Suitable sensor for nuts counting packaging machine

flyers · Mar 4, 2007

Hi guys,

I've an enquiry from our mechanical department to help source out a kind of sensor that is able to detect & count the nuts in a nuts packing machine.

The nuts has varies diameter from 5mm to 20mm, falling from a vibrator bowl, one at a time.

I can't use a beam sensor as it might count as two when the nuts hole falls thru the beam.

Number of nuts will be set at the HMI.
Has anyone see this kind of counting machine & have any idea what type of sensor are they using for counting?

Thanks for your information.

kolyur · Mar 4, 2007

Have you considered a part counting light screen?

This one from Banner claims to detect parts as small as 5.6 mm.
http://www.bannerengineering.com/products/subfam.php?subi_id=44

Rich1955 · Mar 4, 2007

We had simular problems with counting pieces. What we ended up doing is make our own through beam light array and adding an off delay so as to not count the same piece two times. If there is enough spacing between pieces, counting should be easy.

Singapore_Mats · Mar 4, 2007

some machines dont count, they weight them. if one nut weights 1.2g, then 2.4g must be 2 nuts and etc.

TConnolly · Mar 4, 2007

Use a counting scale.

CaseyK · Mar 4, 2007

Alaric said:
Use a counting scale.

I concur.

flyers · Mar 5, 2007

kolyur: Thanks for your information, i'll have a look on it.

Rich1955: Putting a timer to delay the next count can be an idea as well, thanks for that.

Singapore Mats: Yeah, I know, they are using weighing now, but it's not so accurate when the nuts they are producing is very small. Counting will make their packaging more accurate in terms of pcs.

Alaric: What is counting scale? care to explain more or any link for me to study...thanks.

Singapore_Mats · Mar 5, 2007

http://sg.mt.com/home have counting scales with 4-20 output, very easy connect to plc/hmi.

bwana_88 · Mar 5, 2007

Might be worthwhile looking at this ...
http://www.balluff.ca/Balluff/us/ProductsChannel/Overview/en/Photoelectric+Sensors.htm
Please refer to the "Window" Type Sensor.

10BaseT. · Mar 5, 2007

Most nut lines have colour sorters - Keytech , Sortex , Best - these will give you an accurate product count - I have to say that I have worked in quite a few nut factories , and never seen it done though .

Kataeb · Mar 5, 2007

if the structure of the machine is suitable, you can also use capacitive sensors. they have a detecting range upto 25 mm.

JesperMP · Mar 5, 2007

I just wonder, why count the nuts ?
Who buys nuts by the number ?
Do you need the number of nuts for other reasons, statistics maybe ?

bernie_carlton · Mar 5, 2007

I'm just curious. Flyers has not specified whether the 'nuts' are the edible type or the type which threads on to a bolt. His different diameters may refer to running one type at one time then a different diameter type at another time.

10BaseT. · Mar 5, 2007

JesperMP said:
I just wonder, why count the nuts ?
Who buys nuts by the number ?
Do you need the number of nuts for other reasons, statistics maybe ?

No , not that . One of the bigger roasters that I install will dark roast peanuts at 6000kg/hr - that would take some counting ! ( in saying that , the sorters can do it ) They are normally graded as a seperate operation .

If these are nuts that go on bolts , rather than in chocolate , then weight is the way/weigh to go .

Stainless steel nuts take ages to roast !

flyers · Mar 5, 2007

Dear all,

It's nuts use with bolts, not peanuts

Suitable sensor for nuts counting packaging machine

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