Food & Beverage

A-GAGE EZ-ARRAY Series

Cost-effective measuring light curtains for quick and simple installation and tough sensing applications

EZ-SCREEN­ Safety Light Curtain Systems

Non-contact machine guarding systems protect fingers, hands and ankles, and guard perimeters and access, using self-contained emitters and receivers without a separate control box.

iVu Integrated Vision Sensors

iVu Integrated Sensors offer easy configuration and convenient monitoring right on the sensor.

iVu Remote Vision Sensors

The iVu Remote Display provides a solution for applications where the sensor location makes it difficult to use an integrated display.

K50L Multi-Function EZ-LIGHT

DC-operated indicators with multiple colors and flashing frequencies

M18 Series

IP69K 18 mm threaded stainless-steel barrels with EZ-BEAM style optics and electronics, for reliable sensing without adjustments

T-GAGE M18T Series Temperature Sensors

Non-contact sensor for monitoring temperature changes

U-GAGE M25U Ultrasonic Sensors

Waterproof, stainless steel, ultrasonic sensors were purpose-built to deliver flawless operation in food processing and other sanitary industries.

PresencePLUS Pro—Sealed PRO Camera

Sealed camera for machine vision inspections in dirty or washdown conditions

Q25 Series

IP69K EZ-BEAM style right-angle sensors with 18 mm threaded mounting base

Q26 Series Clear Object Sensor

Sensor solution for clear object detection applications. The Q26 cannot be tricked by mirror-like surfaces and has precise leading edge detection.

Q40 Series

EZ-BEAM style IP69K right-angle sensors with 30 mm threaded mounting base

WORLD-BEAM QS18 Ultrasonic Sensors

Low-cost ultrasonic sensor in popular WORLD-BEAM housing

U-GAGE QT50U Ultrasonic Sensors

Long-range programmable, precision ultrasonic sensor

S18 Series

IP69K 18 mm threaded plastic barrels with EZ-BEAM style optics and electronics for reliable sensing without adjustments

SM30 High-Power Series

Standard, high-power and intrinsically safe opposed-mode sensors with 30 mm threaded barrel

U-GAGE T18U Ultrasonic Sensors

Fast response opposed-mode ultrasonic sensor, for clear objects

T18 Series

T-style IP69K housing and 18 mm threaded lens with EZ-BEAM style optics and electronics, for reliable sensing without adjustments (most models)

TM18 EZ-BEAM DC

Compact, rugged photoelectric sensor with visible red sensing beam in all-metal, mechanically robust construction is ideal for conveyors in heavy duty machine environments and IP69K applications.

T30 Series

T-style IP69K housing and 30 mm threaded lens with EZ-BEAM style optics and electronics, for reliable sensing without adjustments

U-GAGE T30U Ultrasonic Sensors

Compact, right-angle ultrasonic sensors in either dual-discrete or analog/discrete outputs

Bottle Cap Inspection

To confirm that each bottle of water is capped completely before it is packaged

Bottle Fill Inspection

To make sure that a fill tube has not broken off and fallen into a bottle in a beverage packaging operation

Candy Color Inspection

To inspect boxes of candy to make sure that it contains the correct chocolates, based on color.

Clear Plastic Bottle Detection

To ensure that when bottles are placed on the conveyor, there is not a downed or stuck bottle in the placement area. This prevents damage to the bottle handling equipment, as well as potential jams further down the conveyor.

Code Inspection on Clear Bottles

To verify the presence of a date/lot code imprinted on a clear bottle filled with a clear beverage

Color Mark Detection

To position all bottles in the same orientation for label application.

Communicating the Presence of a Tipped Bottle

In bottle filling applications, long assembly lines carrying bottles at high speeds are used to efficiently move the bottles through the various stages of the filling process. A tipped bottle could cause a jam on the line, leading to costly work stoppages. A solution is needed that will clearly communicate to maintenance workers where a bottle has tipped.

Counting Clear Bottles

To reliably count clear objects moving on a high-speed conveyor line

Counting Clear Bottles from One Side of Line

To reliably count clear bottles moving on a high-speed conveyor line

Date/Lot Code Inspection

Many food and beverage operations require a date/lot code to be present on the packaging. There needs to be a cost-effective way to verify that the code is present.

