High-speed sensing in a ‘mini’ package
SICK, a p
roducer of sensors for industrial applications, has introduced SICK KTM, a mini sensor that provides maximum contrast detection reliability for high-speed packaging processes. The sensor achieves fast-paced print mark detection on a wide range of packaging media, including reflective material such as high-gloss foils and where contrast levels are low; thus, it is especially suited to high-speed packaging, printing, wrapping and labelling operations.
David Hannaby, product manager for imaging and measurement, commented, “The SICK KTM is the ideal solution wherever print marks are used to trigger a switching signal. It provides precise detection of print marks to support high-speed packaging processes such as cutting packaging to length from a pre-printed roll, or positioning and aligning cans, tubes, labels and pre-printed forms.”
Print marks are reliably detected – regardless of whether they are black or white, colour, matte or shiny – even where there is a minimal difference in brightness between the print or contrast marks and the background. As well as differentiating between black and white, the sensor has a fine resolution of 20 grey tones to cope with a range of shades, so even minimum levels of contrast are detected.
The SICK KTM’s short response time of 35µs and wide dynamic range enable precise switching signals and positioning accuracy at high throughput speeds. It is also easy to mount, even in restricted spaces, and the SICK KTM’s high-speed capability means the housing can be mounted perpendicular to the medium. As a consequence, the painstaking process of tilting the sensor to detect shiny materials is only necessary in exceptional cases.
The SICK KTM has two variants: the Core and Prime. The KTM Core has a white LED and offers a high level of performance for standard applications with simple manual adjustment via an integrated potentiometer, whilst the high-performance KTM Prime is suitable for more challenging applications.
