33 (0) 169 591621 Fax: +49 (0) 511 9666812
E-Mail: fr.sales@loma.com E-Mail: de.sales@loma.com
E-Mail: fr.sales@loma.com E-Mail: de.service@loma.com
Web: http://www.loma.com Web: http://www.loma.com
For details of other Loma offices and the worldwide distributor network, please visit the
Loma web site at www.loma.com or telephone one of the sales offices.
x
xi
Contents
Contents
General information 13
Maintenance 93
Installation - Electrical 15
Installation - Pneumatics 16 X-Ray Bespoke Machine Service Schedule 94
Equating Absorption 29
End User Licence Agreement 126
User Interface 31
General Operating Instructions 33
Index 127
range.
2
About the X-ray
inspection range
Your workstation
The system is an automated inspection system so generally does not need an operator present.
Operator intervention is generally required to change the product/system settings. This is generally
performed standing in front of the system using the touchscreen.
Typical applications
Typical applications for this product are the detection of unwanted metal objects in foodstuffs for the
food and drink industry.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
Technical Specification
General
Environment
Environmental Protection ...................................... Dust and waterproof to IP65 level (Optionally IP66)
Operating Temperature ..................................................................................................... +2º to +30ºC
Relative Humidity .............................................................................. 90% non-condensing (maximum)
Dimensions
X-Ray system
X-Ray Subsystem
The x-ray components and control system are fitted inside the central stainless steel cabinet.
X-Ray Tank
An x-ray generating tube is mounted inside the liquid cooled tank. The fluid used is an based
transformed fluid. A copy of the COSHH datasheet is provided in Section 9.
Detector Array
The detector array comprises of a line of photosensitive diodes (the number varies depending on the
width used) - 384 diodes for 300 mm wide, 640 diodes for 500 mm wide and 768 diodes for 600 mm
and 1152 for 900 mm wide - which receive the x-ray energy emitted from the x-ray tube. The diodes
used are typically 0.8 mm across. The detector scans at a rate of hundreds per second (typically
620) depending on the belt/product speed. The scan data is passed to the Image Capture and
Processing Unit (ICPU), which also controls the initialisation and normalisation of the detector.
Warning – The system should not be left generating x-rays for extended periods of time with no
product passing through, as this is likely to reduce the life of the detector.
PLC
The PLC monitors key signals and passes the status of these to the ICPU via RS232.
User Interface
A 12.1” colour touch screen display is fitted to the system.
System Software
This software is used to provide for the operator interface to the system, gather and display image
information of product passing through the machine.
5
About the X-ray
inspection range
Configuration
The standard power levels are provided on each unit as follows:
a) X4 - 150 Watt System, Tube voltage (max) = 60 kV Tube current = 0.5 to 2.5 mA
b) X4 800 XL and SideShoot - 450 Watt system, Tube voltage (max) = 90 kV Tube current
= 0.5 - 5.0 mA
In addition to the power levels available, the detector array selected is dependent on the width of the
conveyor as follows:
Conveyors
Typically a 250 watt 0.3hp motor drives the conveyor. The speed is variable, within a pre-set range,
via an inverter. In addition the conveyor is fitted with a suitable reject system that will best ensure
that contaminated product is successfully placed in a suitable container e.g. reject bin.
The non-crack surface makes it easier to clean and in addition is non-absorbent. The standard belt
supplied is PU. The conveyors are supplied in the following standard sizes:
Guarding
For x-ray machines the use of guarding is extremely important in order to shield operators from the
ionising radiation present when x-rays are on. Legislation specifies the radiation limits surrounding
a x-ray machine. Radiation levels must not be greater than 1.0μSv per hour. The level emitted
from the Loma x-ray machine is much less, on average not greater than 0.3 μSv per hour. This is
achieved by engineering and design. The stainless steel construction creates most of the shielding
required with the addition of x-ray product curtains. These curtains are fitted at each side of the
internal x-ray cabinet and at the infeed and outfeed ends of the conveyor. For high power units
two curtains are fitted at each of the four locations; the two curtains are staggered to ensure that
the fingers of each curtain overlap. For these applications it is important that if for any reason the
curtains are replaced that this overlap is maintained. In certain bulkflow applications the curtains
may not be fitted and protection is provided by the fact that access cannot be obtained via the
infeed and outfeed apertures.
Interlock switches
Each cover and panel providing shielding protection and access to the radiation areas is fitted with
an interlock switch. When opened x-rays will switch off and a fault condition is generated. There is
no residual radiation present when x-rays are off.
The safety interlock switches and emergency stops each have two safety contacts, one with a 24
VDC signal, one with a 0 VDC signal. These signals are series wired through to the the safety relay
inputs. Failure or opening of any of these contacts, or short circuit of the signals, will cause the
safety relay to drop-out.
This will disable the supply to the High Voltage Generation power supply and also disable the
inverter/motor circuit.
When all these switches and the tank thermostats are operating correctly, the conveyor can be
started and via the x-ray control key switch and touchscreen, to start the x-ray generation.
7
About the X-ray
inspection range
• Air Blast
• Pusher
Pusher Reject
Rejects are normally pneumatically operated. On detection of a contaminant the compressed air
supply activates the reject mechanism. If a pusher is fitted, this causes it to push the contaminated
product off the belt into the reject bin. If a drop flap assembly is fitted (which could have 1 to 5 flaps)
the relevant flap will be operated, dropping the contaminated product portion into a reject tray or bin.
Pusher
Optimum supply pressure…………………………………. 5.5 Bar (80 psi)
Minimum supply pressure…………………………………. 4.5 Bar (65 psi)
Maximum supply pressure………………………………… 6.0 Bar (90 psi)
Capacity (Litres/Second at 100 psi)…………………….………...………10
Air Blast
Optimum supply pressure…………………………………6.8 Bar (100 psi)
Minimum supply pressure……………………………..……5.5 Bar (80 psi)
Maximum supply pressure………………………….……..8.0 Bar (120 psi)
Capacity (Litres/Second at 100 psi)………………………………………20
8
About the X-ray
inspection range
Signal Only
Alternatively, a conveyor unit can be supplied without a reject device, and with a ‘Signal Only’
output. On detection of a contaminant in the product, the control unit provides an output signal only.
This can be used for wiring into an off-board reject system or other equipment such as a PLC.
Electrical Services
Electrical services for the x-ray machine are inside the main x-ray cabinet with the mains cable entry
point in the bottom. Access is from the rear of the machine.
The isolator for isolating the electrical power to the machine is located at the lower right-hand side of
the x-ray cabinet, when viewed from the rear.
The conveyor motor contactor and inverter are located with other components on the electrical plate
accessible via the rear door.
Safety Devices
Emergency ‘Stop’ buttons and cover/panel interlocks are fitted. When operated these disable the
conveyor, terminate x-ray generation and exhaust air out of the reject device (where applicable).
Vortex Cooler
On the X4 a thermostat is fitted to guard against system overheat. If the internal temperature of the
cabinet rises above the set limit the thermostat switches a solenoid valve which in turn activates the
vortex cooler. This is factory set and should not be changed. When activated air flows through the
vortex cooler and is discharged into the main x-ray cabinet at a much-reduced temperature. The
vortex does not operate all the time, but only if necessary and operators should be made aware that
it may operate at anytime when the machine is running. It should be noted that the operation of the
vortex is inhibited when a reject occurs. This is to ensure that there is a full supply of air available to
the reject mechanism.
Audible Alarm
An audible alarm is fitted to the x-ray cabinet to alert the operator that a fault condition is active and
the conveyor has stopped.
Optional Equipment
Reject confirmation Photocell
This device is fitted across the aperture of a reject bin directly in the path of the rejected product. If
the rejected product does not break the photocell beam in a given time a fault condition is activated.
The conveyor will then stop and the operator will be alerted by means of an audible alarm and lamp.
The fault will be displayed on the front screen.
Cooling Methods
For environments where high ambient temperatures are expected a roof or door mounted air
conditioning unit may be fitted to the X4 instead of the vortex.
When moving the Loma X-ray conveyor machine place the forks in the indicated
position. Care must be exercised when lifting and moving the machine making sure
that the control unit is not too close to the fork lift face. In addition care must be
taken to make sure that the machine cannot slip when the forklift is in motion.
General information
The following information applies to all versions of the X-ray system.
For a description of each version of the X-ray inspection system range see the chapter About the
X-ray inspection system range, page 1.
Warnings
The following safety warnings apply to the procedures for all versions:
1. Level the machine by adjusting the foot studs. The stud flats are 17mm A/F. Make sure that all
feet are firmly on the ground, and are evenly supporting the machine so that it does not rock. If
necessary, anchor the machine to the ground using bolts screwed through the feet.
2. Due to the fact that each X-ray machine has an oil filled tank (in which the x-ray tube is
immersed) it is necessary to level the machine to ensure that 100% of the x-ray tube is
immersed. To this end use a spirit level across the top of the cabinet, in the direction of flow,
adjusting the feet until a level condition is achieved.
3. When the height and level is correct, lock the foot stud half-nuts. The lock nut hexagon is
30mm A/F. Failure to do so can have an adverse effect on the components of the Loma x-ray
system.
4. You are recommended to apply silicone sealant around the feet and floor.
To do this, open the cabinet lid by removing & retaining the fastenings. The breather screw is
easily located on the top of the x-ray tank filler plug. Loosen the screw by two or three turns anti-
clockwise and refasten the lid.
Where a roof mounted air conditioner or heat exchanger cooling is specified, the breather should be
unlocked before fitting the cooler/lid assembly.
Installation - Electrical
Connecting Electrical Supplies
The supply voltage for the system is indicated on the identification/rating plate that is mounted on
the frame. The maximum line current is also shown
1. Open the door on the rear of centre section cabinet to access the electrical services area.
2. The isolator switch is located at the bottom right hand of the cabinet when viewed from the
rear. Beneath it on the bottom of the cabinet is the cable gland access for the power cable.
3. The system-input power will depend on the country and system type that has been delivered.
For details refer to the rating plate mounted on the frame of the X-ray machine in conjunction
with the wiring diagrams delivered with the user manual.
4. Split the cable inside the box and cut the wires to suitable lengths. An armoured/braided cable
is recommended when cable conduit is not used. A suitable earth conductor is also to be
fitted.
5. Refer to Figure below for isolator switch wiring details. Make the connections to the isolator
switch as specified in Table 1.
SCREEN - SCREEN - E
6. Check that all connections are secure then close and lock the door.
16
Installation
Installation - Pneumatics
Connecting the Air Supply
All Loma x-ray systems require a clean dry compressed air supply, primarily to operate the optional
automatic reject system. In addition the standard conveyor model requires a further air supply to
feed the vortex cabinet cooler situated on the top of the central cabinet. In this situation when a
reject occurs, operation of the vortex is inhibited to allow maximum air to the reject mechanism. It
is therefore essential that the air supply is robust enough for correct operation of the machine when
either the reject or vortex operate.
In the case of a pusher reject, a dump valve and soft start are fitted in order to protect an operator in
case of an emergency, see diagram below. As soon as an emergency stop is activated the mains air
supply is shut off and all air is exhausted from the system.
In addition for failsafe reasons an air pressure switch is fitted in order to alert the operator that the air
supply is low and shut down the system generating a fault condition.
The mains air supply is to be connected as shown below to the input side of the air regulator and
should be set to 5.5 bar (80 psi).
Checking Guards
1. Check that all guards and interlocks are securely fastened in place.
2. Check that the infeed and outfeed of the system are clear of obstructions.
3. In normal operation it is recommended that the conveyor covers are locked in position.
WARNINGS
1. LETHAL HAZARD – ELECTRICAL AND COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLIES. This equipment uses
electrical and compressed air supplies that can be lethal. Unless absolutely necessary, work
must not be carried out without first isolating the equipment from all electrical and compressed
air supplies.
