Valve Stem Seal Inspection

  In the field of valve stem seal inspection, manual inspection methods have certain limitations. To address these challenges, an advanced vision system has been developed to provide an efficient and high-speed solution. This system is capable of inspecting valve stem seals at a remarkable speed of 70 – 80 seals per minute, based on their dimensions.

      The vision system is fully controlled by a customized machine vision software. It utilizes two circular indexing tables, one with 16 stations and another with 8 stations, strategically designed to minimize machine space while maximizing productivity. These tables facilitate the seamless movement of loaded parts through 15 different stations, ensuring comprehensive inspection and efficient handling.

        The vision system performs a thorough inspection of the valve stem seals, focusing on the top, outer, and inner surfaces. Each station within the indexing tables is allocated to specific functions, including top view inspection, side view inspection, bottom view inspection, ID 360° surface inspection, OD 360° surface inspection, and shifting the part from the fixture to the good part conveyor. In case any defects are detected, the system promptly ejects the defective products into designated bins based on the type of defect.

S.No	Specification Parameter	Typical Value or Range	Comments
1	Machine Inspection Speed (Parts per Minute)	70 - 80	Based on part type - with flange or without flange
2	ID 360 Camera - Image Resolution	4.055 um	Based on 5MP area scan camera and 10 mm FOV
3	Bottom Camera - Image Resolution	16.425 um	Based on 5MP area scan camera and 40.48 mm FOV
4	Top Camera - Image Resolution	10.857 um	Based on 5MP area scan camera and 26.75 mm FOV
5	Side Camera - Image Resolution	270.7 um	Based on 2MP area scan camera and 52.8 mm FOV
6	OD 360 Camera - Image Resolution	5.670 um	Based on 5MP area scan camera and 13 mm FOV
7	Number of Area Scan Cameras	5
8	Machine Length*Width*Height	5000 mm * 950 mm *2200 mm

Types of defects identified:

• Surface Defects
• Foreign Material
• Flash
• Bend
• Flowline
• ID Blister
• ID Open
• ID Unfill
• Trimming Defect
• Rubber on OD (Surface)

Benefits

• Multiple setups can be configured for different models of seals
• A single person can do the inspection
• Less power consumption for electric and pneumatic components
• Automatic report generation and database logging
• Authentication control to access all inspection batch reports

Features

• Inspection speed: 70-80 parts per minute based on seal type
• Automatic elevator hopper to fill the vibratory bowl
• User can operate the machine without PC access
• Alarm indication for less number of seals in bowl
• Automatic machine stop when parts are empty in the feeder
• Authentication feature for different level users
• Configurable Image Processing functions
• Provision to edit values of defect parameters
• Report generation in different formats (Excel, PDF) with SPC reports and Bar charts