Just a matter of setting

Color sensors of the series OF50, OF51 and OF65 have been an established and proven part of ipf electronic's product portfolio for many years. Key features are the very extensive parameterization and diagnostic options via free software and a variety of functions for individual adaptation to the customer's application. Focused, diffuse or polarized optics are available for this purpose. The use of different light guide systems made of plastic or glass and a large selection of front optics allows even greater design freedom.

Depending on the requirements, it is very important to compensate for intensity fluctuations, e.g. due to positioning inaccuracies, or to evaluate the intensity "on an equal footing" with the self-test color recognition for very precise inquiries. For this purpose, the software provides various calculation modes for evaluating the color space. This opens up the possibility of also using the color sensors as high-precision contrast sensors. Typical applications include the recognition of transparent liquids in glass containers and hoses or the monitoring of spraying processes (see image) via a one-way barrier system.

For example, diffuse reflection sensors can be used to check processing conditions on metallic surfaces or light-dark gradients on objects with minimal color deviation. During spraying processes in particular, however, deposits or wetting can sometimes occur on the inlet and outlet surfaces of the optics.

The sensors solve this problem with contamination compensation: as soon as the spraying process has been completed, a short teach command from the higher-level PLC (programmable logic controller) re-learns the free beam path between the transmitter and receiver. The exposure power is also reset within the specified limits. The new parameterization is stored in the sensor's RAM: This means that the sensor can be operated in the process as a quasi-self-learning system without changing the parameterization originally stored in the device.