2. LETHAL HAZARD – RADIATION. Whilst every precaution has been taken to make sure
that all the necessary guards and safety devices have been fitted to the Loma x-ray unit, it is
recommended that all operatives are trained in the use of x-ray food inspection machines. In
addition users must adhere to the necessary requirements required by their country, state or
province. Furthermore it is the responsibility of the employer to create a set of local rules (see
example in Cautionary Advice) regarding the safe use of x-ray food inspection systems. In the
U.K. this is in compliance with the Ionising Radiation’s Regulations 1999, users outside of the
U.K. should consult the relevant health and safety executive (see also Radiation Surveys).
4. Each x-ray system manufactured by Loma Systems is fitted with emergency ‘Stop’ buttons.
This is mounted on the front and rear of the control panel. The button is red in colour with a
yellow background. In the event of an emergency, which requires the machine to be
immediately stopped, press the stop button and both x-rays and the conveyor will be stopped.
In addition an alarm will sound.
5. Before powering up any X-ray machine for the first time, a suitably qualified person should be
present to carry out a critical examination (see Radiation Surveys). For advice please contact
your local Loma Service office.
6. Switch on the compressed air supply to the system and open air isolator switch.
7. At the left hand side of the X-ray cabinet, switch on the mains isolator. The system automatically
boots up in a failsafe fault condition with the alarm sounding.
8. At this stage contact an authorised key holder to insert the key into the x-ray key switch and
switch to the ‘On’ position. Refer to operators guide and setup section for further details.
18
Installation
If belt tracking needs to be reset, carry out the belt tracking procedure described in the section titled
Routine Maintenance (Weekly/Monthly) in the Maintenance section of this manual.
Setting Up Reject
WARNING
REJECT DEVICES. At no time, with air and/or electrical power applied to an automatic reject
device, should any part of the body be placed within the operating area of the reject device.
General
The system is normally supplied with the reject mechanism correctly set up for at least one product.
If the Reject Delay and Dwell times need to be adjusted for further products, these are set up via the
user interface. Refer to the sections titled Reject Setup in the operators guide.
In certain instances Loma may supply a Reject Device only, and the end user supplies the Reject
Catchment Device, Bin / Table, etc. The safety of the Reject Device is therefore a function of the
design of the User’s Reject Catchment Device. It becomes the User’s responsibility to ensure the
safety of the complete Reject System.
In most instances the product is delivered onto the system by conveyors. The System has to have
entry and exit points. There is a possible hazardous area at the transfer between the conveyors.
Loma rely on the total line being made safe by the End User.
WARNING
The internal cabinet areas of the machine contain electrical devices that may be at 230V 1Ph
or 110V 1Ph potential depending on the supply voltage. These voltages may cause injury or
death on contact. Work in this area should only be carried out by a qualified Technician with
the Isolator switched off. (The Isolator is located on the right-hand side of the X-ray cabinet
when viewed from the rear).
Diagnostic work should not be undertaken unless the Technician has been Loma trained.
WARNING
Where there are signals with voltages generated from outside the x-ray system, these are not
isolated by the x-ray system isolator. Equipment generating these external signals should
also be isolated before working in the internal cabinet areas. Due care must also be taken by
service personnel when connecting these external signals to the appropriate terminals.
19
Installation
ATTENTION
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS MACHINE IS
CORRECTLY EARTHED.
THIS MACHINE SHOULD NOT BE SUPPLIED VIA
AN EARTH LEAKAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER (RCD)
PLEASE CHECK SUPPLY VOLTAGE BEFORE
SWITCHING ON.
Errors will affect Loma warranty
RADIATION SURVEYS
Introduction
As with all x-ray machines the Loma system produces ionising radiation when x-rays are being
generated. However, legislation governs the allowable emission levels and safe working practices
when using a x-ray machine. With this in mind the machine has been designed to provide adequate
shielding throughout the system, with safety interlocks preventing the guards or access panels from
being lifted or removed without x-ray generation being stopped. However, it is recommended, and
may be required by your country, state or province, to document a radiation survey of the machine
on the following occasions.
1) Daily.
2) After any maintenance has been performed.
3) After the machine has been moved for any reason (new location etc).
4) After any damage has occurred to the system.
5) As per the regulations of your country, state or province.
A documented survey program assures the system is performing correctly, has not been damaged
and provides regular data that the system meets all radiation guidelines.
Note: When your X-ray system is commissioned your Loma service engineer will carry out an
initial survey report and provide you with a copy. The UK regulations also require that radiological
information be provided. This information is given in the Cautionary advice section under Local
Rules.
Radiation Exam
To ensure that maintenance, modification, damage, or distortion of the cabinet, and cowlings etc. do
not result in any deterioration of the safety system it is important that regular checks are carried out.
The interlocks used are magnetic type safety switches, which via safety relays trip the high voltage
power supply to stop x-ray generation, and the conveyor drive. The switch is fixed to the frame of
the machine and a protective panel, when properly seated, closes the switch.
The emergency stop buttons latch in the activated position, and act in a similar manner to the
interlocks. The emergency stop button has to be manually reset or the interlocked cover re-instated,
and the on screen error message must be reset before the conveyor drive and x-ray inspection
system can be restarted.
For assurance that the system remains safe both the emergency shut down system and
measurement of the surface dose rates need to be included in a regular test schedule.
The emergency stop provides the means for the operational staff to shut down the system rapidly.
Although the stop provided is of proven reliability, it is important that it is tested on a regular basis.
The test consists of actuating the stop while the x-ray generator is operating and noting that the
system immediately shuts down. It is also a requirement that when the stop has been manually
reset, the system does not automatically start up.
On the conveyor machine, the covers need to be opened to clear blockages, etc. on the conveyor
belt and it is important that the safety interlocks immediately shut down the system.
Opening each lid in turn and noting that the system immediately shuts down tests the interlocks. As
noted above the system needs to be re-started before x-rays can be generated again.
External Radiation
Changes in radiation dose rate, either at the surface of the machine or at the infeed and outfeed
ports, is most likely to be noted following any material alterations to the system such as a change in
the arrangement of the conveyor or lids etc. In addition, if the x-ray tubes operating voltage is raised
or lowered, this will affect the reading measured. It is therefore important that a full radiation survey
should be carried out following servicing or repair work to verify the integrity of the system.
If changes are observed it will most likely be at either the infeed or the outfeed ports because it is
here that product enters and leaves the inspection chamber allowing some x-rays to scatter along
the conveyor belt. In view of this the ports are the most important places for routine operational
monitoring, but all surfaces should be checked as well.
Frequency of Monitoring
As noted above the most sensitive area for changes in the dose rate are the ports and as a
consequence these should be monitored most frequently. To measure the dose rate at the two
ports will take only a few minutes and should be carried out either once per day or once per shift as
appropriate.
It is recommended that the dose rate at the ports be measured at the start of each shift or day so
that each operating team can feel confident that all is well when they start work. The results should
be noted in some form of record so that any longer term trends can be observed.
Where lead curtains are fitted, over time these will wear and potentially tear. Visual inspection of
these on a daily basis is recommended so that signs of wear are picked up before the curtains
become damaged and so prevent the potential of the external dose rate rising above an acceptable
level.
22
Installation
Weekly Checks
1) Check the emergency stops. If any of them fail, report it immediately to the supervisor.
2) Check the conveyor lid(s). If opening the lid does not immediately shut down the system then
use the nearest emergency stop and report the failure to the supervisor.
Monthly Checks
1) Carry out a full radiation survey over the accessible surfaces of the machine using the radiation
monitor.
Note: When using the radiation monitor it must be moved slowly over the surface that you are
measuring. The suggested rate is less than 150 mm (6") per second, however users should refer to
the monitor instruction manual and specification.
It is strongly recommended that persons appointed to carry out radiation surveys have
received the necessary radiation awareness training qualification. In some countries this may
be mandatory and it is recommended that the user seeks advice from the local health and
safety executive.
23
Installation
24
Installation
Using the X-Ray System
PRINCIPLES OF INSPECTION
X-Ray Generation
X-rays are one of many types of electromagnetic radiation that are produced for a particular use. At
some time or other most people will have received medical treatment or diagnosis, which will have
involved the use of x-rays. Used in the correct manner x-rays can be safely produced and have a
number of uses, one of which is for the inspection of food products.
Note: X-rays cannot make food products radioactive and as soon as the power source ceases x-ray
generation stops and no residual radiation is present.
The principle of x-ray generation is simple to understand and is shown in the diagram below. An
evacuated glass tube is used to house a cathode (-ve terminal) and an anode (+ve terminal) which
is itself then housed inside an oil filled tank which electrically insulates the tube from the case. In
addition the oil is circulated and cooled to dissipate the unwanted heat that is generated when
x-rays are produced.
A current is passed through the filament inside the tube. When a high voltage is then applied to the
tube electrons are attracted out of the filament and accelerated towards the target on the anode.
When the electrons hit the target x-rays are given off in the form of a conical shaped beam. In effect
the voltage controls the brightness and the current the contrast.
Detection of X-Rays
Once x-ray generation has taken place and we have the aforementioned conical shaped beam, the
next step in the process used on the machine is to include a device which will receive the x-ray
energy and process its signal values.
To do this we first position an assembly directly under the x-ray tank known as the collimator.
The collimator in effect allows only the small centre section of the x-ray beam to be emitted
approximately one millimeter in thickness. This section of the beam can be considered to be fan
shaped and positioned at ninety degrees to the product flow direction as shown in the diagram
below
Located on the under side of the centre section of the x-ray machine is the detector array which is
positioned directly in line with the x-ray beam. A line of photosensitive diodes receive the x-ray
energy of which the values are then processed in the form of grayscales - 0 (black) to 255 (white).
This scans at hundreds of scans per second to allow a direct relationship between scan rate and belt
speed/flow rate exists.
27
Using the X-ray
system
When product is not passing through the x-ray beam the detector array receives 100% of the x-ray
energy over the entire length of the array.
When product is introduced through the beam it causes less than 100% of x-ray energy to be
received by the detector. These signal values are processed and shown as a grayscale image.
Product Absorption
When we refer to the product absorption level we mean the amount of x-ray energy that the product
will consume (absorb) when x-rays are passed through it. The higher the density of the product
passing through the beam, the greater the product absorption factor.
At this stage it is worth noting that just because a product may measure to be higher than another
product it does not follow that the greater size is necessarily of a greater overall density. A good
example of this is to compare a quantity of water to a quantity of ice cream that measures the same
in size. This is shown in the diagram below.
28
Using the X-ray
system
Consequently 100 mm of water will absorb a much higher level of energy than an equivalent quantity
of ice cream. In turn the detector array would receive a lower quantity of x-ray energy through the
water compared to the ice cream. The consequence of this is one that generates a lighter grayscale
image in the case of the ice cream.
It is important to remember that not all products will have an even absorption level across its entire
volume. The ‘water’ ‘ice cream’ example shows the density differences assuming both products are
homogeneous.
In the case of a particulate product density values will vary throughout the entire volume of the
product. Therefore it follows that the level of x-rays reaching the array (detector) will also vary. This
will result in an image being shown on the screen of varying grayscale levels. An example is shown
below of the effect a particulate product will have in terms of absorption level.
When we talk about the absorption level it is useful to know that the density value is dependant on
the specific gravity of the product and that by multiplying the specific gravity value of the product by
the height, we can calculate the approximate absorption level.
29
Using the X-ray
system
Equating Absorption
Water has a SG (specific gravity) of 1. The relative absorption can be derived from multiplying the
product height by the SG.
By introducing a 1 mm steel contaminate of SG = 8, the absorption of the water has been reduced to
74 x 1 (1 mm displacement) but the overall absorption level has increased.
The system detects the density change. If the above example is changed to a 5 mm thick water
product then an even larger increase is observed.
The following diagram illustrates that a contaminants position in a product can impact on how easy
it is detected. Contaminate A will be easier to detect than B. This is because with B the x-ray beam
passes through more of the product and therefore has a higher absorbency level.
30
Using the X-ray
system
Imaging Software
On the processing unit mounted in each x-ray machine is loaded software dedicated to the image
acquisition, analysis and viewing on the monitor.
Parameter values are then setup to optimize the system performance and requirements suitable for
each application.
