The opto-electronic rotary encoder is an angular position sensor.
Mechanically coupled to a driving spindle of a machine, the shaft of the encoder rotates a disc that comprises a succession of opaque and transparent sectors.
Light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) passes through the transparent sectors of the disc as they appear and is detected by photosensitive diodes.
The photosensitive diodes, in turn, generate an electrical signal which is amplified and converted into a digital signal before being transmitted to a processing system or an electronic variable speed drive.
The electrical output of the encoder therefore represents, in digital form, the angular position of the input shaft.
Applications
Rotary encoders are used in many industries including packaging, cutting machines, robots, cranes, material handling, automatic dispensers, printing shops, continuous processes, conveyor systems, etc.
Main characteristics:
Reliability provided by in-line (3 heads) differential optical reading, high tolerance to: the accumulation of dirt, temperature and ageing.
Incremental and absolute encoders:
Communicating absolute multiturn encoders:
7 characteristics to be established:
Function
Diameter of housing
Diameter of shaft
Type of shaft
Connection method
Resolution
Type of output
Simply Easy!