STEMMER IMAGING

Mitsubishi Electric has responded to the needs of the surface inspection market, with the launch of a high-speed version of its Contact Image Sensor (CIS), distributed under the name Mitsubishi Electric Line Scan Bar.

The new CIS CX models, available from STEMMER IMAGING just like the AX and MX models, offer high-quality, distortion-free images up to the edges of the material.

They allow the scanning of surfaces

• at a speed of 138 metres per minute with a maximum resolution of 600 dpi.

• The commonly used resolution of 300 dpi enables reliable inspection of up to 450 metres per minute,

• whereas the resolution of 150 dpi even allows inspection speeds of 1100 metres per minute.

The new CIS CX models are able to transfer the huge data amounts resulting from these high speeds via one or two CoaxPress interfaces depending on the sensor length. The previously available CIS AX and MX versions provided CameraLink interfaces.

Compared with line scan cameras, the Contact Image Sensors are easy to install and held in place directly above the surface of interest at a fixed height of 12mm, with all LED illumination and optics built-in. The CIS can be installed in just a few minutes since it is easier to do the adjustment directly above the object.

One of the major benefits of CIS is their compact and easy-to-install format, which was slightly modified in the new CIS generation and adapted to the requirements of the printing industry. The new CX models are available in scan widths of 367, 587 and 807 mm. For seamless scanning of larger material widths several sensors can be arranged next to one another.

By being close to the material instead of mounted high above, the CIS also helps to significantly reduce the overall footprint, and therefore the costs and complexity of the machine. Ease of installation and removal means maintenance and support requirements are also significantly reduced. This benefits not only machine builders but also end users who now no longer need to have specialist engineers on standby and can be assured of minimal downtime in the event of a problem.

The CIS is especially suitable for all applications that require a vertical telecentric detection of all object points on large objects.

Typical application areas for the Contact Image Sensors include the print and thin film production industries, where it can be used to detect surface defects on paper, plastics, fabrics, banknotes and even holograms.

In addition, the CIS can also be used for the surface inspection of wood, glass and other materials and can form the heart of an automated optical inspection system for printed circuit boards.