Contaminate Detection
A typical analysis is carried out by comparing each image pixel to a threshold value and rejecting
anything below this value i.e. it is denser and hence darker than the product itself. This relationship
to density means that if a contaminant is close to water (it floats) then it cannot be detected e.g.
insects, wood, hair or paper. This is because most food product is water based.
31
Using the X-ray
system
USER INTERFACE
Please familiarise yourself with the various controls detailed in this section, so that you may use the
Loma X4 to maximum advantage.
The Loma X4 should normally be left switched ON at all times. This is to allow it to remain fully
‘warmed-up’ and achieve maximum detection stability. When not inspecting product, simply exit the
inspection procedure and leave the system idle.
If the machine is specified for a low ambient temperature site, it will be fitted with an internal
thermostatically controlled heater, which requires the electrical power to be ON at all times.
The only time power should be removed from the Loma X4 is when it is not to be used for
several days. In the unlikely event of needing to use the Mains Power isolator switch, please allow
10-20 seconds before switching back on.
Using an emergency stop as a means of stopping the system will cause a system fault to be
indicated (as you stopped the X-rays), false rejects to occur and puts unnecessary stress on the
X-ray set components and motor inverter. Use the emergency stop as a safety device ONLY.
Inspection may be stopped with a single ‘key’ press via the touchscreen control panel.
Conveyor Controls
The Stop and Start controls are accessible on the operator panel below the screen. The conveyor
has 3 pre-set speeds, selectable via product settings.
These speeds are programmed into the inverter situated on the electrical plate inside the rear door.
If any adjustment is needed, an engineer with the correct inverter keypad must carry this out. Any
adjustment will also require changes to the relevant screen settings.
X-Ray keyswitch - behaves exactly as any other interlock. The key must be in place and turned to
‘X-Ray On’ when operating the machine in inspection mode.
This switch also has a ‘Cleandown’ position. When selected, this allows the conveyor to be started
with the front, infeed & outfeed covers open, with X-rays inhibited. The emergency stop buttons
work as normal in this mode.
Remove this key to prevent X-rays from being generated, the key can only be removed in the ‘Off’
position.
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Using the X-ray
system
Set-up keyswitch -this is intended to be a Supervisor function, to protect the system against
tampering. This key must be in place and turned to ‘Enabled’ for parameters to be altered. The
system can still be run in every other way without this key. If ‘Reject Confirmation Test’ has been
specified, this is selected by this keyswitch
The user interface is a colour touchscreen with user-friendly active touch areas. By touching different
areas of the screen, it will jump to those areas of interest or bring up options for you. For example,
touching any of the product total boxes will jump straight to the ‘Statistics’ page. Touching the
Product name will jump to the ‘Product Settings’ page. Touching the product image area will bring
up image display options. See the user interface below:
Image Styles
When the Loma X4 is running in inspection mode, the image style may be changed by pressing
anywhere on the image window. Pressing the image window will bring up an option box as shown
below:
• Fit to Window – this stretches the image vertically and horizontally to fit the available image
space.
• Full Screen – this utilises the whole screen to show the image.
• Zoom – this zooms the image to x 2. You may now scroll around the image by clicking at a
point of interest or zoom in up to a maximum of x 10. When exiting this mode, the screen
returns to Fit to Window.
• 3D – this shows the image in three dimensional mode with the ability to rotate the image and
see the range of densities as a three dimensional model. It allows for a more visual
understanding of how the density of the product varies and how a contaminant can be seen.
• Split Screen – this can be used when running the system with more than one lane of product
(multi-lane mode). It allows each lane to occupy it’s own image window. This option is not
selectable in single lane mode or in Mass/Bel flow.
• Effect – this allows for any of the above views to be shown in the following visual modes:
Normal / Colourise / Negative.
Simply make a selection for the style to be applied. Please note that these style options have no
effect on the detection of the system, it just changes the way the image is displayed.
35
Using the X-ray
system
Goto button
Pressing this button pops up a window of sub-menus, these are:
Starting Inspection
If there are product menus already set up on the Loma X4, then starting inspection is a simple
procedure:
Calibration
Under normal circumstances the Loma X4 will not need a calibration. However, if a new menu is
being run which has different power levels than the other menus or if the system determines that a
calibration is due, then an automatic calibration will be performed upon pressing the Start button.
Important note!
Ensure that the belt is clear of product before performing a calibration, otherwise the
calibration may fail or system performance will be adversely affected. If this happens, simply
clear the belt and calibrate again.
36
Using the X-ray
system
Setting up a new product
Products button
Pressing the Products button will show the product menus. From this screen any of the following
may be done:
• Product menus may be recalled, created or deleted. Note that a ‘New’ product will have the
exact settings as the current active product. The current active product cannot be deleted.
• When X-ray inspection is off, Product menus may additionally be Exported or Imported. A USB
memory stick must be inserted for these operations. An exported menu contains the full set of
parameters. Products may be created on one machine, exported and then imported on another
machine, enabling the copying of products across systems.
• Reject images for the current product run may be viewed via the thumbnail viewer on the
right side of the screen and saved to memory stick. The image save option offers high or low
resolution depending on available space on the disk. See the section on saving images.
Changing Product
To change to a different product menu do as follows:
Note: It is possible to change product remotely please contact Loma for assistance it you require
this feature.
Image Viewer
Press Products at the bottom of the screen and then View Images. This displays the reject images
for the selected product. You may save or delete reject images. If the option to save Reject-Source
images has been selected, you will be able to re-analyse the source image for the currently selected
reject. To enable this option, do as follows:
PRODUCT SETTINGS
• General Settings
From the main screen these can be accessed by either pressing Goto then Product Settings or
simply pressing the name of the product in the top right. This screen looks as shown below:
Set Defaults
Pressing this button will set all the parameters for the currently selected product back to the default
values.
42
Setting up a new
product
Displaying and printing reports
Results menu.
STATISTICS
The Statistics screens may be reached by clicking Goto, then Statistics or clicking the active area in
the bottom right of the main run screen. The Statistics screen is shown below:
Statistics
Current Totals
• Current Totals. Displays the total number of accept and reject packs for this product since the
last reset. The number of packs that were rejected for Contaminant and Product Integrity is also
shown. Note that when a pack fails one of the Contaminant tests, the Product Integrity tests are
NEVER performed. Therefore, these number should always add up to the total number of packs
rejected.
• Contaminants. Displays an analysis of all contaminant rejects for each inspection tool. Note that
these numbers will typically add to more then the total number of contaminated rejects since a
pack may fail more then one contaminant inspection tool.
• Product Integrity. Displays an analysis of all integrity rejects for each inspection tool. As noted
above, these numbers will typically add up to more then the total number Product Integrity
rejects.
• Save. Click this button to save the current statistics to the USB stick.
• Reset. Click this button to reset all statistics for this product.
Tests
• Tests Passed. The number of test packs passed in the current production run.
• Tests Failed. The number of test packs that have failed in the current production run.
• Time Since Last Test. Time elapsed since the last test was performed.
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Displaying and print-
ing reports
Inspection
• Date Last Run. The last time and date that X-ray inspection was started.
• Last Inspection. Time the last pack was inspected.
• Process Time. The time taken to process the last image in milliseconds. It is important to keep
on eye on this value under the following circumstances: (a) the conveyor is running at high
speed; (b) there are many inspection tools enabled or (c) the difference between the reject
distance and Pack Length is small.
• Minimum. The minimum time taken to process product images.
• Maximum. The maximum time taken to process product images.
• Average. The average time taken to process product images.
• Timeout. If the time taken to process any product image exceeds 25% of this value, the
Process Time value will be coloured orange as a caution. When the time taken to process any
product image exceeds 50% of this value, the Process Time value will be coloured red as a
warning. When the processing time exceeds this value, a fault will occur since the system
cannot reject the product. If this happens you must perform one or more of the following
actions: (a) reduce the speed of the conveyor; (b) reduce the number of inspection tools that
are enabled or (c) reduce the Pack Length or increase the reject distance.
• Last Result. The result (pass or reject) of the last inspected pack.
• Product Rate. Current packs per minute.
• Reject Rate. Current rejects per minute. If this value exceeds the Excess Rejects setting
(Product Settings > I/O > Settings) then a fault will occur.
• Reject Ratio. The ratio of reject to total packs.
• Last Reject. The time of the last pack rejected by the machine.
Pack Pitch
This useful feature may be used to measure the distance between packs. Set Pack Pitch to the
expected average distance between packs. Set Zone Width to the required resolution for the
monitor. A histogram of actual pack pitches will then be built up on this screen. This is helpful in
diagnosing problems with pack presentation.
Reports
This tab will only appear if either Shift or Batch reports is enabled. This screen shows the status of
the current Shift or Batch as well as the reports that have already been generated by the system.
These reports may then be manually sent to LomaEnet.
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Displaying and print-
ing reports
Checkweigh
This tab will only be shown if the Checkweigh inspection tool is licensed and has been enabled. The
screen shown below is from the cheese application discussed in the Checkweigh section:
Checkweigh Statistics
• Last Inspection. Displays the latest pack weight as well as the result (pass, reject) for this pack.
• Batch Average. The average of all packs passed through the machine for the current batch.
• Standard Deviation. The STD-DEV of pack weights for the current batch (of accept packs).
• Give-away. The weight of all product above the Nominal setting.
• Give-away Cost. If the Cost setting has been configured, the value of all give-away product will
be calculated and inserted into the batch report.
• Accepts. The total number of accepted packs in the current batch. The number in brackets is
the number that will trigger the end of the current batch and the start of the new batch.
• [Tu1-Tu2]. The number of packs lying between the Tu1 and Tu2 setpoints. Only applicable in
Average Weights mode.
• Rejects. The number of packs that have been rejected in the current batch. The reason for the
reject is given below this value.
• Weight Settings. The current Checkweigh settings.
• Show Trend. Click this button to show a Trend or Histogram graph for the current batch. An
example of this is shown below:
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Displaying and print-
ing reports
Checkweigh Histogram
48
Displaying and print-
ing reports
Setting up the X-ray system
– contaminant detection
Learn Product
Selecting this option launches the Automatic Learn feature, which allows the system to automatically
select X-ray power levels, imaging parameters and basic detection algorithm settings from sample
packs passed through the system.
This feature prompts the operator to pass example good packs and the system steps through the
available X-ray power levels until the optimum is selected. Press Time if you require more time to
prepare sample packs.
Detection algorithms are then tuned to allow robust detection and to minimise false rejects.
Advanced
By pressing on Advanced, a further option box is opened as shown on the next page:
Flow Mode
It is important to set the appropriate Flow Mode for the application at hand. The Flow Mode
describes the way in which the product passes through the system. Note that different modes will
restrict usage of certain Inspection Options. A description of these modes is given below:
• Bounded – used for discrete products passing through in an ordered fashion, for example
boxes of cakes passing through in a regular presentation. All Inspection options are allowed.
This is the default selection.
• Mass flow – used for product passing through in a non-orderly fashion, for example, lollypops
randomly passing along the belt or peanuts in a mass-flow application. Fill Level and
Checkweigh is not allowed and Object Checking is limited to the Loose Objects feature (see
later).
Inspection Options
Access to these options will vary with the selected Flow Mode. The methods are described below:
• Contaminants used for all contaminant detection options such as Basic 1 and Explorer 1. There
is the option to enable or disable each inspection option individually.
• Product Integrity / Object Checking - used to enable the ability to detect Objects within the
product such as individual pots of yoghurt in a tray of yoghurts.
• Product Integrity / Fill Level - used to enable the Fill method which can detect underfill or overfill
conditions. This option is not available in Mass flow mode.
• Product Integrity / Checkweigh – used to enable the advanced Checkweigh feature which is
able to give the weight of packs passing through the machine. Not available in Mass flow mode.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
Lane Settings
Normally the machine will be run in single lane mode, but change Lanes to enable multi-lane
operation. Additional electrical inputs / outputs are required for multi-lane operation.
