Fork light barriers
Fork light barriers from Dietz work like through-beam light barriers. Transmitter, receiver and electronics are combined in a single sturdy metal housing.
The easy installation without time-consuming alignment, short response times and a high resolution are crucial advantages compared to conventional through-beam light barriers, make possible in practice the exact positioning and a reliable detection of even the fastest movement sequences.
The sensors have a sensitivity adjustment and mostly can be toggled between normally open and closed. Clocked red or infrared light guarantees a high ambient light immunity.
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Brochure Fork light barriers (preferred types) 
Typical application ranges of fork light barriers
Fork light barriers: application examples
- Mounting and feeding automisation
- Packaging machines and special machinery construction
- Production lines
- Detection and counting of objects
- Positioning and presence control
- Ejection control
- Detection of thinnest foils and wires
- Rotary speed measurement
- Edge guide control
- Double sheet detector
FAQ
What is a fork light barrier?
The core component of the fork-type optical sensor is a trough-beam optical sensor . It works as follows: An optical transmitter emits a beam of light. On the opposite side, an optical receiver receives this beam. This makes the receiver conductive, and current flows.
Light forms an optical boundary. When an object enters the light beam and breaks through it, no current flows. The light barrier then triggers an electrical signal.
A fork-type light barrier has two arms, at the ends of which a receiver and a transmitter are attached. The light beam passes between them.
How do fork light barriers work in practice?
A fork light barrier can, for example, be mounted on a feed belt in the factory. Then, using the light barrier, parts that lie on this band and are moved by the light beam can be detected using the light barrier. A fork barrier can also be installed inside a machine, for example on a gear wheel. There she can measure the speed of the gear wheel. Positions of devices or workpieces can also be determined with a fork light barrier. The measured values recorded with a fork light barrier can be evaluated in various ways.
In industry, the automation of production processes is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, more and more specialized sensors are needed in more and more areas.