Vision sensor provides high-speed error proofing, inspections

Minneapolis, MN—Banner Engineering Corp. reports that its new PresencePlus P4 Edge vision sensors can accurately sense and evaluate more than 10,000 objects per minute, and can validate parts’ height and width, label locations, or detect the edge of materials, such as plastic or paper in a web application.

By Control Engineering Staff February 8, 2005

Minneapolis, MN— Banner Engineering Corp. reports that its new PresencePlus P4 Edge vision sensors can accurately sense and evaluate more than 10,000 objects-per-minute, and can validate parts’ height and width, label locations, or detect the edge of materials, such as plastic or paper in a web application.

‘The newest addition to the growing family of PresencePlus vision sensors, P4 Edge is ideal for measuring the fill level of liquid in bottles, or providing verification that bottle caps are on completely and correctly in a high-speed bottling plant,’ says Dan Holste, Banner’s vision products director. ‘Challenging, high-speed applications that couldn’t justify one vision inspection solution costing tens of thousands of dollars can now easily justify multiple vision sensors costing less than $1,000 each.’

Banner adds that its vision products also succeed because it uses a common user interface across the PresencePlus vision sensor platform. This intuitive interface allows users with even basic PC abilities to set up an inspection.

For applications in which product lines are constantly being changed, a remote “teach” feature allows P4 Edge to learn new elements it will need to inspect without connecting to a PC or shutting down the line. New inspections can even be learned in real-time, while production is running. The sensor’s built-in live video image output allows users to view its inspections in real-time, and view failed inspection images without using a PC. P4 Edge can interface to machines and factory networks via its built-in 10/100 Ethernet connection, RS-232, or discrete input/outputs.

Banner adds that P4 Edge’s high-throughput, feature-detection abilities make it useful in high-speed applications in the packaging, pharmaceutical, bottling, metal stamping, automotive, and semiconductor industries. Other applications for P4 Edge include part identification and orientation to eliminate errors by rejecting incorrect parts before they are assembled or packaged; assembly verification to inspect for all critical features and to error proof the manufacturing process; and correct label verification at high speed production rates.

P4 Edge is available in in-line and right-angle versions, defined by the location of the lens on the end or side of the sensor housing. Both versions measure only 66.8 mm (2.63 in.) wide and the in-line model measures 136.1 mm (5.36 in.) long, while the right angle model is just 124.5 mm (4.90 in.) long. Included mounting brackets aid installing the sensor on machines or conveyors. These units also feature three bi-color LED indicators to clearly show unit status during setup and operation. Banner also offers hundreds of lighting and lensing options aid implementation in challenging settings.

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com


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