Sick has launched its fully-programmable TrispectorP1000 3D vision camera to enable reliable, continuous in-line product detection to be easily customised for robotic belt picking applications for the packaging industry.
The Trispector P1000 uses height-based profiling of products on moving packaging lines to ensure gentle and efficient robot picking whatever the shape or colour of the pack design, and even where there is minimal contrast or colour difference between the product and the belt background.
As a compact, stand-alone, programmable 3D camera, Sick TriSpector P1000 combines imaging, lighting and analysis in one device to facilitate on-board evaluation and processing of dimension, volume and true shape data in mm.
Part of the Sick AppSpace programming environment, the Trispector P1000’s 3D camera and software tools open up possibilities for machine designers and integrators to develop tailor-made packaging solutions that are easy to commission and operate.
Neil Sandhu, Sick UK’s national product manager for imaging, measurement and ranging, explains: “The Sick TriSpector P1000 vision camera helps to ensure gentler product handling and efficient continuous operation, because it accurately measures real height as well as true shape.
“This ability controls the Z axis more accurately, meaning that awkward shapes are not in danger of being broken or knocked over during picking.
“Using 3D vision with laser triangulation also enables reliable detection even where the product and background have the same colour and tone. There’s also no need to reteach the camera or change settings during label or batch changes; the TriSpector P1000 will continue to detect consistently and accurately.”
The Sick TriSpector P1000 is available either as a stand-alone unit for customised programming or supported by the Sick Belt Pick Toolkit App to provide a ready-made solution. Three models offer different fields of view to suit the application, and alignment of the camera with a robot arm is easy, says the company.
The IP67 protective metal housing for the camera unit, with plastic or glass windows, ensures resistance to harsh industrial conditions, and the integrated Class 2 laser lighting reduces ambient lighting requirements. Connections include an Ethernet TCP/IP interface and a direct encoder connection.
With its industry 4.0 ready web-interface, configuration and parameter settings with the TriSpector P1000 are easy.
These may be supported bySick training where required, for example in developing customised 3D solutions using the Sick Algorithm API and HALCON for Inspect, Measure, Position and Read functions within the Sick AppStudio development framework.
