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HELPING YOU #MAKE SENSE OF SENSORS
EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS
TO ILLUSTRATE THE WIDE-VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS SOLVED USING
CONTRINEX SENSORS, WE HAVE POSTED A LARGE SELECTION OF
EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY CLICKING ON AN IMAGE.
BELOW ARE A SELECTION OF SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS:
FIBRE-OPTIC AMPLIFIERS, SENSORS AND FIBRES - TINY SENSORS / BIG PERFORMANCE
CUSTOMER VALUES
RELIABLE, REPEATABLE IN-LINE TESTING OF A RANGE OF
DIFFERENT-SIZED CONTAINERS
TESTING IS COMPLETED AT PRODUCTION-LINE SPEED
IMMEDIATE IDENTIFICATION OF MISSING CLOSURES
ELIMINATION OF MANUAL INSPECTION AND POTENTIAL BATCH
REJECTION
PRODUCT ADVANTAGES
EXTENDED SENSING DISTANCES UP TO 40MM
UNMATCHED COMBINATION OF 40MM SENSING DISTANCE IN
M30-DIAMETER DEVICE
Customer Solution
A Contrinex photoelectric sensor system, comprising a DIN-
rail-mounted fibre-optic amplifier coupled with a multi-beam
diffuse sensing head, provides an optimal solution for this
application. With maximum switching frequencies of up to
4000 Hz and sensing distances of up to 150mm (6in), multi-
beam fibre-optic sensors are ideal for detecting fast-moving
targets. The PBTP construction of the sensing head ensures
excellent mechanical protection in the production
environment.
The 28mm-wide sensing face of the multi-beam sensor
detects targets across its entire width, providing a detection
envelope that comfortably accommodates the customer’s
90mm x 20mm requirement. Initial set-up is accomplished by
means of a manual teach-in function and integral signal-
strength LCD, following which the system operates without
manual intervention.
A 2m-long fibre cable allows remote mounting of the fibre-
optic amplifier; connection to the customer’s control system is
via an industry-standard PNP interface and an integral M8
cable connector, allowing easy removal and replacement
when necessary.
The system tolerates high ambient-light conditions and
detection of a broken cable is both highly reliable and
immediate. If the cable breaks, the system interrupts the
process and sounds an alarm, alerting the operator. Downtime
arising from broken cables has been eliminated since the
system has been operational.
During manufacture of automotive parking-brake cable,
multiple strands of steel wire are twisted together, forming a
single cable. After twisting, cable passes to the next process in
an unsupported, continuous length. Occasionally, the cable
breaks, compromising safety and damaging equipment.
Although the cable’s exact path is unpredictable, a multi-
beam fibre-optic sensor detects its presence, interrupting the
process if it breaks.
CUSTOMER APPLICATION
During production of automotive parking-brake cable in a
Portuguese factory, strands of steel wire are twisted together,
forming a single cable with a nominal diameter of 3mm (0.1in).
The process operates continuously, and twisted cable passes
between successive work-stations in an unbroken length.
Between operations, the cable is largely unsupported,
assuming the form of a suspended catenary.
Occasionally, a manufacturing defect causes the cable to
break. In this event, safety is compromised and, unless
processing is halted, machine breakdowns occur. A sensor
system must detect the presence of the cable as it passes
from one operation to the next, interrupting the process if it
breaks.
Because the cable is unsupported, its path is unpredictable
and its exact position at any time, particularly in the vertical
plane, is unknown. The sensor system must detect the
presence of the cable reliably at any point within an envelope
90mm (3.5in) high and 20mm (0.75in) wide.
APPLICATION - ‘HAND-BRAKE TURN’
- FIBRE-OPTIC BROKEN CABLE DETECTION
CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO VIEW THE BROCHURE, READ AN
APPLICATION EXAMPLE BELOW, CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS
SENSOR ON CONTRINEX’S WEBSITE, OR CALL US TO HELP
GUIDE YOU THROUGH SELECTION, ANSWER QUESTIONS, OR
TO HELP YOU #MAKESENSEOFSENSORS:
CONTRINEX’S WORLD-CLASS FIBRE-OPTIC SENSOR RANGE INCLUDES BOTH DIN-RAIL
MOUNTED AMPLIFIERS AND SENSOR HOUSING AS SMALL AS 30MM X 30MM X 15MM. GLASS
AND SYNTHETIC OPTICAL FIBRES PROVIDE LOW-ATTENUATION AND RESISTANCE TO HIGH-
AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND AGGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR DEMANDING APPLICATIONS.
FIBRE-OPTIC AMPLIFIERS, SENSORS AND FIBRES
Continex’s self-contained fibre-optic sensors are available in housings as small as 30mm x 30mm x 15mm, and several models of
small DIN-rail mounted amplifiers that accommodate multiple-sensor applications.
The Contrinex fibre-optic range is highly versatile including a choice of synthetic optical fibres with impressively low attenuation
rates for general use or glass optical fibres for high ambient temperatures and aggressive environments provides options for even
the most demanding applications.
Customers requiring intrinsically-safe photoelectric sensors with DIN-rail mounted electronics need not look beyond the Contrinex
3060 series of fibre-optic amplifiers. Packed with functionality in a Crastin® molded-resin housing measuring only 31mm x 60mm x
10mm, every model combines ease of set-up with market-leading features. With switching times as low as 0.1 millisecond, 3060
fibre-optic amplifiers are ideal for sensing fast-moving targets in demanding environments, including robotics, precision handling
systems and printed circuit board production.
Distance setting is accomplished either by adjustment of a multi-
turn potentiometer or by use of a teach-in function with manual
fine adjustment; an optional digital display (model 3066) is also
available. Using blue-light sources (model 3360), detecting glass
and other materials with similar absorption spectra is possible at
distances up to 100mm.
Fibre-optic sensors are common in explosive environments or in
the presence of strong electromagnetic fields – in these areas,
sensors that rely on electrical signals may present a risk of
explosion or fail to operate correctly. Contrinex manufactures
world-class fibre-optic sensors and amplifiers that not only meet
these needs, but also present a highly practical means of sensing
in confined spaces. With bend-radii as small as 2mm, reliable, accurate sensing is possible even in the most inaccessible areas.
3060 DIN RAIL AMPLIFIERS
3030 AMPLIFIERS
4040 AMPLIFIERS
WELCOME TO PLUS AUTOMATION LTD - EXPERTS IN SENSORS, WE WILL WORK TO HELP YOU
SOLVE YOUR APPLICATIONS, IMPROVE MACHINE PERFORMANCE & RELIABILITY AND REDUCE COSTS
USING CONTRINEX’S EXCEPTIONAL SENSORS - LET US HELP YOU #MAKE SENSE OF SENSORS