Your source for Lenze AC Tech products is Marshall Wolf Automation, your full-line industrial automation distributor.  Here is another application story from Lenze AC Tech involving the food industry.

Lenze AC Tech Positionservo 940 and SMD Cut the Price of Sausage Slicing

Lenze - AC Tech has worked closely with a specialist ultrasonic engineering company to solve the problem of making the perfect sliced sausage quickly and with minimal waste. A traditional cured continental sausage is difficult to cut very finely in an automated process because of the adhesive qualities of the meat, when a slice is made with a normal blade it tends to stick to the blade surface after the cut is complete.

The ultrasonic company, more used to sieving and sorting fine powders than chopping sausages, has applied its high frequency vibration technology to ensure the slices drop away from the blade neatly into the correct place each time.

The challenge was to integrate this high-end technology into a slicing machine and still meet the low-cost demands of the food processing industry. The solution was simple, using a 4 amp PositionServo 940 with encoder feedback, to control the position of the blade; the knife could be reciprocated in minimal time and with maximum speed and accuracy.

Driving through a precise Lenze MCS servo motor and gearbox combination and a cogged belt drive, the thickness of the slices can be controlled along the entire length of the sausage. The PositionServo is controlled via a  Lenze drive PLC unit and an HMI, in this case a 4” Lenze LCD grey scale touchscreen display.

By using an SMD drive to power the conventional AC motor that actuates the blade, the machine can be operated with domestic 110 – 240 V supply and still supply a super cost effective combination. Using CANopen to link all the machine control components also allowed minimal wiring to be used and resulted in a highly compact machine that is easy to program and very easy to use.

Please visit our user-friendly website at www.wolfautomation.com and view our huge product selection.

Please email any inquiries to sales@wolfautomation.com.

Determining the connector to incorporate into an industrial design or upgrade is simply a matter of evaluating the application needs and environment.

Start by asking yourself, "What type of transmission do I need?" and "What are my environmental conditions?"

Are your connection points needed for power, communication, signaling, or a combination? This is your first variable.

What is your transmission requirement? Then determine the number of contact points needed, the current (amperage) requirements of the application, and the space constraints, if any. And, if using a heavy-duty rectangular connector, determine the wire termination method for the contact pins (spring, clamp, or screw).

For many power (under 15 amps), signaling, and communication applications requiring fewer than 20 contact points, an overmolded circular connector offers a durable, economical, and reliable solution. Connector solutions requiring higher current carrying capacity or a greater pin count can often be found with a heavy-duty rectangular connector.

When the application calls for communication via an industrial protocol, specific network cordsets can be used. Whether using DeviceNet, Profibus, industrial Ethernet, Foundation Fieldbus, or one of many other protocols, each has its own connector design and often a specialized wiring code.

The application environment is also very important in determining what connector to choose.

This factor will dictate what cable jacket should be used when considering a molded cordset. If the application is such that the cable needs to be protected from weld slag, TPE might be the best choice. If lubricants and coolants are prevalent, PUR would work. An application with continuous movement may require a cable with a high flex rating. Most standard applications can be addressed with a simple PVC jacketed cable. Selecting the correct cordset for the environment in the beginning can save money and time in the long run, by avoiding unneeded downtime, troubleshooting, and premature replacements.

Using high-quality overmolded cordsets, and the proper mating receptacles, an IP67 rating can be achieved to accommodate various industrial environments. IP67 indicates that a connector is protected from dust and will withstand being immersed in water for a limited amount of time. This rating is sufficient for most industrial applications.

...simply a matter of evaluating the application needs and environment

For wiring machines and system controls, legacy standards such as the MIN family of circular connectors still prevail, as do the hard-to-match rectangular connectors. After evaluating power needs and environment, your choices are usually clear.

When we include network configurations, the options expand to include bus networks and Ethernet. Micro-connectors for each of these formats are easy to find. Keep in mind that all connectors are not equal. Quality of components leads to reliability. At the end of the day, systems are only well connected when they’re running. 

I often get questions regarding the different photoelectric sensing methods. This blog will discuss diffuse sensors.

Diffuse sensors use the target itself as the reflector. Detection occurs with the reflection of light off the object back to the receiver. This differs from through-beams and retro-reflective because those methods detect based on the interruption of the beam.

In a diffused situation the emitter sends out a beam of light, generally infrared, visible red or laser beam, which is reflected by the target when it enters the detectable area. The beam is diffused off of the target in all directions and part of that beam will return back to the receiver, which is inside of the same housing as the emitter.

A great example of diffuse sensors is bathroom sinks - your hands act as the target/reflector. When the sensor detects your hands it will turn the water on.

Diffuse photoelectric sensors have some limitations, due to using the target as the reflector. Non-reflective targets, such as matte-black paper, will have a significantly reduced sensing range compared to a bright white target.

Marshall Wolf Automation has a complete product offering of diffuse photoelectric sensors! We are authorized industrial automation distributors for:

• Autonics
• Baumer Electric
• Carlo Gavazzi
• Datasensor
• IDEC
• Leuze Electronic
• Pepperl+Fuchs
• Takex

The ROD 4 (plus) is designed specifically for measurement applications.

