One such product is the World-Beam QS30H2O series of opposed-mode water sensors. These sensors are designed to detect the presence or level of water-based liquids, inside a glass or plastic container. The sensors use a powerful 1450 nm LED sensing beam to burn through many types of thin-walled glass and plastic containers. This wavelength is however attenuated by water-based liquids, resulting in an enhanced contrast for reliable liquid detection.
The QS30H2O has a powerful beam that can burn through both clear and translucent containers such as IV bags, HDPE milk containers, clear glass test tubes, coloured or clear PET bottles, etched or frosted containers and thin walled PFA/FEP tubes. The unique electrical design and the 1450 nm sensing beam allow these sensors to detect low contrast applications involving any type of water based product. Examples include beer, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and sauces. The sensors are also able to penetrate many different labels, dependent on the material thickness and type.
Figure 1 depicts the typical low contrast application. Clear PET bottles that have been filled with a clear liquid (water) and transported down a conveyor system. The customer needs to confirm that the level of the product is above a set point. Here the sensors have been fitted with horizontal apertures to shape the beam into a pattern more suitable for the application. What would normally be a difficult, low contrast application for standard photoelectric sensors is a simple, reliable application for the H2O series.
Figure 1
Figure 2 shows an application for a customer who needs to ensure the correct level of milk in a two litre, translucent plastic container. Again this application poses no problem for the H2O sensors from Banner. The application worked even though the sensors had to be positioned in an area where the container handle was present.
Figure 2
Brown glass bottles, such as those typically used for beer, or plastic coloured containers as seen in Figure 3, create a demanding situation for standard photo-electrics. The 1450 nm wavelength beam used with Banner’s H2O series has sufficient power to burn through the containers and yet be attenuated enough by the liquid to make reliable liquid detection possible.
Figure 3
For applications that demand smaller profile sensors, or where the product to be inspected is very small, Banner offers the R55FH2O sensor. This sensor is used in conjunction with glass fibre optic leads. Glass fibre units can be manufactured to any shape required, and the sensing end can be manufactured to suit the application. These are ideal for the pharmaceutical industry, where detecting the product level in small vials and bottles is often a challenging application.
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