Page 10 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 28th September 2020

beam photoelectric sensors detect the chocolate bar possible and ideally directly from above. At the
in its outer packaging with completely harmless same time, the working environment poses a
infrared light. The intelligent CAT technology, which challenge as well: the objects that are to be
the new DRT 25C dynamic reference diffuse sensor detected are usually on conveyor belts that move
uses, continues the idea of the clever sensor. and vibrate and which may become soiled or wet.
The DRT 25C reliably detects the front edges of The sensor solutions currently on the market
the objects, ensuring smooth processes and no have so far only been able to perform this task to a
machine downtime. The wide scanning range limited extent. Thus, there was a need for precisely
detects all types of products, even those with such an intelligent model.
complex geometries.
Contrast Adaptive Teach
Detection on a running conveyor belt This market requirement led to the development of
Packaging and the objects to be packaged vary the CAT technology at Leuze. CAT stands for
widely in color, shape and surface structure: flat, Contrast Adaptive Teach. The underlying idea is
glossy, transparent, with gaps or holes - the entire simple: if the object can change at any time, use its
spectrum. As a result, they are not so easy to environment instead as a constant reference
detect. However, that is the task of optical sensors surface. In packaging systems, this is the conveyor
in packaging systems. The challenge in object belt. This serves as a teachable reference. Once the
detection is in detecting as quickly and reliably as sensor has been taught the contrast information of

September 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p10