A technological world first, implemented in a unique way – this is SICK’s new DeltaPac. The sensor enables reliable detection of objects in a gapless product flow.
Until now, it was generally necessary to separate packaging in order to count or detect them with the aid of, for example, photoelectric sensors. Thanks to the DeltaPac, such a separation, which often involved complex mechanisms in conveyor systems, is now a thing of the past.
Patented Delta-S-Technology®
This is made possible by SICK’s patented Delta-S-Technology® – two energy scales each with two receivers and four PinPoint2.0 LEDs combined with SICK’s specific ASIC technology SIRIC® and integrated distance measurement. The DeltaPac’s principle of operation makes use of edge contours of objects. The edges cause the reflective behaviour of the packaging surface to change in the gapless transition from one object to another. This changed direction of reflectivity is used for the output of switching signals. Object contours with radii between 1mm and 20mm are reliably identified. The DeltaPac’s high-precision evaluation characteristic ensures that the smallest changes in angles are reliably detected. Thus, it is possible to reliably identify up to 200,000 pieces per hour with conveyor speeds up to 3m/s.
Implication for the construction of packaging machines
The fact that the DeltaPac is able to detect objects aligned in a push-push configuration offers new possibilities in the construction of packaging machines. Machine elements for packaging buffering and separation mechanisms are no longer needed. This saves costs and improves the space utilization of the machine. The product flow is stabilized because collisions due to falling packaging are reduced. Machine downtime, incorrect loading when grouping items and loss of quality due to crashes are reliably prevented – with a positive effect on time, energy and availability utilization of the packaging machine.
Tailored operating concepts
Fast commissioning without making any settings or specific process optimization by tailored configuration – SICK has met the requirements of manufacturers of packaging machines in terms of pre-configured devices. Mount, connect, detect – the user will not have to grapple with comprehensive operating instructions. The sensor version with IO-Link allows the sensor to be configured according to the application conditions, e.g. for various packaging. Side-by-side conveyance, differentiation, gapless counting and detection – the solution is SICK’s DeltaPac.
