Sick DeltaPac Sensor for object detection in gapless conveyor throughput

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DeltaPac is a photoelectric sensor which enables the detection of individual objects, even where they are lined up end to end, forming a gapless, continuous stream.

The sensor combines intelligent technology, which comprises four PinPoint 2.0 LEDs and two high-resolution energy scales, each with two receiver elements, with the ASIC SIRIC technology and an integrated distance measurement system for the purposes of background suppression. The sensor enables the reliable detection of up to 200,000 packages per hour at speeds of up to 3 m/s, either from above or the side.

The sensor uses the edge contours of packages and folding boxes. The light beams from the LEDs pass over the front of the object. In this state, the four receivers of the two energy scales receive the same amount of light. If the leading edge of an object moves into the light beam, the balance is interrupted, producing a definite energy and a switching signal, the quality of which is unaffected by such factors as colour, object size, surface, detection background, dazzle, contrast changes, or unevenness in the packaging’s surface structure. This method reliably detects object contours with radii between 1 and 20 mm at switching distances of between 30 and 40 mm.

The sensor offers both pre-configured settings and individual configuration. Pre-configured versions are available specifically for round or prismatic packages or those with rounded edges, as well as for folding boxes with virtually rectangular edges. For applications which require individually optimised device configuration, the software is able to enter the packaging radius, the packaging width and the conveyor speed in order to configure the parameters individually. Specific parameter values can be transferred to the sensor when switching between different types of packaging.