Machine vision for production line applications

November 2004 Sensors & Transducers Integrated Solutions Education (Industry) Products & Solutions

Due to its compact design, the CMOS camera with its aluminium housing, which measures only 138 x 40 x 47 mm, can be used in a wide variety of applications in tight spaces, mounted with a Wenglor angle bracket. With a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, the camera reads out 30 digital colour images per second. A variety of lenses can be used.

Digital image data is transmitted to random access memory at the Linux-based Vision Control Unit, equipped with flash memory for programming via a cable with a length of up to 10 metres. Wenglor offers three different illumination systems in order to assure top quality image data, all of which can be quickly and easily installed with the mounting system on offer. The Wenglor ring illuminator with eight LEDs is especially suited for the detection of colours and print marks. Contours and drill-holes are lit up at an inclined angle for reliable recognition by the spotlight. The use of a through-beam operating mode allows highly reflective objects and object contours to be easily detected with the floodlight.

Image data is analysed by Wenglor-developed software. The user is able to set up specific configurations and can choose among a variety of functions including colour inspection, inspection for completeness, orientation detection, orientation correction and determination of shape and surface independent of orientation. After the Vision Control Unit has evaluated the configuration entered by the user, signals are read out from one or several outputs, which are used to control production or inspection processes.

The Vision Control Unit is equipped with four inputs. One input is set up permanently as a trigger input, and the other three are freely configurable. Any desired characteristics can be freely assigned to as many as five of the eight outputs. With its compact dimensions of 197 x 241 x 80 mm, the Vision Control Unit can be easily mounted to a top-hat rail or in a control cabinet.

The BVS001 is Wenglor's first colour image processing system and is available locally from distributors ASSTech Process Electronics & Instrumentation. Components included with the Wenglor colour image processing system include a colour digital camera with lens, illumination equipment, an industry compatible vision control unit and specially developed Wenglor software.

For more information contact Anastas Schnippenkotter, ASSTech Process Electronics & Instrumentation, 011 794 7057.

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