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Sensors for the Washdown Area

The cleaning-resistant sensors are ideal for use in spraying applications in the food, beverage and packaging industries. Neither spraying water nor significant temperature changes impair the function of the robust wenglor sensors.

wenglor offers an extensive product portfolio of robust and corrosion-resistant sensors for the high hygienic requirements in the washdown area. Thanks to the high-quality stainless steel 316L housing and IP69K degree of protection, the sensors can be integrated into and on systems where they can withstand high-pressure cleaning and jet water at up to 100 bar and water temperatures of up to 80 °C. The sensors are also ECOLAB certified and therefore resistant to aggressive cleaning agents.

Photoelectronic Sensors

Photoelectronic sensors can detect or count objects contactlessly using light and also measure distances. The sensors in the stainless steel 316L housing have high thermal resistance and are insensitive to shocks and impacts. This means that objects are reliably detected in the immediate vicinity or at a great distance.

Photoelectronic sensors in the 2K miniature design are available as reflex sensors with background suppression, energetic reflex sensors, through-beam sensors, universal retro-reflex sensors and retro-reflex sensors for transparent objects. Depending on the intended use, sensors with different types of light, such as blue light, red light or red laser light, are available.

Laser distance sensors time-of-flight work with red lasers and detect objects regardless of their color or surface finish – even at extreme inclinations and at a distance of up to 10 meters.

Fork sensors enable reliable detection of transparent or extremely small parts (40 µm) and operate with a fine laser beam (Ø 0.35 mm over the entire fork width) according to the transmitter-receiver principle.

Applications with Photoelectronic Sensors

Leading Edge Detection on Multi-Lane Conveyors

Challenge: Reliable detection and counting of biscuits before picking and packaging

Solution: Reflex sensors with background suppression

Benefit: Stainless steel 316L housing makes it ideal for hygienically demanding cleaning at high temperatures

Leading Edge Detection on Single Lane Conveyors

Challenge: Reliable leading edge detection of cheese pieces

Solution: Through-beam sensors

Benefit: The light band detects cheese pieces over the entire width of the web

Food Detection with Frequent and Intensive Cleaning

Challenge: Sensors must withstand frequent and intensive cleaning, while also reliably detecting food

Solution: Laser distance sensors time of flight

Benefit: Insensitive to high-pressure cleaning and high temperatures, object detection is guaranteed

Food Ejection Control

Challenge: Exact position control of blocks of cheese on the conveyor

Solution: Laser distance sensors time of flight

Benefit: Reliable detection of blocks of cheese regardless of inclination and gloss

Position Monitoring of Crown Corks

Challenge: Correct position control of crown caps or screw caps on bottles at high speeds

Solution: Fork sensors

Benefit: Accurate detection of objects as small as a few microns

Ultrasonic Sensors

Ultrasonic sensors in the high-quality stainless steel 316L housing (1.4404) evaluate the sound reflected by the object. They can detect almost any object and are especially well suited for monitoring fill levels of liquids and bulk goods and for detecting transparent objects in rough and challenging environments, regardless of the material, state, color or transparency.

U2GT ultrasonic distance sensors are robust and corrosion-resistant sensors that withstand intensive and frequent cleaning and can be used in temperature ranges as low as –30 °C.

Ultrasonic Sensor Applications

Level Measurement of Spices

Challenge: Continuously monitor the level of spice mass in the container

Solution: U2GT ultrasonic distance sensors

Benefit: Permanent fill level monitoring in containers, detection of food regardless of color and medium

Inductive Sensors

Inductive sensors detect metal objects contactlessly through electromagnetic induction. The sensors in stainless steel 316L housing and with IP68 degree of protection are wear-free, watertight and resistant to contamination and vibration. They are ideal for use in areas with high mechanical requirements, as well as in cleaning-intensive applications, such as in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Inductive Sensor Applications

Container Rotation Control in Cooling Water Basins

Challenge: Ensuring rotation of the lattice drums in the cooling water basin

Solution: Inductive sensors with full-metal housing

Benefit: Thanks to degree of protection IP68, can be permanently used under water and ensures reliable presence check of the drums

Cap Detection on Plastic Bottles

Challenge: Presence check on aluminum seals on the bottle neck before screwing on the cap

Solution: Inductive sensors with full-metal housing

Benefit: Robust stainless steel 316L housing for high corrosion resistance and resistance to cleaning agents

2D/3D Profile Sensors

2D/3D profile sensors from the weCat3D series use the principle of laser triangulation to create 2D height profiles and 3D point clouds. The profile sensors deliver precise and high-quality results with different types of laser light (blue and red) in different laser classes (1M, 2M, 3B and 3R). The weCat3D sensors in a stainless steel housing enable reliable use of high-precision laser technology in cleaning-intensive areas of application, such as in the food industry.

Applications with 2D/3D Profile Sensors

Inline Height Check on Biscuits

Challenge: Reliable detection of biscuit height before packaging

Solution: Stainless steel 2D/3D profile sensors

Benefit: All objects are detected via laser over the entire width of the web

Volume Calculation of Potato Rösti

Challenge: Determining the exact ratio of salt to raw potato mass

Solution: Stainless steel 2D/3D profile sensors

Benefit: Reliable volume calculation of food regardless of color, size and at high conveyor speeds

Height and Angle Measurement of Ice Cream Cups

Challenge: Detecting the presence and correct position of the applied cardboard lids

Solution: Stainless steel 2D/3D profile sensors

Benefit: Reliable measurement of presence, cup height and angle over the entire web width

Illumination Technology

Illumination technology is a key component in machine vision applications to produce well-lit and high-contrast images. Robust illumination technology with IP69K protection class is perfect for environments that require high-pressure cleaning at high temperatures using steam and chemical cleaning agents.

Thanks to the food-safe housing,bar lights with IP69K protection class are suitable for industrial image processing applications in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

Illumination Technology Applications

Illuminating Biscuits for Pick and Place Applications

Challenge: Illuminating biscuits to enable a high-contrast image from the camera

Solution: Bar illumination with IP69K protection class

Benefit: Resistant to high-pressure cleaning and harsh cleaning agents

Product Comparison

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