Posted to News on 7th Oct 2007, 20:57
Froggy sensor detects small parts moving at high speed
Contrinex is launching a multiple-beam, diffuse, fibre-optic sensor, known as 'froggy', to solve the problem of capturing, counting and controlling small components produced by modern, high-throughput manufacturing machinery.
To maintain high exit speeds, a minimum of handling and guidance of parts is necessary; product position can therefore vary greatly, making component counting extremely difficult. The new Contrinex LFP-1011-020 fibre-optic sensor is specifically designed for this type of application and has a beam spread of 28mm so as to detect objects in any position across the broad area of light transmission.
These new sensors, which the company claims to be unique, can be connected to any Contrinex fibre-optic amplifier to create a very long sensing range of up to 150mm. When used with a 5kHz amplifier, even very small components passing at high speed can be detected. In addition, by using a blue light-emitting amplifier connected to the 'froggy' fibre instead of the more common red light option, even small black rubber components can be readily detected.
Compared to alternative technologies such as ring or frame sensors, this new, ingenious fibre concept is extremely simple to apply and at a fraction of the cost.
Each multi-beam head is supplied with 2m of polymer fibres that can be cut to length to enable them to be neatly retained and protected along the optimum path to the amplifier. The wide-vision fibre head is moulded from tough PBTP Crastin and is sealed to IP67 for use in aggressive environments.
