Vision system enables automatic separation of sausages on production line
In order to cut down on both time and cost, conveyor technology and engineering company Signer & Sohn developed an automatic solution fitted with a machine vision system that is able to divide more than 200 pairs of sausages per minute.
The solution, which was developed by Signer & Sohn in collaboration with system integrator aku.automation, features a Cognex In-Sight vision system. In-Sight vision systems are self-contained, industrial-grade systems that are equipped with a library of vision tools and cameras up to 5 MPixels in size. In-Sight features Cognex’s vision tool library with patented tools such as PatMax, OCRMax, color, ID, blob, calibration, edge, and flexible flaw detection. The vision system also features die-cast aluminum and stainless steel cases with IP68 rated protection against dust and moisture.
In addition, the In-Sight system features an acquisition speed of up to 500 fps, Cognex Explorer imaging software for control and maintenance, as well as VisionView software for monitoring and controlling the system on the factory floor.
Once the sausages are taken from the smoking or cooking trolley, a worker transfers the rack onto the machine’s conveyor belt and the sausages are fixed in place and spread out so that the machine’s knife can separate them. With the integrated vision system, the cutting area is identified and lit by an LED and a linear drive positions the knife correctly for the perfect cut.
After installing the vision system on the production line, Signer & Sohn’s machine was able to separate sausage links at a rate of more than 200 pairs per minute.
View the Cognex case study.
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James Carroll
Former VSD Editor James Carroll joined the team 2013. Carroll covered machine vision and imaging from numerous angles, including application stories, industry news, market updates, and new products. In addition to writing and editing articles, Carroll managed the Innovators Awards program and webcasts.