In the Vision System industry, demands for efficiency, precision, and traceability are increasing – automated processes create new solutions here. The MELA demonstration line shows how image processing, robotics, and modular conveyor technology can be combined to create a powerful overall system.
Quality assurance in the image processing industry requires increasingly precise and automated processes. With the MELA demonstration line, VisionLink has developed an inspection system that uses the example of apples to demonstrate automated inspection – from initial visual contact to volume measurement. This is made possible by the interaction of specialized partners: Image processing from VisionLink, robotics solutions from Mechatronic and Lexter Italia, and conveyor technology from the Swiss company Montech.
Systematic automated inspection
The MELA demonstration line shows how state-of-the-art image processing, robotics, and conveyor technology can be combined seamlessly. Nine consecutive stations inspect apples’ external and internal characteristics through a visual inspection, surface analysis, and volume detection. At the heart of the line is Montech’s LTE transfer system, which guides the sensitive products through the entire process in a stable manner. Montech, a leading Swiss company in the field of conveyor and profile technology, has been focusing on innovative solutions for belt conveyors, transfer systems, and aluminum framing systems for over 60 years.
Precise processes with the LTE transfer system
Montech developed the LTE transfer system specifically for applications with high demands with regard to accuracy and process reliability – as is common in the image processing industry. In the MELA demonstration line, the LTE system ensures the exact transport of apples through all inspection stations. Mechanical supports on the pallets ensure that the products remain accurately positioned even during direction changes or short stops – essential for camera-assisted analysis and precise robot interaction. Each section of the line can be controlled individually, which enables optimal timing with the respective inspection modules.
Flexible system for individual inspection processes
A key feature of the LTE transfer system is its modular design. It allows inspection sections to be adapted flexibly to different product sizes, test criteria, or spatial conditions – without a lot of technical effort. This allows the line to be expanded easily or integrated into existing production environments. The standardized structure ensures reproducible processes and creates the conditions for complete traceability.
Practical technology
The MELA demonstration line is an example of the successful use of automated solutions in industrial Vision System Technology. It shows how state-of-the-art conveyor technology, intelligent image processing, and robotics can be combined into an efficient overall system – practical, scalable, and ready for tomorrow’s requirements.