Image-processing sensor inspectscolored objects at a high rate of speedSiemens has developed an image-processing system for the automatic inspection of colored objects. With 30 test operations per second, the compact Simatic MV220 colored-surface sensor is extremely fast. The robust plastic/ metallic housing in IP65 is suitable for use di-rectly on the machine in rough industrial envi-ronments. The system is used primarily in production engineering as well as in applications in the packaging and food & bever-age industries. The new system is “trained” rather than programmed, so that the user requires no special training. Even the inexperienced are able to use it straight away without difficulty. The digital camera for inspecting the objects, which is equipped with a CMOS chip, has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. The infinitely-adjustable lens system can be used to adjust the display field from 40x30 to 200x150 millimeters and the distance-to-object range from 50 to 250 millimeters. An incandescent light source and a laser-based align-ment system which helps support manual alignment have also been integrated. The control and display unit is equipped with four operator buttons, a four-digit text dis-play and LED indicators. Digital inputs and outputs are used to integrate the image-processing system in the plant automation system. The system can learn as many as sixteen test models. Model changes during operation result in brief changeover times. The “training” of the models is based on specifiable characteristics of one or more “good objects”. It is possi-ble to inspect both stationary and mobile objects, a good/bad decision being made on the basis of preset threshold values. A test result of “OK” or “Not OK” is out-put over two digital outputs. Additional information is available at: www.siemens.com/simatic-sensors/mv Highlights: |
