Safety light curtains are a non-separating guard used for the protection of hazardous areas. They detect the passage of objects and direct the machine to stop the hazard. Because they do not provide a physical barrier, consideration must be made to place them a suitable distance from the hazard point to ensure the hazard is stopped in time.
In material handling applications―i.e., indoor warehouses, manufacturing facilities, automotive plants, airports, cold storage―pallets carrying products down a conveyor is a standard application. While standard, there are frequently complex problems that require exact product measurement solutions during this automated process. Conveyor speed and control, anti-collision (ZPA), safeguarding, and of course pallet profiling are among the most common challenges.
The compact FL BLE 1300 wireless module with integrated antenna from Phoenix Contact connects up to eight industrial Bluetooth Low Energy sensors to industrial controllers and IoT systems. This allows access to sensor data from a machine control system, for example. The acquired operational data and information form the basis for innovative IoT applications intended to optimize production processes.
Molex recently introduced an accelerometer-based Road Noise Cancelling (RNC) sensor, the first product in a new family of automotive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) sensors. These sensors will play a critical role in combatting unwanted road, wind and HVAC car noise while reducing low-frequency sounds that increase driver fatigue.
Industrial companies can help protect personnel and equipment with new presence-sensing safety light curtains from Rockwell Automation. The Allen-Bradley 450L GuardShield safety light curtains are designed to improve productivity and increase efficiency while helping provide personnel safety. This light curtain is the first product of its kind to provide CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP.
ABR Series barcode readers can now be used to solve even more track and trace applications. New to the series are 2 MP ABR 7000 models offering increased resolution to read smaller codes, over a larger target area, and at greater distances. Polarization is now available in both 1.3 MP and 2 MP ABR 7000 models for improved performance on targets with reflective surfaces or where glare is present.
In line with our commitment to provide products with innovative design, superior quality and exceptional value, Bourns Sensors and Controls Product Line announces the release of the Model HES38U-RS485 Hybrid Position Sensor. Bourns Model HES38U-RS485 is designed to meet the specifications of heavy-duty applications requiring long cycle life and high reliability.
In line with their commitment to provide products with innovative design, superior quality and exceptional value, Bourns Sensors and Controls announces the release of the Model DMS22B Non-Contacting Feedback Rotary Sensor with SSI Output. The Model DMS22B is designed to meet the specifications of heavy-duty applications requiring long cycle life and high reliability.
The new Prosense Basic series of proximity sensors offer great value for general industrial applications. These round inductive proximity sensors made from nickel-plated brass are offered in barrel sizes from 8mm to 30mm. Flush and non-flush mount styles are available in sensing distances up to 15mm and offer an LCP (liquid crystal polymer) active face.
Often before industrial machinery start showing issues that require immediate maintenance, pending problems can be detected through minute vibration changes. Therefore, the first component of effective condition monitoring is a combined remote vibration and temperature sensing monitoring solution.
Datalogic was recently pleased to announce the new S8 IO-Link sensor models. These sensors come in two models, featuring specific advantages: for example, the S8-B53 model features a polarized retro-reflective function with coaxial optics and laser emission, representing the best solution for customers needing to rely on a high detection precision at long distance, including on very small objects.
Manufacturers currently using manual processes for quality inspections are facing two major challenges. One is a rising demand for product quality, variety and reliability. The other is the need to protect workers from COVID-19 through social distancing on the manufacturing floor. Both are creating intense pressure to automate visual inspection needs.
With the UC18GS series with IO-Link, Pepperl+Fuchs now presents a series that combines all the features and advantages of advanced ultrasonic technology in a compact housing. The individually-adjustable sound beam width, the extra-small dead band and the integrated interference target suppression allow the sensors to be optimally adapted to a wide range of applications. Users have numerous programming options, such as via push buttons, IO-Link or infrared interface (IrDA).
Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its factory automation portfolio and has acquired the USi ultrasonic safety sensor from Mayser GmbH & Co. KG, a renowned supplier of products and system solutions, many of which are relevant to safety engineering. This ultrasonic sensor with safety certification in accordance with EN ISO 13849 category 3 PL d—the only sensor of its kind in the world—reinforces Pepperl+Fuchs’ position as a market provider in ultrasonic sensors and safety applications.
The Belgian machine builder Marelec develops machinery for portioning processes, in which meat or fish is sliced into portions of an exact, specified weight. These machines from the “Portio” series have a minimum of 17 cutting movements per second. To ensure they are not only highly productive but also safe, Pilz developed an appropriate safety concept to Performance Level PL e.
Robotic lab automation is a growing market worldwide. Testing labs handle some of our most precious materials and through automation, minimize the chance of human error. For example, let’s look at a blood sorting and testing line used in a lab to analyze patient specimens. As one might imagine, keeping track of these blood samples is vital. The last thing a lab would want is to wrongly diagnose a patient.