Automatically-controlled system for detecting quartz crystal based on PLC

Abstract

Since the size of quartz crystals is tiny, the precision of the system needs to be high, the process of the system needs to be reliable and every component in the system needs to cooperate with each other. By the method of using manipulator of stepper motor, the class of quartz crystal is put into the special small chamfer which allows quartz crystal to fall onto the positioning platform. The fallen crystal is detected by machine vision. Finally the detected quartz crystals are classified into several groups under the manipulation of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The current system is of importance since it has demonstrated the possibility of getting the fine quartz crystal at the speed of 4600 pieces per hour and this result can meet most of the requirements in practical production. © 2012 Springer-Verlag GmbH.