Luminescence sensors, brought to you by SICK , are capable of detecting “invisible” markings reliably. To this end, the so-called luminophores, invisible in usual ambient light, are caused to light up when stimulated with a source of UV light. In the field of automation technology, luminophores are generally added to substances, e.g. paints, marking chalk, or adhesive tape. In the area of high-quality consumer goods, such as champagne, invisible markings with luminophores do not impair the high-grade design of labels, while still permitting their alignment during a labelling process, for instance.
To detect luminophores reliably under such industrial operating conditions luminescence sensors must meet a series of additional requirements concerning user friendliness, detection speed, and range. That is the case with respect to the new LUT8 and LUT9 luminescence sensors from SICK. A particularly helpful feature for adjusting the luminescence sensor is the bar display on the device, which indicates luminophore content in the marking and thus detection reliability. In addition to that, its optical filter allows for a differentiation of various wave lengths and does not suppress relevant luminescence signals from the environment.
LUT8: The user-friendly standard solution
Clear operating design is the strength of the LUT8. With the help of the operating knob, the sensitivity of the LUT - and thus switching reliability – can be adjusted to the marking to be detected. Whereas the LUT8 represents the solution for standard applications, e.g. for detecting markings, labels, or package inserts, the LUT9 is well prepared for more demanding tasks.
LUT9: the solution with IO-Link and extended detection range
Featuring an IO-Link option and a very high detection range of 200 mm, the LUT9 sets the new standard for luminescence sensors. Due to the potentially considerable distance between the sensor and the object, it is possible – e.g. in the lumber industry – to detect markings reliably on different thicknesses of wood without mechanical readjustment of the sensors. The teach function and the manual fine-tuning allow a maximum degree of process reliability. This is also the case even with complex ambient conditions as they can be found, for instance, in wood or paper processing. Anyone opting for the LUT9 version with IO-Link can integrate the luminescence sensor actively into the machine visualization, parameterizing, monitoring, and using the sensor directly from the control system for capturing process data