The Sick Lector611 with liquid lens is expected to offer read performance and operational versality into an ultra compact device.
According to Sick, Lector611 image-based code reader reliably reads 1D, 2D and stacked codes even when they are low contrast, contaminated or of poor quality. It also excels with Direct Part Marking (DPM) and very small codes, including where they are practically invisible to the human eye or at very close range.
It is said to be ideal for reading direct marks on electronics or automotive components, for example. It also reads slowly-degrading codes, for example, on totes in hard-working materials handling environments.
Darren Pratt, Sick UK’s product manager for identification, said: “The liquid lens used in the Lector 611 is infinitely variable. When combined with the automatic parameter switching function available in all Lectors, this enables the Lector 611 to switch automatically between different focal points on the fly.
“Focal distances switch automatically in milliseconds, resulting in an incredible depth of field over the full operating range of 50mm and 300mm. This is ideal e.g. for detecting packages of different heights on a conveyor or adapting to rapid batch changes in production logistics.”
Measuring just 30 mm x 40 mm x 50 mm and featuring snap-in mounting and flexible cable connectors, the Sick Lector 61X can be installed in tight machine spaces. Users can configure the Lector 611 automatically via a set-up wizard in the SOPAS configuration software or via the on-sensor push-button auto-tune feature. The Sick Lector 611 can be set up to distinguish between several codes, or to read multiple codes simultaneously on a package or component.
The Sick Lector 611 camera incorporates magnifying optics that are expected to allow it to read microcodes with a minimum bar width down to 0.02 mm for 1D codes and a cell size as small as 0.04 mm for 2D codes.
Combining eight LEDs and two lighting colours, the Lector 611 has a lighting capability to optimise the code identification, regardless of the surface or colour. Further optical accessories such as a polarising filter can be attached with no additional tools.
The Lector 611 can help operators track the quality of the codes it reads. Good reads and no-reads are recorded and statistical analysis of read performance is provided alongside live images so operators can inspect code quality.
Additionally, it has an integrated time-of-flight laser to aid rapid set-up, while the built-in orientation sensor ensures optimal positioning, as well as rapid detection should the camera move out of alignment e.g. by being knocked.
The Sick Lector 611 with liquid lens features a flush screen, making it suitable for environments with dust and liquid contaminants with a rating up to IP65. The onboard algorithms can pre-filter data before communicating to the control system. It is compatible with all common communication protocols, including TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, serial and CAN.