Pepperl+Fuchs has added three high performance diffuse mode sensors to its family of user-friendly and field-proven ML100 Series photoelectric sensors. These new versions are designed to provide advanced performance for increasingly complex and space-constrained applications. The ML100-8-W is equipped with an extra-wide beam light spot for detecting transparent objects or use on heavily textured and angled surfaces. The ML100-8-HW provides background evaluation sensing based on the triangulation principle for detecting irregularly shaped objects or use on low contrast targets such as black-on-black. New ML100 sensors with multi-beam background suppression (ML100-8-H-100) offer three light spots, ideal for detecting non-uniform objects.
The ML100-8-W has an extra-large light spot to prevent false trips on heavily textured surfaces, and is highly resistant to vibration and object tilting. This diffuse mode sensor is also sensitive enough to reliably detect transparent objects. This makes them perfect for use on conveyor routes for glass or module transport. In addition, it is ideal in flat panel production, particularly on lifting tables or track switches.
The ML100-8-HW receiver, consisting of a near-field element and far-field element, is able to clearly distinguish between a background such as a metal frame, and an object in the detection area. In doing so the sensor references the determined background. The object is detected if, due to the geometrical arrangement, more light falls on the near-field element than on the far-field element. It is also recognized if no light reaches the receiver, e.g., if the light is reflected by a shiny object. This enables operation without the need for separate retroreflectors. The diffuse mode sensor also reliably detects flat objects or objects with low reflectivity in front of a close background, e.g. black rubber parts on conveyer belts.
The ML100-8-H-100 sensor has three light spots for redundancy. As a special feature, the outputs include a logical AND and OR link. The OR output activates when any one of the three light spots is interrupted, enabling non-uniform objects to be reliably detected. The AND output only activates if all three light spots are interrupted. Thus, even object properties can be recognized while interference in the surrounding area (such as dust) can be ignored.
Pepperl+Fuchs
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