Sick UK has launched a versatile miniature capacitive proximity sensor with the capability to perform a wealth of non-contact sensing tasks in food and beverage applications, including packaging and level sensing for liquids, powders and granules.
The CQ4 has a rapid switching frequency up to 100Hz and a sensing range of up to 8mm, making it good for high-speed object detection through non-metallic surfaces.
Capable of withstanding rugged and harsh clean-down environments, the CQ4 can detect products inside packages (eg on tray sealer machines). Because it can detect through non-metallic surfaces, it’s also suitable for fill level monitoring.
“The CQ4 is no larger than a couple of cubes of sugar,” said industrial sensor specialist Phil Dyas, “with the sensitivity and rugged construction to be used almost anywhere where you might have struggled to find the space to install a sensor before.
“Because the CQ4 is a capacitive sensor with a range of up to 8mm through non-metallic materials, it can ‘see’ through packaging and you don’t have to cut a hole in a pipe or vessel wall for example, so there are no sealing issues. Often non-contact sensors are fastened with cable ties to a plastic pipe or a container wall, and the CQ4 has a helpful mounting groove at the back to ensure the sensor remains securely in place.
“At the same time, it’s easy to adjust the sensitivity and range for optimum detection performance, with a potentiometer control. The CQ4 is very easy to set up and commission and the wide choice of switching output options and connection configurations give the engineer plenty of scope for optimising selection to match the production specifications.”
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