Photo Electric Switches (sensors) from Carlo Gavazzi

Photo Electric Switches from Carlo Gavazzi and Sords Electric

Carlo Gavazzi offers a large range of photoelectric sensors which are used extensively on packaging machinery, automatic door systems, factory automation, and in car washes. Our sensors are available in diffuse reflective, background suppression, reto-reflective, polarized, through beam, clear object detection, and colour recognition.

Carlo Gavazzi is a leader in photoelectric sensors for automatic doors and have one of the broadest range of UL325 sensors on the market.

We also offer a range of fibre-optic type sensors for applications where a conventional sensor cannot be used (space restrictions, temperature, atmosphere).

Also included in our range of photoelectric sensors are our VP series optical types. These are ideal for use in level applications. They are available in various housing materials which allow their use in various industrial cleaning solutions.

A photoelectric sensor, or photoeye, is a device used to detect the distance, absence, or presence of an object by using a light transmitter, often infrared, and a photoelectric receiver. They are used extensively in industrial manufacturing. There are three different functional types: opposed (a.k.a. through beam), retroreflective, and proximity-sensing (a.k.a. diffused).

Industries that use Photo Electric devices are:

Carwash

Carlo Gavazzi’s photoelectric sensors have long been the standard in the carwash industry. We offer high power photoelectric systems built to operate reliably in mist, fog, splashing water and detergents. With amplifiers that can control up to ten pairs of sensors, which offer full diagnostic and alignment capabilities, vehicle detection in this demanding environment has never been easier.

Automatic Industrial Doors

Carlo Gavazzi's photoelectric sensors are designed to meet the latest regulations for automatic industrial doors in North America and Europe. A door controller can verify the sensing function through the built-in control input. The sensors are designed for object as well as for safety edge detection. A broad range of sensors in different shapes and sizes are available.

Packaging and Food/Beverage

Carlo Gavazzi offers a broad range of photoelectric sensors for packaging and food/beverage machinery. The sensing program consists of various sensing principles: Diffuse, background suppression, retro- reflective with or without polarization, through- beam, contrast, color sensors and clear object detection. Also available are fiber optic sensors which can be mounted in extreme temperature and atmospheric conditions, as well as slotted sensors for labeling applications.

Elevator and Entrance Control

New photoelectric sensors with one-step snap mounting and long sensing distances provide the benefits that are most desired in the elevator and entrance control industry – simple, flexible, and reliable. Available as stand-alone units or with external amplifier and relay output. These compact sensors feature a 15 meter sensing distance, giving great range for a great price.

Material Handling

Carlo Gavazzi’s extensive line of photo- electric sensors includes many of the most popular configurations and styles used for material handling applications. With extended sensing ranges in through-beam, polarized retroreflective, diffuse, and trans- parent object detection, finding the right sensor for any application is no problem.

Wood

Thanks to exceptionally high excess gains, many of our photoelectric sensors are used in environments where dirt and dust normally cause detection problems. With external amplifiers capable of controlling up to ten pairs of sensors, the flexibility exists to detect timber, paper, tools, and more, with outstanding reliability.

Types of Photo Electrics

Diffuse-Reflective Photoelectric Sensors

In diffuse-reflective photoelectric sensors, the emitter and receiver are integrated in the same unit. The emitter generates a modulated light beam. An object placed in front of the photoelectric sensor will reflect diffused light at all angles with a certain intensity (reflectivity) depend- ing on its surface, size, color and distance from the sensor. The output changes state if the receiver senses sufficient light. Emitter and receiver are synchronized to reduce interference from ambient light. The sensing distance can be adjusted by potentiometer or by teach-in.

Diffuse-Reflective Photoelectric Sensors with Background Suppression

Diffuse-reflective photoelectric sensors with background suppression avoid false signals caused by shiny backgrounds by suppressing all light reflected behind the target object. It is the angle of reflected light that is sensed and not only the intensity that makes it possible to distinguish between an object and a background. The background can therefore reflect more light than the actual object without causing a false signal. Only light reflected in front of the background will cause a change in the output state. The background suppression is adjustable within a certain range and can be done either electrically or manually.

Polarized Retro-Reflective Photoelectric Sensors

With retro-reflective photoelectric sensors, the emitter and receiver are integrated in the same unit. The emitter generates a modulated light beam, which, if reflected by a reflector or special reflective tape, is sensed by the receiver. The output changes state if an object interrupts the light reflected by the reflector. Emitter and receiver are synchronized to reduce interference from ambient light. In certain types the sensing distance can be adjusted by potentiometer or by teach-in. To increase immunity from targets with highly reflective surfaces, a retro reflective sensor can be equipped with polarization filters (anti-glare filters).

Through-Beam Photoelectric Sensors

Through-beam photoelectric sensors have a separate emitter and receiver unit. The switching element changes state when an object interrupts the modulated light beam between the emitter and receiver. The amplifier stage can be in a separate unit or self-contained in the receiver unit. In separate amplifier types, emitter and receiver are electrically synchronized. In other types, the sensitivity of the receiver element is adjusted by potentiometer or by teach-in.

Fiber Optic Photoelectric Sensors

A fiber optic sensor can be configured as a diffuse or through- beam sensor depending on the fibers attached. The advantage of using fibers is that they can enter areas where standard sensors cannot be mounted. Safe operation in high temperature, vibrations, large electro magnetic fields etc. can be achieved.

Contrast Photoelectric Sensors

Contrast sensors are used for detecting color marks on items such as labels. The sensor works like a standard diffuse sensor with the difference being that the light beam is con- centrated to a small spot. The emitter uses white light and the receiver is optimized to distinguish between several shades of gray tones from a scale ranking from black to white.

Color Photoelectric Sensors

The color sensor can detect real colors. The emitter, consisting of three LEDs (red, green and blue), emits light to the object; the reflected light is analyzed by the receiver circuit and compared with the stored reference signal. The output chang- es state if the received signal is within the selected toler- ances. The sensor consists of an amplifier and detachable fiber heads with different focus distance. The sensor can be used for both reflective as well as transparent materials.

Slotted Photoelectric Sensors

The sensor is a through beam sensor where the emitter and receiver are mounted in each side of the slot on the sensor. The sensor can be set up to detect the smallest variation of light interruption and can therefore be used for detecting a label from its carrier foil.

Carlo Gavazzi Switches Online

800-929-2845