Monday 25th April 2022 OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF IN-LINE INSPECTION OF FOOD ENDS With Sencon's End Light Tester (ELTP) for food Sencon's ELTP was originally developed to provide 100% in-line inspection of beverage ends for pinhole leaks and cracks. It utilizes solid state, high sensitivity detector heads and high intensity near infra-red LED arrays that provide uniform illumination of the ends as they pass through the system. With an installed base of over 1,800 detectors, it has proven very effective at detecting all of the common leaker faults. Quasar™ Light Detection is Sencon's latest advance in on-press leak detection technology for ends. UNIQUE CHALLENGES Food ends offer some unique challenges as they are generally larger than beverage ends, have a lower profile, smaller curl, and/or a rectangular or oval shape. Some food ends also tend to have an inherent warp or spring to them, which affects flatness. These parameters make it difficult to obtain a light-tight seal to the end using contact pressure alone. For these situations, Sencon has developed a “Seal and Release” capability which can be added to the ELTP. A 'Seal and Release' ELTP system uses a vacuum to pull the end tightly against a metal or food grade elastomer seal during the dwell period of the press cycle. A light tight seal is obtained against the shoulder of the end. This is the 'seal' portion of the test. After the light reading is taken, a small puff of air 'releases' the end back into the pocket of the transfer belt for take-away. The normal plant air supply is utilized throughout this process so no additional vacuum system is required. ELTP is successfully used in operation with a variety of food ends, including: 211 to 307 401 to 603 ¼ Club, Dingley, and spam 401 to 603 oval 3 and 5 pound ham All of the Quasar™ ELTP enhancements are included as well, such as: Increased light energy Enhanced detection sensitivity Automatic flash control Ethernet connectivity The added sealing time required for these ends results in an operating speed that is slightly slower than an ELTP testing beverage ends. However, 'Seal and Release' times require only a few milliseconds and are user programmable. They will vary slightly based on the size and shape of the end being tested but can still operate at press speeds in the region of 600 strokes per minute. For more information on Sencon's in-line Ends light Tester contact your regional Sencon office or agent.