• There are product guides in the machine which affect the contaminant inspection;
• The product is boxed and well presented. In this case the Blanking can be set to help remove
the box when there is little danger of problems with product orientation.
• The image contains far too much white space with a tiny product. In this case, it may also be
appropriate to reduce the Pack Length.
Blanking Set-up
For special applications, where a dense item or a centre guide rail needs blanking, then adjust
Centre Blanking to suit. Except in unusual circumstances (such as a well presented product in a box
it is not recommended to use blanking in the direction of flow.
Only packs which fall below the Pack Threshold will be captured. The default value of 220 will be
sufficient for most products. If the screen is constantly capturing a white image, then the Pack
Threshold may be set too high (or the conveyor belt may need to be cleaned). If the system is not
grabbing images of the pack, then the Pack Threshold may be set too low or the detector may need
to be re-calibrated.
Blanking is available on the Product Settings > Inspection > Image Processing tab.
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
The histogram of an image is the sum of all pixels in the image. Set the appropriate X-ray power
levels for this product by aiming for the histogram minimum to be in the range 15-100. The minimum
is visible in the Profile image on the right. If the minimum is too low, X-ray power levels should be
raised and vice versa.
Scan Settings
The Image Optimisation screen is designed to get the most out of the detector data. Gamma is
related to the way the detector data is transformed into the image data:
• Gamma equals 100. This is the default, a linear transformation from detector to image data
which means that both dark and light pixels receive the same priority.
• Gamma > 100 (termed “positive”). Darker pixels are given greater priority over lighter pixels.
This is a very powerful way of “zooming” into the darker part of the image without increasing
X-ray power levels. This is very useful with dense products such as a slab of meat.
• Gamma < 100 (termed “negative”). Lighter pixels are given greater priority over darker pixels.
While this option is not used very often, this can be very helpful with small products such as a
blister of pharmaceutical pills.
Range (%) also relates to the way the detector data is transformed into the image data. Unlike
Gamma which changes the priority of darker / lighter pixels, Range (%) actually removes lighter
pixels from the image to achieve greater sensitivity in the darker portion of the product.
54
Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
To set Gamma and Range (%) to the appropriate levels, simply pass a sample product through the
system and press the Auto Set button.
The Image Optimisation screen is shown below after Auto Set has been clicked:
Contaminants:
• Masking > Box Remover. Use for blanking the edges of a product in a box, (can or jar).
• Masking > Mask. Used to mask an area of the pack which needs to be ignored in order to help
detection.
• Contaminant Detection > Basic 1. Uses a fixed threshold or Auto to search for contaminants in
the product. Contaminant Detection > Basic 2 may be used to assist Basic1.
• Contaminant Detection > Explorer. Studies the texture of the product to look for contaminants.
The most powerful contaminant detection algorithm.
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
Product Integrity:
• Object Checking > Object 1 to 4. Used to detect missing or broken / damaged items in
packaged product.
• Object Checking > Loose Objects 1-2. Similar to Object 1 to 4 except that this feature is able to
checkweigh individual items in Loose and Bounded mode.
• Fill. Used for measuring the amount of a product, for example, the fruit filling in a cereal.
• Checkweigh. Used to weigh product in Bounded mode.
The options on the Inspection > Image Processing screen have been dealt with earlier. The Image
Analysis screen is used for diagnostic purposes only and does not affect the way the system
inspects product.
The Loma X4 system is capable of simultaneously checking for any combination of the above
detection methods. Each method has a ‘Tick’ box to enable or disable it in the Inspection screen. If
the option is enabled, the box will be ticked and the shape below the option is coloured green. On
the main run screen, the Contaminants and Product Integrity boxes will be enabled if at least one
option of that class is enabled. Clicking either of these boxes jumps straight to the appropriate tab in
the Product Settings screens.
Important note!
If the product fails one of the Contaminant inspection options, then the Product Integrity
options are NOT performed.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
• Result Box. Shows the processing time (time taken to analyse the displayed image using this
tool). Also shows some tool-specific statistics e.g. the number of contaminants found and the
inspection margin (Basic 1) or the number of objects identified (Object 1 to 4). The green / red
box shows whether the currently displayed image passes the inspection tool or not.
• Grab New. Use this to capture a new image for analysis.
• Live Test. Use this to observe live production. In most inspection set-up screens, touch the
screen to bring up the Live Test Results screen. This shows the margin for all production
passing through the system. In some set-up screens (e.g. Basic 1/2, Explorer 1/2 and Fill) this
screen has an Learn button to set up the inspection parameters from all good products. This is
an especially powerful way to set up these tools. An example of this is shown below:
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
• Auto Set. Use this to automatically set the appropriate inspection parameters based on all
packs passed while Live Test is displayed.
• Histogram. Displays a detailed histogram of the currently displayed image. If Live Test has been
selected, this screen updates as product passes through the machine.
• Profile. Displays a detailed profile of the currently displayed image. Click Max to show the line
with the minimum density or maximum variation. If Live Test has been selected, this screen
updates as product passes through the machine.
• Advanced Settings. Displays the advanced settings applicable to the inspection tool (see later).
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Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
However, if we enable the Box Remover tool, we can solve this problem. The settings of this tool are
described below:
• Pack Threshold. Set to highlight the outer edges of the pack without highlighting any of the
white space around the pack. If this is set too low it will pick up internal edges within the pack
by mistake. Normally set in the range 220-240.
• Box Threshold. Set to ensure that the pack edge is covered. Normally set at 240.
• Box Width. Sets the thickness at the left and right edges. Normally set at 5.
• Box Length. Sets the thickness at the top and bottom edges. Normally set at 5.
• Erosion. Determines by how much the box is eroded. Normally set in the range 25-100.
Note: The above apply to the Product (Perimeter) mode which is the default. Other modes are Linear,
Can and Jar. Settings for these modes are intuitive.
Now with the Box Remover enabled, the box edges (shown in light blue) are ignored leaving the
contents of the pack to be inspected correctly:
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
Another example is a container with a dense edge. If the edge is denser than the contents of the
container, then detection levels will be reduced to ignore the edge. With Masking, however, it can be
set to highlight and ignore the edge, leaving improved detection within the container. Note that the
Box Remover tool may be better suited to this task. See the image below for an example of bread
with a Christmas ‘give-away’ where the Mask has not yet been set up:
The above image shows the ‘give-away’ (a small pottery toy) as a contaminant in the bread. The toy
is clearly denser than the product. We can solve this problem by masking the toy. The settings of
this tool are described below:
• Lower and Upper Threshold. Adjust to highlight the part of the image to be masked in blue.
Note that other parts of the image may be coloured blue as well. We will remove these using
the Object Size classification later.
• Grow. This grows the Mask incrementally. This is usually set to 1.
• Inverted. This inverts the Mask. This is a very useful feature to inspect, for example, bread in a
bag with a clip (see the example below).
• Minimum and Maximum Count. Usually, there will be exactly one mask object in the product
e.g. in the bread shown above there must be exactly one toy. If there is no toy, the product
should be rejected. Set both Count parameters to 1. If the product may have any number
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
between none and two mask objects, for example, then set Minimum to 0 and Maximum to 2.
• Object Size. These classify the size of the object that will be identified as the Mask object. Press
the blue toy on screen to show details from which you can easily Transfer the exact parameters
for the Mask.
• Settings. Shows the Object Size parameters as well as the Noise Area which can be used to
ignore small areas of the product e.g. noise. Normally set at 20.
Once you have selected the Threshold settings so that the Mask object is highlighted blue, press the
object to display the screen shown below:
Object Information
The above screen shows the details of the Mask object. Select the ‘tick’ box for the parameter you
wish to use to classify the object (Width, Length or Area or a combination of these). Now select the
appropriate variation (%) for the chosen parameter(s) and then click Transfer. The parameter(s),
with ± %, will be transferred automatically to the Object Size parameters. The software will also
determine how many objects meet these criteria and will set the Minimum / Maximum Count
automatically.
62
Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
The image below shows the same product with the Mask set up to ignore the toy:
Another application where Mask can prove useful is bread in a plastic bag with a metal clip which
closes the bag. Typically, the metal clip has two small metal bands, crimped and held together by a
plastic sheath. The clip will reduce the detection sensitivity that can be achieved on the bread unless
we use Mask. There are two methods to tackle this problem:
• Mask the clip as described above. This can be tricky since the clip will typically be quite small.
We must also consider pack rotation, clip orientation, etc. The usual way of achieving this is to
set the Mask as normal. In Advanced Settings set Minimum Count to 1 and Maximum Count
to 2. This should solve the situation where the metal bands sometimes overlap each other and
sometimes do not. If Width or Length have been selected then follow this example: If Width
ranges from 22-34 and Length ranges from 15-23, set the minimum for both to 15 (the smallest)
and the maximum for both to 34 (the largest).
• A more powerful method is to set Threshold to fully Mask the bread itself and to use Transfer
in the usual way. Now select the Inverted parameter. This will now Mask everything except
the bread. The Grow parameter should usually be set slightly higher (2 or 3) when using this
method.
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Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
The image below shows the second method applied to a cream cake in a bag with a metal clip. The
masked portion of the image has been coloured light blue:
If it is important to check for the presence of the clip itself, we could use the Object 1 to 4 features
(see later):
Mode = Basic
This uses a single fixed threshold applied to the entire product. This does not adjust the threshold to
account for production variation or for changes in density within the product itself. Use the Auto Set
button to set the correct Threshold value.
Mode = Auto
This method is more advanced then the Basic method. The histogram median of the image is
calculated and a negative offset is then applied from this average value. This technique achieves a
moving threshold that is calculated on a pack by pack basis. This is best suited to products that do
not have different areas of density but the height may vary between packs. Use the Auto Set button
to set the correct Threshold value.
64
Setting up the X-ray
system - contami-
nant detection
Threshold
The inspection threshold applied to the Mode detection technique. Note that this value is negative
for the Auto mode.
Advanced Settings
Contaminant Advanced Settings
This screen shows further options and classifiers for more specific targeting of the contaminant. The
settings are described below:
• Threshold Settings, Offset. Used with Auto Set to automatically give a difference between the
most dense part of the product and the contaminant reject point. This is usually set to 15 but
may be reduced if the production variability is low.
65
Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
• Upper Threshold. Parts of the image that fall above this value are ignored. This value is usually
set to 220.
• Slope Change. This sets the density changes within the product that will be considered normal.
The larger the value, the lower the sensitivity. This is not usually set manually but using the
Leam button.
• Filter. The currently enabled Filters. This field is read-only. To enable or disable any specific
Filter, go to Advanced Settings.
The most powerful method to set the Explorer values is to click Live Test. Now touch the screen.
This will display the Live Test Results screen. Pass 10+ good products through the machine to get a
good distribution. Now press Auto Set. This is shown below:
• Filter 1 to 32. Select the appropriate ‘Tick’ box for the Filter you need to use. For most
applications, it is sufficient to use Filter 2 and Filter 4. If the product is very homogenous,
such as cheese, it may be beneficial to enable Filter 1. If the product is highly variable and the
contaminant of interest is large and low density, it may be useful to enable Filter 8 / 16.
• Slope Change. These are the actual values for each Filter. These values should not be modified
except by advanced users. These values should be set on the main Explorer screen using the
Leam button.
• Offset. Used for Auto Set purposes to define the difference between the most textured part of
the product and the contaminant reject point. This value is usually set to 10 but can be lowered
if the product to product variation is very small. Raise this value if the product to product
variation is very high.
• Average. When calculating the Slope Change, the algorithm will usually look in all directions
(Average). By turning this off forces the algorithm to look in only one direction while scanning
through the product. Except in exceptional circumstances, the Average option should be used.
• Reduce False Rejects. Reduces false rejects by requiring more than one filter to fail before the
pack is rejected.
• Tracking. Monitors product variation and adjusts settings automatically to compensate.
If you wish to disable the Box Remover or Mask features this can be done on the Edge Width tab.
Other settings on the Edge Width Tab are intuitive.
