How to choose the right counting equipment?

With the expansion of production capacity and refinement of packaging, more and more products are packaged according to pieces, while the demand for counting is also increasing. Since there are many kinds of counting equipment in the market it is difficult for customers to choose the right counting equipment.

According to the counting principle, there are three categories for the counting equipment: weight counter, photoelectric counter and visual counter.

1.Weight counter is counting according to the weight of a single object and the total weight which shall change the weight into pieces. Even if the way of counting is cheap, it may result in errors of pieces due to the weight difference of a single object and the sensitivity of the weight.

2.Photoelectric counter: the principle is that when the materials pass through the photoelectric sensor induction area the counter works because the path is blocked. In brief, each count is a block of the light. However, if the materials overlap or fall seamlessly, the count can only be calculated once which may result in errors. Therefore, photoelectric counter needs to be equipped with vibration plate, which can make the materials fall one by one in order with low speed while the compatibility of vibration plate is low and the price is cheap.

3.Visual counter uses the high-speed linear array camera with algorithm and intelligent recognition. The feeding pattern is coarse feeding plus fine supply, which can work in high accuracy and fast speed. At the same time the equipment can work for several kinds of materials because of the good compatibility while the accuracy is ensured even if materials are overlapped. However, the price is high.

The choice shall be made according to product characteristics, packaging needs as well as budget. The selection of the three types of machines can be generally referred to as follows:

(1) Single weight difference of product is small while the product in heavy weight is suitable for weight counter.

(2) Single weight difference of product is big while the product in light weight is suitable for visual counter or photoelectric counter.

(3) If the unit price of the product is low and the requirement of counting speed is not high, it is suitable for photoelectric counter (3mm in diameter, 2,000-3000 granules per minute).

(4) If the unit price of product is high while the packaging counting shall be made for many kinds of materials in high accuracy and high speed, the visual counter is the first choice (3mm diameter of the material, 12,000 pieces per minute).

Due to the wide applicability of visual counter, it can count in high accuracy while reduce or even avoid material waste. Therefore, although the price is much higher than other counting equipment, it is much more populated in the market because of its high cost performance.

AHST can design special counting equipment or modules for different customers with different precision requirements. In adopting the computer image processing to achieve high-precision counting, it helps customers to create packaging automation and achieve low-cost and  high-efficiency production.The equipment is widely used in hardware, fasteners, electronic parts, plastic parts and other industrial industries, agricultural seed industry, pharmaceutical and food industry customers for accurate high-speed counting of particles urgent needs.