Counting Tinted Bottles

To count clear or green transparent plastic PETE bottles from one side of a production line

Fill Level of Dry Cereal

To ensure that a dry food package is not underfilled or overfilled

Fill Level of Ground Coffee

To verify that cans contain the correct amount of ground coffee

Food Assembly Verification

To make sure that packets of frosting are included with each frozen pastry, before the pastries are boxed

Food Labeling Inspection

To confirm that the lid of a dairy container matches the product listed on the container

Food Packaging Label Inspection

In a frozen food packaging operation, frozen food in plastic tubs and wrapping need to be inserted into individual boxes. Occasionally, an incorrect box finds its way into a stack of boxes, or a box is upside-down.

Manufacturers need a cost-effective way to verify that all the boxes are correct based on the food being packaged on the line.

Food Packaging Inspection

To inspect boxes of chocolate to make sure each nest contains a candy and that the candies are not damaged

Hot Glue Detection on a Package

To identify food packages missing hot sealing glue, before the flaps are closed

Inspecting for Missing Chocolates on a Packaging Line

In the packaging process, it's important that the correct number of chocolates are present in every box in order to meet quality inspections. While this inspection can be done using a traditional vision system, it can also be accomplished with traditional photoelectrics.

Juice Carton Detection

To verify the presence of juice cartons

Label Inspection in a Wet Environment

To confirm that each soda bottle in a wet environment has a label in the correct position

Metal Wisker Detection on Beverage Cans

To detect metal whiskers on the tops of cans

Parts Detection in a Feeder Bowl

Feeder bowls are effective in parts orientation to begin the automation assembly process. Keeping the feeder bowl stocked with parts is necessary to ensure the process continues without interruption. Standard diffuse-mode sensors may have difficulty distinguishing between the bowl and the presence or absence of parts. Photoelectric sensors with key performance capabilities are capable of reliably solving these once-difficult applications.

Personnel Protection with Fixed Blanking and Reduced Resolution

To protect hands and fingers from the hazardous parts of a carton erector while allowing flat cartons into the machine

Product Detection

To detect the presence of two cupcakes—one from each row—on shiny metal mesh conveyors

Sensing in Food Checkweighing

Packaged foods are required to go through multiple inspections, and the washdown environments in which they are produced place unique demands on automation equipment.

For example, a high-speed checkweighing inspection system is used to analyze ready-to-eat meals for proper quantity, by precisely measuring the weight of each tray with its food content. As the filled trays pass down a conveyor, they pass over the checkweigher. When the tray is centered in position for weighing, a retroreflective sensor is positioned to sense its leading edge and trigger a diverter. The system will allow properly filled trays to proceed in the packaging process, and ejects underfilled or overfilled trays.

Soda Can Flow Control

To signal the machine control when cans are absent, using a time delay to filter out gaps between the cans

Tension Loop Control for Clear Plastic

Plastic film wrapping of food trays is made more efficient by applying the film as the trays move down a conveyor process. The film must be fed evenly across the trays, but this must also be done while ensuring the film is not torn or broken. A loop in the feeding process is used to manage the tension, preventing broken film, and ensures the film wrapping process continues smoothly without interruption. To monitor the loop, an ultrasonic sensor is used to detect the clear film and report its status to the controller.

Tinted Bottle Detection

To detect tinted glass bottles on a conveyor in a beer (or other bottled beverage) bottling line

Leading Edge Detection of Frozen Meals

In the food and beverage industry, frozen dinners go through many processes during secondary packaging before being shrink wrapped in large boxes for shipment. As frozen dinners come down the line, they have to be placed in a bucket one at a time to ensure that each dinner is placed in the carton magazine correctly. An accurate sensor solution is needed to detect the leading edge to ensure the frozen dinners are placed in the bucket at the correct time to properly enter a carton magazine.

Date/Lot Code Verification

Many food and beverage packaging applications require date/lot code verification to ensure that the date/lot code is printed correctly and legibly. After the date/lot code is printed on frozen dinner carton magazines, they move down the conveyor to have the date/lot code inspected. The food and beverage industry needs a reliable, cost-effective sensor to ensure these codes are correct and legible to help prevent packaging errors.