67
Setting up the
X-ray system - con-
taminant detection
The Explorer 1,2 algorithm is the most powerful contaminant detection technique available and
should always be used except in unusual circumstances. In the following image, Box Remover has
been used to remove the edges of a box of cereal. Explorer has detected a contaminant within the
cereal itself and also loose in the box. Basic 1 has not detected the contaminants:
In the Advanced Settings screen, it is possible to rename the tool to something more meaningful. For
example, you may choose to use two Object tools and to rename ‘Object 1’ as ‘Meat’ and ‘Object 2’
as ‘Cheese’. This helps identify the reason for rejects.
In common with most of the inspection tools discussed so far, the Object tools use a threshold to
isolate areas of interest. Pixels thus isolated are visually coloured and areas of connected pixels will
be identified as a single object. These objects are then counted, classified or verified.
71
Setting up the
X-ray system -
Product integrity
In the following example, Object 1 has been named ‘Butter’ and set up to count the blobs of garlic
butter in a baguette. In this example, there are two baguettes, each having seven blobs. Therefore,
Minimum and Maximum Count have been set to 14 for an acceptable product. This is shown below:
In the next example, a tray of 12 yoghurts will be inspected. The most efficient way to set up the
object identification is as follows:
If the number of objects identified does not match the Minimum / Maximum Count, objects failing
the classification will be coloured red. In the Results section (bottom left), the reason the object failed
the classification is also shown in red. If you click on the rejected (red) object, the Object Information
screen will be shown and the parameters that pass the classification will be coloured green, while
those that fail will be highlighted red. In the image shown below, one of the yoghurts has not been
filled properly and has failed the Volume classification (as can be seen in the Results section):
73
Setting up the
X-ray system -
Product integrity
This mode is selected by choosing Verify Mode from the Advanced Settings screen. Set up the
classification as described in the previous section. It is important to set the Noise Area parameter
in order to remove tiny objects (usually noise in the image) that may be accepted as contaminants.
Objects that have an area below this setting do not cause rejects and take no further part in the
Object process. The image below shows an example of Verify Mode in action on some lollipops.
A coloured rectangle is drawn around each object that has been identified. All objects that have
been successfully identified are marked with a green cross. One of the lollipops has failed the
classification tests for some reason and is identified with a red cross: (image appears to be in count
mode)
74
Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
• Lower Threshold. Parts of the image that fall below this value are ignored. Normally set at 0.
• Upper Threshold. Parts of the image that fall above this value are ignored. Normally set at 220.
• Offset. Makes the Thresholds relative to the image median compensating for product variation.
Normally off.
• Minimum Count. If the number of objects identified falls below this number, the product will be
rejected. Only applicable in Count Mode.
• Maximum Count. If the number of objects identified is greater than this number, the product will
be rejected. Only applicable in Count Mode.
• Embed. Normally OFF. An advanced feature (see later) which embeds the reason for a product
failing (e.g. ‘Volume (Low)’ in the example above) into the reject image. Only applicable in Count
Mode.
• Name. This defaults to ‘Object X’ (X = 1 to 4). Change this to help identify the object being
inspected.
• Object Process. The processing mode. Normally set at Count Mode.
• Minimum / Maximum Count. Described above.
• Embed failed object parameter. Described above. This helpful feature quickly identifies the
reason a product was rejected when reviewing reject images.
• Minimum / Maximum Size. Sets the range for Width, Length, etc used to classify objects. These
settings should normally be set up by using the Transfer process described earlier.
• Minimum / Maximum Holes. Set these parameters to reject objects with greater or fewer than
the specified number of Holes. Note that it is not possible to reject objects with exactly 1 hole
(by setting Minimum and Maximum to 0).
• Noise Area. Use this setting to remove small areas of the image that may be identified as
objects. Normally set at 20.
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Setting up the
X-ray system -
Product integrity
The Live Test feature offers a powerful way to review object settings in live production. Click the
button and press the screen. The Live Test Results screen is displayed. The current Object Size
classifiers are visible in the bottom left of the screen. Use Display All to show results for all failed
objects. Use Only Marginal Reject to identify the failed object that is closest to passing the classifiers
(in percentage terms) and to display the results for this object only.
Now pass product through the machine to watch the results. Object Size parameters are updated
automatically and parameters for objects that fail the classifiers will be coloured red. In the example
shown below, the last product passed had an object that was identified with a Width which fails the
classifier test for that parameter and is therefore coloured red. The other parameters (Width, Area,
Volume and Perimeter) pass the classifier test for that parameter and are therefore coloured green.
In total, ten objects have been identified. Of those objects, five have failed the classifier tests for
some reason:
Note that the Object tools are not available in (Mass) flow mode.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
• This tool does not count objects. This is like the Verify Mode of the Object tool.
• This tool operates in both Bounded and (Mass) flow modes.
• Objects are identified across up to two product images. This means that if an image is captured
and an object is touching the bottom part of the image, object classification must be deferred
until the next image. This important concept will be discussed more fully below.
• Objects can be individually weighed using the advanced Loma X4 Checkweigh algorithms.
This is discussed more fully below.
As discussed earlier, it is now possible to click on the object of interest (including the chopped-in-
half loaf from the second image) to display the Object Information screen. The Object Size classifiers
may now be set up by using the Transfer button.
The Loma X4 uses advanced algorithms to calculate the pack weight based on the information in
the image. This feature is enabled in Advanced Settings, on the Checkweigh tab. The Checkweigh
settings are described below:
• Enable. Select this to enable the Checkweigh feature. Objects will be weighed if they have been
identified according to the Object Size classifiers.
• Packs. The minimum number of packs that will be used to perform the calibration. Generally,
the calibration will be improved when more packs are used. Note that for objects in a multi-
pack (such as each pot of yoghurt in a tray of yoghurts) the software will identify each yoghurt
as a single ‘pack’ towards this total.
• Lock Calibration. This feature can be enabled once calibration has been completed. When
selected, calibration points may neither be added or removed. Only a Refresh calibration may
be performed (see later).
• Cal Points. Shows the currently defined calibration points.
• Reset. Use this to remove all calibration points.
• Nominal. The target or average object weight.
• High. Objects weighing more than this value will be rejected unless the Reject High option has
been switched off.
• Reject High. Use this feature to reject objects that weigh more then the High value. If it is
not important to reject objects with a high weight, then this feature should be switched off.
Normally switched on.
• Low. Objects weighing less than this value will be rejected.
• Tare. The weight of packaging for each object which is subtracted from each object before
showing the final weight of the object. Normally set to 0.
When Checkweigh has been enabled, some new Weight Calibration settings are enabled on the
main set-up screen. These new settings are described below:
• Cal Points. The number of calibration points that have been defined. It is recommended that
between three and five calibration points are used.
• Current Pack. The actual weight of the pack to be used in the next calibration. This will be
discussed more fully below.
• + Cal Point. Add a new calibration point.
• Refresh. When the initial calibration has been performed, Lock Calibration should be switched
on. With a Refresh calibration, the actual object weight is compared to the calculated weight.
If there is a difference between these values, an offset is applied to the calibration to ensure
that the weight is as accurate as possible. It is recommended to perform a Refresh calibration
at the start of each new batch of product to account for variations in product density, system
temperature and other production variables.
• Reset. Removes all calibration points.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
Once the Checkweigh feature has been set up, calibration is performed as follows:
• Choose a product that will be used in calibration and find the weight of the product using, for
example, an electronic scale. It is important that this product is typical of normal production.
• Enter the actual pack weight (determined above) in the Current Pack field. This should include
any weight for packaging (the Tare).
• Press + Cal Point to begin calibration. This displays the calibration screen shown below.
Results for all identified objects may be viewed on the ‘Objects’ tab:
• Pass the same pack through the machine until the image shows a checkered flag. It is
important to present the pack in the same way as normal production. For example, if product
presentation is not good (there is variation in location on the belt and skew), it is recommended
to pass the packs once down the left of the belt, once down the right, once rotated 90º in the
middle of the belt, and the remaining packs down the middle of the belt. The calibration will be
best when product presentation is very good.
• Review the Standard Deviation and other results. If they are not satisfactory, press Reset to
start over or press Cancel to exit. If they are satisfactory, press Ok.
• Repeat with a new pack and a new pack weight. It is recommended to use between three and
five calibration weights.
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Setting up the
X-ray system -
Product integrity
• Each new calibration weight must be different to all calibration weights used before. In addition,
it is recommended to spread the weights to represent the expected variation in normal
production. For example, if Nominal is set at 500.0g, High at 530.0g and Low at 470.0g, choose
packs near to each of these weights. Do not calibrate at weights that are very close to each
other.
• When complete, exit the Loose Objects set-up screen to return to the main run screen. Pass
packs and verify that the calibration is good. If the calibration is not good, Reset the calibration
and repeat. If the calibration is good, return to the Loose Objects set-up screen and enable the
Lock Calibration feature.
• It is recommended to perform a Refresh calibration at the start of each new batch of product.
In the following example several loaves of bread have been passed through the machine at the same
time. One of the loaves was chopped-in-half in the previous image, but was successfully identified
and weighed in this image. Another three loaves have been weighed in this image, but one of the
loaves must be rejected because it is underweight:
Loose Objects can be used in Bounded or (Loose) flow modes. Images are constantly captured in
(Loose) flow mode which may make it difficult to set up. It is may prove easier to set this tool up in
Bounded flow mode before switching to Loose.
Important note!
If the X-ray power levels, Conveyor Speed or Scan Ratio change, the Checkweigh calibration
will need to be redone.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
• Upper Threshold. Parts of the image that fall above this value are ignored. Adjust to highlight
the parts of the image which are of interest. Normally set at 220.
• Offset. Use this feature to apply an offset from the average density in the pack. This allows for
some variation in dispersion between packs. Normally switched off.
• Fill Level Mode. The fill level of the pack may be determined by Area or Volume. Normally set at
Volume.
• Minimum Fill (%). The fill level must be greater than this value.
• Maximum Fill (%). The fill level must be smaller than this value.
• Fill Level. The level used to classify the pack as a Pass / Reject. This may be set using the Auto
Set button.
• Histogram. Displays a detailed graph of the image for information purposes only.
The Minimum / Maximum Fill (%) values may be set manually, for example 25% either side of 100%.
However, a more useful method of setting these is to press Live Test and then to touch the screen
or press Lean to display the Live Test Results screen. Pass several good packs through the machine
and press Auto Set. This sets Minimum / Maximum Fill (%) automatically. Now pass a faulty pack
to ensure that the Results box is red. (This is shown below). Note the current classifier (Volume) is
displayed in the bottom left:
The following image shows Fill set up for a pack of 16 mini-muffins. In this example, there are only
15 mini-muffins in the pack and Fill has detected this and rejected the pack:
Mini-Muffins (underfill)
Note that the Fill tool is not available in Loose flow mode.
• Checkweigh uses advanced algorithms to prepare a calibration curve which is more robust to
small changes in the quantity and density of the product. This results in a more accurate and
robust measurement of the amount of product (i.e. weight).
• A number of advanced statistics become available that allow the tracking of the amount of
give-away, production trends and so on.
• Batch reports can be produced to LomaEnet.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
Basic Checkweigh settings have already been discussed in the section on Loose Objects. There are
some new settings which are described below:
• Average. This refers to Average Weights legislation which is the mandated weighing legislation
for some applications. This legislative mode is used in Europe, Canada and Australia, amongst
other territories. There are strict limits to the settings for High, Tu1 and Tu2. In addition, the
average weight of product in every batch must be greater than the Nominal value. The table
used for this mode is shown below.
• Minimum Weight. This is a simpler weighing mode in which Tu1 / Tu2 are replaced by the Low
field. This legislative mode is used in the United States and wherever Average Weights is not
required. There is also greater freedom in setting the High and Low values. Unless Average
Weights must be used, it is recommended to use only the Minimum Weight mode.
• Tu1. The first mandated underweight value from Average Weight legislation. This may be
increased (made closer to Nominal) but may not be reduced. Replaced by Low in Average
Weight mode.
