Dietz’ photoelectric fork sensors are available in Canada through IBIS

Fork sensors work for many industrial applications.

IBIS Electro-Products Corp. is a major supplier of sensors, especially those by Dietz Sensortechnik. Dietz manufactures a variety of photoelectric fork sensors, also known as slot sensors, which all work with infrared lights. IBIS recommends these instruments for several different application fields, like assembly automation and feeding systems, packaging and special-purpose machinery, and production plants. Other relevant applications include detection and counting of objects, positioning and presence checks, detection of thin foils and wires, measurement of rotational speed, and double-sheet detection.

Precise positioning, reliable movement detection

The design of these photoelectric fork sensors is based on the working principle of through-beam sensors. Dietz puts a robust metal casing on each device to house the transmitter, receiver, and electronics, and users save time with the absence of alignments. Fork sensors are easier to assemble than conventional through-beam sensors are, and they also have a shorter response time and higher resolution. The result is precise positioning, as well as reliable detection of very fast movement. The sensors are equipped with NO/NC switches, and the integrated potentiometers can adjust sensitivity levels; the infrared lights maintain high levels of ambient light immunity.

There are several models of these Dietz photoelectric fork sensors available from IBIS. Each of them has an infrared light, a high switching frequency, and an IP67 enclosure rating. The sensors are distinguished by their different fork widths – two, five, ten, 20, 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120, 180, and 220 millimetres (mm).

For use at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, common technical specifications for these fork sensors include the following:

• Ambient light immunity of 50 klx.
• Insulation voltage endurance of 500 volts.
• Internal power consumption of less than 45 mA.
• Output current of 200 mA.
• Polarity protection.
• Resolution of 0.4 mm.
• Response/release time of 0.2 milliseconds.
• Short-circuit protection.
• Supply voltage of ten to 35 VDC.
• Switching frequency of 2½ kilohertz.
• Switching hysteresis of 0.2 mm.

Depending on the sensor’s fork width, reproducibility for these devices varies between 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, or 0.1 mm.

To learn more, contact IBIS.

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