Mini fork sensors feature 5 mm slot, multiple connector types

The power and precision of Balluff fork sensors now comes in a miniaturized package. The latest addition to Balluff’s photoelectric family provides robust detection with a slot opening of just 5 mm, making them ideal for those applications with limited installation space.

Six different housing shapes

These compact versions are available in six housing shapes to provide the best mounting option for your application, including mounting holes that are perpendicular or parallel to the slot. Each housing shape is available with three types of connectors: M8 4-pin connector, flat 4-pin connector, and PVC cable. Ours is the only miniature fork sensor on the market with an available M8 4-pin connector.

Self-contained means always aligned

Don’t let the small size fool you. These miniature fork sensors offer the same precise object detection and easy set up as their larger counterparts. Like all self-contained through beam sensors, their alignment is locked in when the light emitter and receiver are installed in one housing in the factory, and they only require one connection. And being fully potted and with an IP64 rating, they are resistant to vibrations and shocks while being dust tight and capable of handling splashes of liquid. Their infrared light source is good for these harsher environments as well.

All of this makes them highly flexible performers in a variety of applications with space restrictions, such as battery cell production, pick and place units, pallet positioning, and precision stacking.

Bright LEDs show the switching status, and a switching frequency up to 3 kHz allows for fast-moving processes.

Application examples

With the trend of miniaturization and integration of devices, our miniaturized fork sensors are the right choice. They are widely used in industries such as battery manufacturing, 3C (computers, communications, and consumer electronics) and semiconductor.

In battery production, for example, the fork sensors are used to precisely position robotics and transport systems to quickly and correctly place the anode/cathode plates on top of each other.
Our minislot fork sensors are also used for other positioning tasks, including slides and transport systems.

Additional typical applications of minislot fork sensors

• Detection of the presence and absence of flat objects (e.g. paper strips, cams, etc.)

• End position and position detection in linear transport and positioning systems

• Detection of direction of rotation and detection of revolutions (for rotating objects)