• Tu2. The second mandated underweight value. This may be increased (made closer to Tu1)
but may not be reduced. Under Average Weight legislation, either 1 in 12 packs (Australia),
1 in 40 (Europe except France) or 1 in 50 (France) are allowed to be between Tu1 and Tu2 in
every batch of product. Product which has a weight lower than the Tu2 value must be rejected.
Replaced by Low in Average Weight mode
• Target. The target for the average weight for product in the current batch. Usually slightly larger
than the Nominal value. This is designed to ensure that under Average Weights legislation the
83
Setting up the
X-ray system -
Product integrity
• Cost. This is the cost of raw materials used in production. By setting this value, it is possible to
track the value of all product that is ‘given away’ i.e. product weight that is above the Nominal
value.
Please refer to the section on Loose Objects for a description of settings that have not been
mentioned here. The discussion on calibration from that section is identical.
Average Weights
Note: The table below defines the Limit of Error (LOE) defined under Average Weight Legislation.
1xLOE defines the Tu1 weight; 2xLOE defines the Tu2 weight.
There are some important differences with Loose Objects which are discussed below:
• The Checkweigh tool weighs product in the entire image and does not calculate a weight for
each object identified.
• Checkweigh works in Bounded flow mode only.
• Product must be weighed in each image and cannot be weighed across two images as is
possible with the Loose Objects tool.
• With Checkweigh enabled, Batch Reports (see later) are produced. One consequence of this
is that Advanced Settings discussed above cannot be modified while the X-ray is inspecting
product. This is done to ensure the integrity of the Batch Report settings.
• A number of new statistics are available (see later).
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Setting up the X-ray
system - Product
integrity
The image below shows a cheese application. In the bottom right, some new fields are visible which
are specific to the Checkweigh tool. These show the current average of all production as well as the
weight of the current pack:
Cheese (Checkweigh)
Under the Statistics screen (discussed later) there are a number of new screens dedicated to
Checkweigh. Please see the Statistics section for detail on these statistics.
Important note!
If the X-ray power levels, Conveyor Speed or Scan Ratio change, the Checkweigh calibration
will need to be redone.
While the Checkweigh algorithms ensure a high level of accuracy, the physics of X-ray
attenuation in food is complex. Therefore not all products are suitable for weighing using an
X-ray and must be individually evaluated. In most cases a traditional Checkweigher will out-
perform an X-ray (though this machine type will obviously not be able to deliver the benefits of
an X-ray such as Contaminant and Product Integrity detection). The type of products that will
perform best using an X-ray are homogenous and well-presented, such as cheese.
Setting up the X-ray system
- reject Timing
This chapter explains how to
The example above shows contaminated packs directed to Output 1. All Product Integrity rejects
are directed to Output 2. This ensures that contaminated product is kept separate from product
which is not contaminated (and which may therefore be reprocessed). For systems which only have
one reject-per-lane, all product must be rejected to Output 1. If the system is set up for multi-lane
operation, then the Lane selection will be shown at the bottom of the screen and each lane will have
an output.
87
Setting up the X-
ray system - reject
Timing
I/O Timing
In the example above, Output 1 has been configured to trigger earlier than Output 2. This is common
for a system with two rejects-per-lane where the second reject bin is further downstream than the
first. Timing settings are described below:
• Reject Confirm. Use this feature to confirm that rejected product has entered the reject bin. If
the product is not detected entering the bin, a fault will occur and inspection will be stopped. If
this option is not required it should be switched off.
• Bin Full. Use this feature to set the machine into fault when the reject bin is full. If this occurs,
reject product cannot enter the reject bin. If this option is not required, it should be switched
off.
• Reject Confirm Time. When the reject is triggered, the product must be detected entering the
reject bin within the allotted time or a fault will be set.
• Bin Full Time. Time required for the Bin Full sensor to be active before a fault occurs.
• Line Block. This is a sensor fitted to the out-feed of machine. Not all systems are fitted with this
device. Use this feature to detect when product is backing up at the exit of the conveyor (such
as a line blockage).
• Line Block Time. Time required for the Line Block sensor to be active (if fitted) before a fault
occurs. In the example above, this feature is switched off.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - reject
Timing
On the I/O > Settings screen there are some additional settings for reject configuration which are
described below:
• Excess Rejects. The maximum number of rejects that can occur within a minute before a fault
occurs. This feature is disabled when the value is 0.
• Consecutive Rejects. If this number of packs are rejected consecutively, a fault will be
triggered. This feature is disabled when the value is 0. It is recommended to use this feature to
help alert production to a potential quality issue.
IO Reports
stable to the occasional pack that has a very low or a very high pack weight. Use a small value to
track production variations more quickly. This will give a faster feedback on the production trend,
but will also be less stable to packs with low or high weight.
• Weight Feedback. With this feature enabled, the trend average weight (defined by the Trend
Average setting) will be downloaded to the PLC. If the trend average is less than 800.0g, then
the format will show the decimal number. For example, if the trend average is 254.7g, ‘2547’
will be written to the PLC. If the trend average is greater then 800.0g, then the format will not
show a decimal number. For example, if the trend average is 1023.6g, ‘1024’ will be written to
the PLC. See the table below for details on the specific data memory addresses used.
• Trace Codes. Use this feature to enter a traceability code for the current Batch.
• Auto Increment. With this feature selected, the traceability code will be automatically
incremented when a new Batch is started. This means that production will not have to stop as
the new code is entered.
Weight Feedback
Lane PLC Data Memory Format < 800.0g Format >= 800.0g
The feedback values shown in the table above will usually be read from the PLC using DeviceNet or
a similar module.
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Setting up the X-ray
system - reject
Timing
Using Performance Validation
92
Using Performance
Validation
Test button
This is only of use when inspecting. The Test button allows for a simple detection test to be carried
out. The system will wait for a period of time (approximately 20 seconds) in which a reject pack must
be detected in order for the test to pass. This will confirm all settings are correct and the system is
operating satisfactorily. There is a screen prompt to inform of the result of the test.
All test results are logged in the Events history available in the Statistics page. These can be viewed
or saved to disk as desired. Test packs are NOT counted in the statistics.
Additional PVS options can be configured in System Settings / Advanced / PVS and in Product
Settings / I/O (Rejects) / PVS.
Maintenance
MAINTENANCE
Machine Type
Customer
WARNINGS
Failure to comply to the maintenance schedule below may invalidate your warranty.
Maintenance work must be carried out by appropriately qualified and trained service engineers.
No attempt should be made to repair the x-ray unit without advice from a qualified service
engineer. If in doubt contact your local Loma Service Centre.
After maintenance, the unit should be monitored using a suitably calibrated radiation instrument
and a record kept of the monitoring results in accordance with National Radiological Protection
Standards.
The X-ray system is a high performance system and as such contains several sensitive
components. For this reason the system transit packing crate is fitted with internal shock
sensors to monitor whether the system has been subjected to inappropriate handling. Activation
of this shock sensor may invalidate the system warranty.
If the system has not been used for a period of a month or more then it is critical that the x-ray
set is re-seasoned. Failing to do so could cause the x-ray set to be stressed and this may
result in premature failure. This may invalidate your warranty. If in doubt, please contact Loma
Systems
Loma Systems cannot accept any liability for damage or personal injury as a result of work
undertaken on the machine by unauthorised personnel.
95
Maintenance
1 Check the radiation protective curtains for signs of wear and tear. Daily
Replace immediately if damaged. Conveyor
only
2 Check that all interlocks and emergency stops function correctly. Daily
3 The x-ray system is fitted with an air pressure regulator complete with Daily
condensate trap with an integrated automatic drain. The condensate
bowl can be manually emptied by rotating the blue drain ring. Check that
the bowl/filter is clean and the outlet not blocked.
6 Check that the belt and belt rollers are clean and are free from a build up Daily
of either product or foreign material, e.g. wrapping film. Material on the Conveyor
rollers may cause incorrect tracking of the belt and also transfer dirt to only
the conveyor belt.
7 Check that the reject container is not full. This is particularly important Daily
if a ‘Bin Full’ detection device is not fitted. If necessary, empty the
container in accordance with company practice on removal of rejected
product.
8 Check the correct operation of reject timing by running contaminant test Daily
samples through the machine.
9 Dependant on the protection rating of the system, either wipes or wash Weekly
the system using a mild detergent solution. For conveyor machines, pay
particular attention to the centre section of the main cabinet behind the
curtains, as this area is not seen when in production.
10 Where fitted, clean / wipe the Product Location photoelectric cell (PEC) Weekly
and reflector. These are located behind the inside curtains in the centre Conveyor
main cabinet and are mounted either side of the conveyor. Should the only
machine be fitted with an overhead PEC, wipe clean the face only, as
this is distance setting where no reflector is necessary
11 Where fitted, clean / wipe the Reject Confirmation and Bin Full Weekly
photoelectric cells
(PEC) and reflectors. These are located on the reject bin
12 Clean / wipe all the inner and outer sets of curtains on the infeed and Weekly
outfeed. Conveyor
only
13 Check the security of fixtures and fittings and that all guards are securely Weekly
fastened in place.
14 Check that the system and associated equipment has been cleaned Weekly
correctly and there is no build-up of product or debris, particularly in the
centre section of the conveyor model.
96
Maintenance
15 Check the plastic detector insert (under the belt) for signs of wear and Weekly
tear. Replace immediately if damaged. Conveyor
only
17 Check that the conveyor belt is correctly tensioned and is neither too Weekly
tight nor too slack. If a belt is too loose, adjust it as described in the Conveyor
section titled Routine Maintenance Daily / weekly. only
Note: Over tensioning the belt may cause damage to bearings and
motors.
18 Check operation of all three stack lamps. Note, only the red x-ray on Weekly
lamp is monitored automatically.
19 Check for bearing wear, noted by rumbling noises from the bearing, Weekly
replace if necessary. Conveyor
only
20 Where fitted, clean the x-ray tank oil cooling radiator fins of any dust Monthly
and debris using a compressed air jet applied to the outlet air duct. This
should be done with the electrical supply off.
21 Check inside the system cabinet for x-ray oil cooling system leaks at Monthly
hose clamps.
22 Check inside the system cabinet for water ingress from over-aggressive Monthly
highpressure water cleaning.
24 Air Regulator/Water Trap Maintenance. Check that the regulator pressure 3 Monthly
setting is correct. This should be between 60psi (4.2 bar) and 80psi (5.5
bar).
25 With the system isolated from the electrical supply check that the oil 3 Monthly
level in the x-ray tank is approximately 15 mm below the filler plug. Any
dip stick used must be cleaned with suitable paper, fabric lint could
cause contamination. The filler plug is located on the top of the x-ray
tank.
Note: This oil level should not require adjustment unless a leak in the
system is present. In addition it should be noted that the oil is of an
insulating type specific for x-rays and must not contain any moisture or
air bubbles. Top up oil should only be obtained from Loma Systems as
standard oil direct from the manufacturer requires additional processing
to meet the specification required.
26 Check the oil colour, which starts clear, but will progressively change 3 Monthly
due to the action of the ionising radiation. It must not be allowed to get
darker than pale straw colour. If the oil is darker then this arrange for it to
be changed with your local Loma Service Centre.
28 Check that the x-ray tank oil cooling system fan is operational. Do not 3 Monthly
attempt to check this with x-rays on and interlocks overridden.
29 As a minimum the x-ray oil should be changed annually, unless the Annually
machine specific details state otherwise. The oil is of an insulating type
specific for x-rays and any air bubbles must be purged before generating
x-rays. Loma Service office can perform the oil change on request. The
customer will be responsible for the environmental disposal of the old oil.
WARNINGS
1. LETHAL HAZARD – ELECTRICAL AND COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLIES. This equipment
uses electrical and compressed air supplies that can be lethal. Unless absolutely
necessary, inspection and cleaning must not be carried out without first isolating the
machine from all electrical and compressed air supplies.
2. WORKING ON EQUIPMENT. If it is essential to work on the equipment with electrical
and/or compressed air power connected, the work must be undertaken only by qualified
and authorised personnel who are fully aware of the danger involved and who have taken
adequate safety precautions to avoid contact with dangerous voltages or compressed
air supplies.