With high-speed measured data transmission, it is very effective for the measuring of 3D profiles. 3D measurement works reliably within a measurement range of up to 65 m, making it ideally suited for scanning heights of 200 – 3000 mm which are common in picking applications.

The greater the disparity in terms of shape and stability between different items for order picking, the more difficult it is to create automated solutions. The crucial issue is always whether the packing patterns generated using the robot or handling system is in agreement with what actually ends up on the pallet.

This is a question that can be answered by laser distance sensors ROD 4 plus.

Surface area distance sensors ROD 4 from Leuze electronic are ideally suited for a wide range of different applications in the field of warehousing and conveying technology. The ROD 4plus is a variant of this device designed specifically for measurement assignments. By ensuring high-speed measured data transmission, it is particularly suited for the measurement of 3D profiles which can be generated by relative pivoting or linear feed movements of the measured object or laser scanner. 3D measurement works reliably within a measurement range of up to 65 m, making it ideally suited for the scanning heights of 200 – 3000 mm which typically occur in order picking applications. The achievable degree of accuracy is ±15 mm in the X and Z position.

The measurement principle used is that of pulse propagation time, which transmits individual light pulses at short intervals. The time difference can be calculated between transmitting and receiving a light pulse to and from the object. Evaluation is largely independent of the reflectance factor of the scanned object. This allows products with optically problematical surfaces such as dark or shrink-wrapped objects to be reliably detected during order picking. Another characteristic feature of the ROD 4plus is its high degree of immunity to ambient light sources.

ROD 4plus distance sensors from Leuze electronic permit continuous monitoring of mechanically collated packing patterns to safeguard automatic order picking processes.

Call Marshall Wolf Automation today at 847-658-8130 or visit us on the web at www.wolfautomation.com.

Leuze Electronics offers the ideal solution for bottle cap monitoring!

The Leuze HRTR 55 is a diffuse reflection light scanner. It can detect bottle caps with various structures and colors.

In addition, the Leuze Electronics HRTR offers:

• High chemical resistance
• Washdown rated design
• V4A stainless steel housing
• Compact housing
• Optimized background suppression

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized industrial automation distributor for a complete line of sensors and scanners!

Project 1 – Wireless Light Tower – has multiple machines that they need a solution for:

Customer is looking for 3-4 stack light to mount to the ceiling that the user at a gluing machine can operate with a hand held remote (which was often taken home by employees). I mentioned that we could do a Push Button box, but they want the user to be able to activate the lights from anywhere near the machine. They are looking for a “key fob” type of remote.

Solution Presented to Customer:

We came back to the customer with a solution that was more cost effective then the solution they had on the other side of the plant. It was a simple enclosure with a push button and a stack light with an alarm built in. This will allow the customer to utilize the push button to turn the light tower on when the machine is in need of service. The push button station can also be placed at any point on the machine or even multiple points if the user chooses to do so. Not wireless, but a solution they moved forward with. Oh yea, and no lost key fob.

Another fine solution provided by your friends and Marshall Wolf Automation. If you and your company have these types of projects please contact one of our sales representatives or schedule a time to meet with one of our Field Sales Engineers so we can discuss a possible solution for you and your company.

Carlo Gavazzi designed the RSBS series for the heat pump market to offer a starting solution for high temperature applications using hybrid control technology.

The algorithm for the RSBS series automatically adapts to the compressor conditions and adjusts the starting parameters to ensure that the compressor is started even in loaded conditions. What does this mean for you? Fewer alarms and less service calls!

Additional features this soft start can offer you:

• Provides up to 60% reduction in current and increases compressor lifetime!
• Eliminate light flickering, voltage disturbances and stress on the compressor
• Avoid high-energy tariffs by maintaining starting current below fixed limits
• Optimized performance for scroll compressors
• Integrated current limit feedback for inrush current reductions
• Reduced mechanical stress

Marshall Wolf Automation in an authorized Carlo Gavazzi distributor, we can ship these soft starters right from our stock in Illinois!

I am impressed with this tool offered by Schmersal. Check out the application finder.

This a great way to see exactly what Schmersal can offer you. Taking a look at the explosion proof devices I see that Schmersal can offer:

• Solenoid interlocks
• Safety switches
• Position switches
• Safety sensors
• Emergency pull switches
• Safety monitoring

Don't forget that Marshall Wolf Automation can expand even further on these applications! In explosion proof products we can also offer industrial light towers, audible alarms, intrinsic safety barriers and more!

You can view all of our Schmersal products now.

Ultrasonic sensors are commonly used in agricultural sprayers to make sure that the sprayer's boom height is at the proper position.

The Pepperl+Fuchs 30GM series of ultrasonic sensors will automatically adjust the agricultural sprayer to the proper height over the crops when liquid fertilizers, pesticides or other liquids are applied.

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized industrial automation distributor for the complete line of Pepperl+Fuchs ultrasonic range sensors. We also offer sensors from Baumer Electric and Carlo Gavazzi!

We have a number of products that are popular in the agricultural industry including NEMA 3R drive panels, motors, variable frequency drives and much more.