At IBIS Electro-Products Corp., we supply two designs of slot sensors. Both of these products are manufactured by Dietz Sensortechnik, a major German manufacturer of sensor equipment for machinery construction, industrial automation, the automotive sector, robotics, and feeding and mounting systems. Dietz sensors are renowned for their precision, reliability, and sturdiness.

Also known as optical fork sensors because of their unique forked shape, slot sensors can detect objects that pass between two arms, one with an emitter, and the other with a receiver. The fixed slot width provides reliable opposed-mode sensing of extremely small objects, even those as small as 0.3 millimetres.

Fork sensors are recommended for numerous industrial applications, like the following:

• Small-part detection;
• Edge or label detection;
• Counting and verifying;
• Gear-tooth detection;
• Packaging and material-handling equipment; and
• Numerous uses in automation, machinery, food processing, pharmaceuticals, paper conversion, and automotive assembly.

IBIS offers a Dietz slot sensor with a visible laser beam, as well as one with an infrared light. The former is a 30-millimetre sensor with PNP and a NO/NC switchable output. Also known as an optical slot sensor photoelectric light barrier, it has many advantageous features, such as self-contained thru-beam sensor technology, a Class 2 visible laser with adjustable sensitivity, high resolution and reproducibility, high switching frequency, and a robust metal housing that provides an IP67 sealing level. This device can operate in temperatures ranging from -10 to 60 degrees Celsius, and installation is very easy, with no alignment required.

The other Dietz 30-millimetre slot sensor has many of the same features and specifications, but with an infrared light with adjustable sensitivity. This device includes a high-performance, high-power beam designed for dirty environment applications. Like the visible-beam sensor, it has high switching frequency, robust metal housing, a wide operating temperature range, and easy installation without alignment.

Slot sensors make up just one item in the broad portfolio of important industrial sensing products we carry from Dietz and other manufacturers. Get in touch with us to learn more about the many high-end sensors we can offer for essential measurement and control applications.

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