3. REJECT DEVICES. At no time, with air and/or electrical power applied to an automatic
reject device, should any part of the body be placed within the operating area of the
reject device.
4. BLOCKAGES, ACCIDENTS OR BREAKDOWN. If a blockage, accident or breakdown
should occur, it is essential that the machine is stopped using the Red Emergency Stop
button before any action is taken.
5. CAUTIONARY ADVICE. Before carrying out any maintenance on the equipment please
read the section entitled Cautionary Advice.
99
Maintenance
Daily
1. Isolate the electrical and compressed air power supplies to the system.
2. Check that the belt and belt rollers are clean and are free from a build up of either product or
foreign material, e.g. wrapping film. Material on the rollers may cause incorrect tracking of
the belt and also transfer dirt to the conveyor belt.
3. Check that the reject container is not full. This is particularly important if a ‘Bin Full’ detection
device is not fitted. If necessary, empty the container in accordance with company practice
on removal of rejected product.
4. Make sure not to splash any water in the areas around the air intakes on the side of the
cabinet and on the back door.
5. Wipe the system using a mild detergent solution. Pay particular attention to the centre
section of the main cabinet behind the curtains, as this area is not seen when in production.
6. Wipe any photoelectric cells (PEC) and reflectors. These are located behind the inside
curtains in the centre main cabinet and are mounted either side of the conveyor. Should the
machine
be fitted with an overhead PEC wipe clean the face only as this is distance setting where
no reflector is necessary.
7. Wipe the curtains on the infeed, inner left, inner right and outfeed.
The Loma X4 conveyor model has the facility to override the interlock switches for the purpose of
running the conveyor to wash down. To do this the power must be switched on and the key
switch must be in the cleandown position (refer to operators section). The emergency stop buttons
will still stop the conveyor drive.
Note: When the keyswitch is in the cleandown position x-rays cannot be generated, therefore
the user must ensure that the X4 is not in RUN, in order that a fault condition is not
generated.
9. If not already actioned in the previous step, switch on the electrical and compressed air
power supplies to the system.
10. Switch the key-switch to the x-ray on position, enter RUN mode and check that the
reject mechanism successfully rejects a contaminated product into the reject bin.
100
Maintenance
Weekly Inspection
1. Isolate the electrical and compressed air power supplies to the system.
2. Check the security of fixtures and fittings and that all guards are securely fastened in place.
3. Check that all interlocks and emergency stops function correctly.
4. Check that the system and associated equipment has been cleaned correctly and there is no
build-up of product or debris, particularly in the centre section of the conveyor model.
5. Check that all of the curtains are in good condition and that there are no splits in the material.
6. Inspect the conveyor belt for damage and contamination.
7. Check that the conveyor belt is correctly tensioned and is neither too tight nor too slack. If a
belt is too loose, adjust it as described in the section titled Routine Maintenance Daily / weekly.
Note: Over tensioning the belt may cause damage to bearings and motors.
8. If fitted, check the internal radiator fins are clear of dust and debris.
Daily
1. Isolate the electrical and compressed air power supplies to the system.
2. For conveyors, check that the belt and belt rollers are clean and are free from a build up
of either product or foreign material, e.g. wrapping film. Material on the rollers may cause
incorrect tracking of the belt and also transfer dirt to the conveyor belt.
3. Check that the reject container is not full. This is particularly important if a ‘Bin Full’ detection
device is not fitted. If necessary, empty the container in accordance with company practice on
removal of rejected product.
4. Either wipe or wash the system using a mild detergent solution. Pay particular attention to
the centre section of the main cabinet behind the curtains, as this area is not seen when in
production.
5. Clean / wipe any photoelectric cells (PEC) and reflectors.
6. For conveyors, clean / wipe the curtains on the infeed, inner left, inner right and outfeed.
7. If a hose wash is to be used the following information may be of use:
101
Maintenance
Weekly Inspection
1. Isolate the electrical and compressed air power supplies to the system.
2. Check the security of fixtures and fittings and that all guards are securely fastened in place.
3. Check that all interlocks and emergency stops function correctly.
4. Check that the system and associated equipment has been cleaned correctly and there is no
build-up of product or debris, particularly in the centre section of the conveyor model.
5. Check that all of the curtains are in good condition and that there are no splits in the material.
6. Inspect the conveyor belt for damage and contamination.
7. Check that the conveyor belt is correctly tensioned and is neither too tight nor too slack. If a
belt is too loose, adjust it as described in the section titled Routine Maintenance Daily / weekly.
Note: Over tensioning the belt may cause damage to bearings and motors.
Routine Maintenance
For a summary of maintenance specific for your system please see the bespoke maintenance
schedule at the start of this section.
The ‘Daily/Weekly’ routine must be carried out on a daily basis when the system is in constant use,
but can be stretched to a week when the demands on it are low. If you have any queries relating to
the maintenance of your system, your Loma Service Centre will be pleased to advise you.
WARNINGS
CONTAMINANTS. Oils and greases must always be handled with care. Prolonged bare skin
exposure to certain oils and greases can cause skin problems. Always handle oils and
greases in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Oil
Manufacturer Oil Type
Grease
Manufacturer Type
1. Check that the regulator pressure setting is correct. This should be between 60psi (4.2 bar)
and 80psi (5.5 bar). To adjust the regulator pressure, pull up the cap and turn it either clockwise
to increase the pressure or counter-clockwise to decrease the pressure. Push down the cap to
lock it when finished.
2. Check that the water trap is empty. Empty it by pressing the drain pin.
The ‘Weekly / Monthly’ routine must be carried out on a weekly basis when the system is in
constant use, but can be stretched to a month when the demands on it are low. If in doubt,
your Loma Service Centre will be pleased to advise you.
104
Maintenance
X-Ray Cabinet
1. Check that the fan is working on the x-ray tank cooling system located at the left of the cabinet
when viewed from the rear. In addition the PC fan also needs be checked that it is operational.
Note: Do not attempt to check this with x-rays on and interlocks overridden.
Caution: DO NOT operate the system if this fan is not running. In this unlikely event
contact your local Loma Service Department.
2. When cold check the oil level in the x-ray tank is approximately 15 mm below the filler plug.
The filler plug is located on the top of the x-ray tank situated in the upper area of the cabinet.
If the level is lower than stated telephone your local Loma service office for advice. Note: This
oil level should not change unless a leak in the system is present. In addition it should
be noted that the oil is of a special insulating type and should not contain any moisture
or air bubbles (Refer to RECOMMENDED OIL AND GREASE).
NOTE: Do not over-tension the belt, as this will cause premature wear of the bearings and
damage the belt.
If the belt slips or moves during normal operation, check the condition of the rollers and make sure
that debris has not built up between the rollers and the conveyor belt. This alone can cause tracking
problems.
Follow the steps described in the Paragraph tiled Adjusting the Belt tension.
Note: If any difficulty is found with tensioning or tracking, consult your local Loma Customer
Service Department.
105
Maintenance
1. The drive chain has an automatic tensioner, which will take up any stretch of the chain. If the
chain requires checking or lubricating, follow the procedure below.
2. Remove the drive cover from the drive unit. (In some cases it may be necessary to remove the
reject bin).
3. Check the tension of the drive chain and free movement available of the spring loaded
tensioner. The chain should not be so tight that there is no movement whatsoever, inversely it
should not be so loose that the chain tensioner is at the end of its movement.
4. If the chain needs replacement, retract the tensioner and hold in place with a suitable tool,
remove the chain split link & remove the chain. Replace with a new chain with the same
number of links. Release the tensioner and re-check the tension.
5. Check to ensure the sprocket alignment is correct and the grubscrews that lock the sprockets
to the shafts are tight.
6. If necessary lubricate the drive chain with a suitable lubricant.
7. Replace the drive cover and any other covers removed.
107
Maintenance
If the reject Delay and reject On times need to be adjusted, these are set up via the user interface
from the control panel. Refer to the menu titled setup reject.
Signal Only
Where signal only is required adjustment to the dwell and delay reject times is all that is necessary
unless an auxiliary reject is fitted outside of the X4 machine.
1) During normal working, radiation doses to all persons are as low as reasonably
practicable,
2) Precautions have been taken to minimise the risk of equipment failure or other
occurrence which may result in significant radiation doses to any person.
3) No doses exceed those specified in the Regulations.
3. AUTHORISED STAFF
Only staff who have been trained in the use of the x-ray unit may operate the equipment. The
staff authorised to use the equipment are listed below.
[INSERT NAMES]
4. DESIGNATION OF AREAS
No controlled or supervised areas require to be designated in connection with this unit.
5. GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
5.1 Any failure of a warning light or interlocks must be reported to the RPS as soon as possible.
In the event of a fault resulting in the failure of the door interlock or shielding, the equipment
must not be used until it has been repaired. A notice stating that the unit is out of use must
be displayed on the unit.
5.2 Before generating any x-rays, check that the warning lights are functioning.
5.3 Before accessing the interior of the unit, e.g. for cleaning, check that the unit is disconnected
from the power supply.
5.4 Do not tamper with or attempt to over-ride the door interlock – this could result in exposure
to the primary x-ray beam.
5.5 When the equipment is not in use, remove the key to prevent unauthorised use.
111
Appendices
6. MAINTENANCE
Maintenance will be carried out by appropriately qualified service engineers when necessary.
No attempt should be made to repair the x-ray unit without advice from a qualified service
engineer. After maintenance, the unit should be monitored using a suitably calibrated radiation
instrument and a record kept of the monitoring results.
7. RISK/ HAZARD
ASSESSMENT Potential
hazards are:
7.1 Failure of an interlock resulting in generation of x-rays while the cabinet door is open.
7.2 Radiation leakage from the cabinet as a result of misplaced shielding following repairs to the
unit or non-operation of an interlock. Routine monitoring around the unit following repairs or
maintenance should minimise this risk.
7.3 Fire or mechanical damage which may affect the integrity of the shielding. Under normal
operating conditions, the equipment is adequately shielded and doses to operators will be
low (< 50 “μSv per year).
8. CONTINGENCY PLANS
IMMEDIATE ACTION is necessary to prevent exposure of persons to radiation.
8.1 In the event of a fault, SWITCH OFF the equipment and remove the key from the switch.
8.2 Do not use the equipment again until the fault has been rectified and the absence of any
radiation leakage is verified.
8.3 Notify the RPS of the fault.
8.4 In the event that it is suspected that a person has received an over exposure then the RPS
must be contacted immediately. Under these circumstances, the RPS must ascertain if a
person has been exposed and the magnitude of the exposure. If investigations determine that
an over-exposure has taken place then the Health and Safety Executive must be notified of
this forthwith.
112
Appendices
APPENDIX B
SYSTEM SETTINGS
From the main screen the System Settings can be accessed by either pressing Goto then System.
These are advanced settings and should not be modified except by an authorised person. The
System Settings screen is shown below:
System Settings
Software
This area shows the currently installed software version of the Loma X4. Click on the ‘Version’ label
or the actual version string (‘v1.XX.XX.XX’ in the above image) to display the Release Notes for the
current software version. This shows a list of the bug fixes, new features and feature changes made
in this version of software. It is recommended to always familiarise yourself with the latest Release
Notes after installing a new version of software.
Press the Update button to install a new version of the Loma X4 software. This simple procedure
involves copying the Update.CAB file from the root of your USB stick. Do not extract the files from
Update.CAB manually.
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Appendices
Configuration
This section shows the current configuration of the system software. The values in this section are
read-only. These values may be helpful to understand the system when diagnosing faults in the
system. Please contact Loma for an explanation of the settings in this list.
Restart
This restarts the Loma X4 software. This should only be used in the event of a serious problem. In
order for the software to restart, the Set-up Keyswitch must be inserted and turned to the ‘ENABLE’
position.
Exit Program
This exits the Loma X4 software and displays the Windows XP desktop. This requires a password
and should not be used except to help diagnose problems with the system.
Miscellaneous Settings
• Language. Select the required system language. ‘English (UK)’ will always appear in the list.
