Sick is introducing the Inox series stainless steel proximity sensors, specifically designed for meat processing, beverage and pharmaceutical applications where high-pressure, caustic washdowns are the norm.
With a one-piece V4A stainless steel housing (including the sensing face) and an enclosure sealed to IP69K, the new Inox series sensors and the related connection plugs and distribution boxes enable Sick to offer a comprehensive range of sensors for applications in food production, bottling and similar plants.
The sensors also offer a triple sensing range – a feature that is claimed to be unique in combination with a V4A stainless body. Sensing ranges are 10, 20 and 40mm for the M12, M18 and M30 units respectively, and a real end-user benefit is that these sensing ranges alter very little – even when faced with a stainless steel target.
As engineers well know, the wet areas in food production and bottling plants are graveyards for many control items that appear to be robust. High temperatures and washdown at high pressure with acids, alkalis and cleaning agents can damage most items, but the new Inox range is specifically designed to survive these conditions.
The IM12, IM18 and IM30 inductive proximity sensors are suitable for object detection in backup sections and fillers. The triple sensing range enables a greater detection distance and the protected mounting and fully encapsulated V4A stainless steel housing take care of the rest.
A reduction factor of up to 0.9 for stainless steel allows excellent detection of steel and stainless steel objects, says the company.
The M12 connector also complies with IP69K and is available as a connecting cable in different lengths from 2 to 5m. Cables, contact carriers and injection mouldings are in food and beverage compatible PVC and the unions are in V4A stainless.
Signals from up to eight sensors can be fed into one distribution box (also with IP69K protection) and the V4A and PVC materials are fully encapsulated to ensure their suitability for food industry hygiene applications. A common cable for all the sensors leads from the distribution box to the controller.
For more information, visit www.sick.de
