The immense variety of crates used today makes it necessary to distinguish between the different empty crates.
Beer crates in particular can no longer be identified purely according to their colour. Sophisticated sensor technology is required to identify the printed crate logos.

The crates are identified with the aid of a modern image
processing system based on a CCD matrix camera com-
bined with ultramodern industrial PC technology (from Pentium
600 MHz processor) which compares the visual image with
the stored crate parameters after applying data reduction.
The production data are visualized and the system is operated
via the TFT colour monitor on the PC with TOUCH SCREEN
user interface.
Plain text display of the graphic user interface and the virtually all-
automatic TEACH-IN function ensure that new crate logos can be
registered very quickly. Up to 96 free storage locations are available in
the basic version for identification of crate logos. These can optionally
be extended to 250 storage locations if required.
Adjustable fault-tolerant identification of the complete logo is insensitive
to fouling or abrasion and damage to the printed logo under inspection.
The crate colour can be used as an additional identification criterion if
necessary.
All four sides of a crate can be checked with just one analyser unit when
the system is extended to include additional cameras.
The illumination unit and the control enclosure are made of stainless steel and fitted with standard commercial economizer lamps. The lamps have a long service life and can be replaced without difficulty when necessary. The evaluation rate equals two crates per second at a belt speed of 1 m/s.
Inputs and outputs are realized via conventional interfaces (V24) which can be extended or replaced by other interfaces at any time, as the system is designed for compatibility with all PC peripherals (e.g. Profi Bus, RS 485, etc.).(z.B. Profi Bus, RS 485, etc.).

SPECIAL FEATURES
basic version with memory for 96 logos (can optionally      be increased to 250 logos)		extremely simple program configuration
identification based on logo, dimensions and crate      openings		free choice of sorting programs
evaluation and processing via industrial PC		controlled crate rejection
stainless steel enclosure (optional coating)		storage module (optional)
fault-tolerant detection		additional camera (optional)
TEACH-IN function		crate colour (optional)
TOUCH SCREEN operation		printer port (optional)
plain-text display / graphic user interface		PDA interface (optional)
presentation of statistics

Further details to the corresponding central operating, control and processing unit STRATEC PC-4000 you will find    <here >