To enable other languages, please go to Advanced System Settings, ‘Units’ tab and select the
language(s) of interest. Note that some languages (e.g. Korean, Mandarin, Polish and Czech)
require some advanced Windows XP settings to be modified. This should only be attempted
by a System Administrator or specialist from Loma. Please contact Loma for details of this
procedure.
• Fault Detection. Normally switched on. This should only be switched off during troubleshooting
by an authorised person.
• Enable Watchdog. Normally switched on. This communicates with the PLC and helps ensure
the safety of the system in the unlikely event of a software value. This should only be switched
off during troubleshooting by an authorised person.
• Reject Override. Normally switched off. If this is switched on, the reject devices will not be
triggered and product will not be rejected, even if a contaminant is detected. This only be
switched on during troubleshooting by an authorised person.
• Show Reject Lanes. Normally switched on. This is only applicable in Loose flow mode and
shows the lanes of operation on the main run screen.
Advanced Settings
Press Advanced Settings to display additional system settings. These settings should only be
modified by an authorised person. While these Advanced Settings are intuitive, they can have a
profound effect on the operation of the system. For help with these settings please contact your
Loma representative.
114
Appendices
Backup Settings
Click this button to save all products and system settings to the USB stick. It is recommended to
perform this operation regularly and to save these files in a secure location. This will help to guard
against accidental or other changes to these settings or computer failure. They may also be used to
easily set up identical products on a new machine.
Important note!
Backup Settings are saved in a folder with the same name as the current machine ID, for
example ‘AXR44150-43580F’.
Recall Settings
This will recall all the products and system settings from the USB stick. The is the option to overwrite
existing products if required. Note that this will erase products and product images if this option is
used.
To recall settings from one machine onto another, it will be necessary to rename the folder in which
the Backup Settings were saved (see the previous section). To do this, use Windows Explorer to
rename the folder to the same name as the machine ID on which you wish to recall the settings.
Image Manager
The Image Manager is screen is shown below:
In the top left, select the product of interest. In the top right, select the type of image to display. Now
select the image(s) of interest from the list shown on the left.
• Save Date/Time. Used with Reject images only. This will embed the date and time that the
reject occurred into the image before saving to the USB stick.
115
Appendices
APPENDIX D
DIAGNOSTICS
The Loma X4 offers a number of advanced Diagnostics tools to aid troubleshooting. To reach this
screen, press Goto and then Diagnostics or click the active in the top right of the main run screen.
X-Ray Set
This screen is used to show an overview of the X-ray, associated safety interlocks and other faults.
Any fault condition will be highlighted as red boxes. Green boxes signify a good condition and grey
boxes signify either no fault or an inactive condition. An example of this screen is shown below:
• Comms. This shows the status of communications with the HVPSU. When the safety relay
has been triggered in the machine (such as when the Emergency Stop has been hit), power is
immediately cut to the HVPSU to make the system safe. When this happens, communications
with the HVPSU will be interrupted but should resume after the fault has been cleared.
• kV / mA Demand. If the demand for kV or mA is sent to the HVPSU but when read back is
different from this value, this fault is set. This probably indicates corruption in the command
sent to the HVPSU.
• kV / mA Fail. If the demand is non-zero, but the HVPSU is returning zero kV or mA, this fault is
set. This probably indicates a transient fault with the power supply or a failed X-ray tube.
• kV / mA Error. When the actual kV or mA returned is slightly different from the demand, this
fault is set. When X-rays are ramping up, this fault occurs frequently, but should not occur
after a few seconds. If this fault persists, this probably indicates a short in the electrical cables
supplying the X-ray tube or breakdown in the insulation oil used in the X-ray tank.
• Other Diagnostics. These are faults returned from HVPSU. These may be transient or occur very
rapidly, therefore the number in brackets indicates how many times the fault has occurred since
the last reboot.
• Advanced. These settings are related to the communications with the HVPSU. When the Write
Count is increasing, this indicates that the Loma X4 is attempting to communication with the
HVPSU. When the Receive Count is increasing, this indicates that the HVPSU is responding.
118
Appendices
System Information
This screen displays an overview of the state of the machine.
In the Loma X4 section, the expected PLC software version is noted. If the software has been
upgraded but a later version of the PLC software is required for some of new features, this value is
coloured red. This is not necessarily a fault condition, but should be drawn to the attention of Loma.
The Temperature section shows the thermal values reported by the detector.
On the right, Memory information for the Loma X4 process is displayed. The Bytes value shows
the current memory used by the software. If this value continues to increase in normal operation,
this should be reported to Loma.
119
Appendices
Some useful information about the detector is displayed on this screen. If the detector cannot be
identified on system start-up, the Serial Number, Firmware and Module fields will be coloured red. If
this problem persists after a system reboot, it may indicate a permanent failure of the detector. On
the right, the Offset and Gain applied to the detector diodes is shown.
Detector
This screen is useful to assess the live status of the detector such as whether the alignment is good,
or the correct power levels have been selected. To test that the correct power levels have been
selected, follow this procedure:
• Offset / Gain. The values applied to the detector to remove the background level before X-rays
have been applied (Offset) and to move each diode output to the target output after X-rays have
been applied (Gain).
• Blanking. Select this to display where blanking is being applied on the detector trace.
121
Appendices
• Stats. Select this to display some statistics from the raw detector data (before it is converted to
the product image). These advanced statistics are displayed in green on the detector trace.
• Detector. Shows the current detector trace as converted into image data.
• Histogram. Display a histogram of the raw detector data.
• Raw Offsets. Display the Offset values applied to the detector. This is not available if the
machine is inspecting product.
• Gain Table. Display the Gain values applied to the detector. This is not available if the machine
is inspecting product.
• Status. Show some status flags such as the current status of communication with PLC. Under
normal conditions, communications with the PLC should never be interrupted. When the Write
Count is increasing, this indicates that the Loma X4 is attempt to communication with the
PLC. When the Receive Count is increasing, this indicates that the PLC is responding.
• Stacks. These values are useful in troubleshooting problems with the rejection of product in the
system. Detect Stack indicates the number of packs that have been detected (but have not yet
reached the reject point). Verdict Stack indicates the number of packs for which a verdict (pass,
reject) has been reached (but have not yet reached the reject point). Under normal operation
these values should be equal or different by a maximum of 1. The rest of this group show actual
verdict data.
• Advanced Status. These are advanced status flags returned by the PLC. The Instruction Error
field may occasionally display ‘Yes’. If any other field displays ‘Yes’, please contact Loma.
122
Appendices
APPENDIX E
MIDEL® 7131
Page 3 of 3
5. Fire Fighting Suitable extinguishing media: Carbon dioxide, dry powder, foam or water fog.
Measures Do not use water jets.
Exposure hazards: Combustion will give rise to particles and gases similar to
burning wood.
Protective equipment: Self-contained breathing apparatus may be required.
6. Accidental Release Personal precautions: Spilt product can constitute a slip hazard. Avoid contact
Measures with skin and eyes.
Environmental precautions: In the event of a large spillage, clean as
thoroughly as possible and contact local authority. Avoid flushing into
drains where possible.
Cleaning procedures: Use an inert absorbent material (e.g. sand,
earth, etc.) and place in labelled containers. See para.13 re disposal.
7. Handling and Storage Handling: Avoid eye and prolonged skin contact.
Storage: Store in a cool dry place.
Specific use: Exposure to air should be minimised. Opened containers
should be properly resealed.
123
Appendices
MIDEL® 7131
Page 3 of 3
11. Toxicological Oral LD50 > 5000 mg/kg. Dermal LD50 > 2000 mg/kg.
Information Eyes: May cause transient irritation.
Inhalation: Low volatility makes inhalation unlikely.
Ingestion: May cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Skin: Repeated and prolonged skin contact may cause skin disorders.
12. Ecological Ecotoxicity: Studies have shown that substances of this type do not pose a
Information hazard to aquatic organisms. When used and/or disposed of as indicated no
adverse environmental effects are foreseen.
Mobility: Non-volatile/ Insoluble in water.
Persistence and degradability: Readily biodegradable.
Bioaccumulation potential: No potential for bioaccumulation.
13. Disposal Product and packaging must be disposed of in accordance with local and
Considerations national regulations. May be incinerated. Unused product may be returned
for reclamation. European Waste Code: 13 03 09.
14. Transport Not classified as hazardous under air (ICAO/IATA), sea (IMDG), road (ADR)
Classification or rail (RID) regulations.
15. Regulatory Not classified as dangerous under EC criteria. All chemical substances in this
Information material are included in EINECS and on the TSCA Inventory of Chemical
Substances. MIDEL® 7131 has been classified as non-hazardous to water
(nwg) by the German Federal Department of the Environment
(Umweltbundesamt).
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Appendices
MIDEL® 7131
Page 3 of 3
The information provided in this Safety Data Sheet is correct to our best knowledge, information and belief at the
date of its publication. It is intended to describe the product for the purposes of health, safety and environmental
requirements only. It should not be construed as guaranteeing any specific property of the product.
125
Appendices
126
License agreement
Grant of Licence:
Loma Systems shall at all times have and retain title and full ownership of all software, firmware
programming routines, and documentation thereof supplied by Loma Systems for use with the
equipment, and of all copies thereof made by Buyer (collectively “software”).
Loma Systems grants Buyer a non-exclusive and non-transferable license to use such software
solely for use with the equipment.
Buyer shall take all reasonable steps to protect Loma Systems proprietary interest in the software
and shall not transfer or otherwise provide or sub-licence the software to any third party.
The software is licensed with the Loma X4 or Loma X® as a single integrated product. The
software may only be used with the Loma X4 or Loma X® respectively.
You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA only as part of a sale or transfer
of the Loma X4 or Loma X®, provided you retain no copies, you transfer all of the software and
the recipient agrees to the EULA.
127
Index
A E
Absorption 27 Edge width 66
level 28 Electrical services 8
Air blast 7 supply 15
conditioner 14 Emergency 16, 20
pressure 8 stop buttons 31
supply 16 Environment 3
Alarm 17, 8 Equating absorption 29
Application 16 Equipment vii, 13
Assembly 16 Explorer 65
Auto increment 89
Average weights 82 L
Learn parameters 44
B Learning products 42
C Contaminants log 38
Calibration 35 displaying 38
regime 96 printing 39
Collimator 26
Condensate bowl 95 F
size. 64 Fill 80
Cooler 8
Cost. 83 H
D
Dealing vi CH
Detection 26 Checks 22
algorithm 50 Checkweigh 46
methods 54
Detector 4 I
Detergent 99 Indicator lamp 8
Diagnostics 116 Inspection 35, 45
Drive chain tension 106 Installation – electrical 15
Drop flap 8 – pneumatics 16
Isolator switch terminals 15
128
Index
configuration 86
L confirm 87
Lane selection 6 delay 18
settings 52 device 18, 98
Lead curtains 21 devices 18
Lethal hazard 13, 17 setup 18
Line block 87 system 18
Lock calibration 77 -source 40
Result box 56
M Routine maintenance 18
Maintenance 18 Rules 110
Masking 60
Measurement 20 S
Memory 118 Safety 6
Minimum weight 82 devices 8
Miscellaneous settings 113 Screen 33
Monitoring 21 Sensitive area 21
Service 119
N engineers 94
Noise 73 Set gamma 53
Noise area 74 Slope change 65
Statistics 44
O Supplies 15
Object tools 70 System information 119
Oil 26
level 96 T
Over tensioning 101 Target 82
Temperature 118
P Test button 92
Pack length 52 Thermostat 8
threshold 52 Tracking 64
Personnel 94
Plastic detektor 96 W
Plough rejects 107 Warning 4
Product integrity 44, 54, 55 indication 8
Product menu 39 Warranty 94
settings 41 Water delivery 99
button 38 jet nozzle 99
Pusher 7, 107 Weight feedback 89
R X
Radiation 20 X-ray components 4
exam 20 generator sensors 8
leakage 111 kabinet 8
leakage 22 power 4
levels vi tank 8
Refresh calibration 77 tube 14
Regulator pressure 103
Reject 18