Adbro delivers extra quality control with SICK 3D colour camera

Citation

(2011), "Adbro delivers extra quality control with SICK 3D colour camera", Sensor Review, Vol. 31 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2011.08731baf.003

Adbro delivers extra quality control with SICK 3D colour camera

Article Type: Mini features From: Sensor Review, Volume 31, Issue 2

Adbro Controls has integrated SICK’s revolutionary new 3D and colour-imaging camera, the ColorRanger E (Figure 4), in a high-speed conveyor-based quality control and high speed reject system. Designed primarily for the food industry, this innovative solution can easily be integrated with existing installations.

Figure 4

Adbro engineer, Nicky Brian, commented: “The ColorRanger E has enabled us to deliver a complete palate of inspection parameters for critical QC tasks.

“Size, height, shape and some surface defects have been possible with previous profiling scanning cameras, however, the new system can inspect for colour defects as well.”

“With all the data combined, the system can replace manual QC inspection, it offers precision inspection down to 0.3 mm diameter, at speeds up to 1 m a second, on a 600 mm wide belt.”

A typical system would involve the integration of the ColorRanger E with a laser scanner and PLC, which tracks the exact position of goods on a conveyor belt. The PLC compares scanned defects against the pre-programmed range of ideal items for approval, or rejection, it delivers the information to a pneumatic nozzle which then blows the faulty item off the belt with compressed air.

Other useful data such as trends and defect types are also recorded. The system could be easily and quickly attached to existing conveyor systems, and integrated with process control without requiring totally new installations.

Nicky Brian added: “We have comprehensively tested the system and its capabilities, with trials on a range of food items, such as bread rolls, sweets and biscuits.”

“We have extensive production and process experience, and the Adbro/SICK ColorRanger E system is simple to install on existing process lines, and to scale up in size.”

“It can easily replace existing sensors, and black and white cameras, and doesn’t require new conveyor installations or extensive downtime, making it a cost-effective method of improving critical quality control.”

Adbro’s working demonstration and trial unit demonstrates a typical system with ColorRanger E. Lights and profiling lasers are in an enclosed unit, with the array of pneumatic nozzles over a gap between belts.

Defective items are detected, tracked and rejected by a blast of directed air blowing the item into the gap between belts. The display screen offers process control either at the application or remotely.

For more information on the SICK ColorRanger, please e-mail: ann.attridge@sick.co.uk