Sensors: Photoelectric sensor has adjustable field, foreground suppression

Foreground suppression sensors enable detection regardless of target color, reflectivity or background.

By Renee Robbins April 7, 2010

Banner Engineering introduces the World-Beam QS18 adjustable-field foreground suppression sensors, designed to reliably detect objects regardless of color, reflectivity, surface irregularities or background conditions. Universal mounting design makes installation quick and easy, while a simple screwdriver adjustment allows for precise setup of sensing range.

These photoelectric sensors are a solution for material handling or packaging applications where irregularly sized/positioned or shiny objects are present against a fixed background, said Mike Turner, material handling business development manager at Banner Engineering .

With a compact and IP67-rated sealed housing, the QS18 operate in diffuse mode, detecting light returned by the background but ignoring light returned by the object. The concept is similar to that of a polarized retroreflective sensor; if the sensor cannot see the background (reflector), the output switches on-indicating that the target object is present.

Sensors are available in two adjustable cutoff ranges: 15-40 mm and 30-200 mm. The short-range models are ideal for detecting thinner objects that are closer to the background, said Turner. QS18 foreground suppression sensors are particularly useful if the following application conditions are present:



– Edited by Renee Robbins, senior editor
Control Engineering News Desk

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