Tunnel detectors
The most widely used arrangement in food production. Product passes through a rectangular aperture on a belt, and contaminated packs are removed automatically. Available as a detector head for a conveyor you already run, or as a complete machine.
30 - 300 kHzIP68 / IP69KPacked and unpacked
With conveyor, or detector head only
Same detection electronics, same enclosure, two very different installation jobs. Which one is right depends on what you already have in the line.
Tunnel detector with conveyor
Detector, belt, frame, controls and automatic reject delivered as one machine. You place it in the line, connect power and air, and it runs.
- Belt height matched to the adjacent equipment
- Reject system, lockable bin and confirmation sensors included
- One supplier responsible for the whole thing working together
- Options: centre-drive motor, side guides, speed control, curved belt, small roller diameter for short products
Choose this when you are building a new line, have no conveyor to break into, or want the reject and its safety chain specified as one package.
Tunnel detector without conveyor
The detector head on its own, for mounting into a conveyor you already have — or into a machine you are building yourself.
- Aperture built to your product's largest dimensions
- Interface drawings and electrical specifications supplied up front
- You keep control of belt type, speed and layout
- Suitable for OEM integration by machine builders
Choose this when you already have a suitable conveyor, want to integrate metal detection into an existing line, or are an integrator building the system around it.
Not sure which solution fits your line? Send us a photo or drawing of the installation area together with the relevant dimensions. We will help you determine whether a detector head or a complete conveyor system is the best fit for your application.
The aperture should be as small as the product allows
This is the single most important decision. Sensitivity is tied directly to aperture size: the bigger the opening, the further the coil sits from product in the centre, and the worse the detection. Measure the product's largest height and width, add the clearance you genuinely need, and go no bigger.
The aperture is sized to provide the required product clearance while maintaining the best possible detection performance. Smaller apertures generally allow higher sensitivity, but product effect, frequency, speed and the production environment also influence the achievable result.
More than metal detection
For applications requiring automatic rejection and additional process control, Detectronic conveyor systems can be configured with a range of monitoring and fail-safe functions.
- Automatic reject system
- Reject confirmation facility
- Bin full sensor
- Lockable reject bin
- Low air pressure sensor
- Back-up sensor
- Alarm for bin door
- Reset switch
| Detection technology | Operating frequencies from 30 to 300 kHz |
|---|---|
| Construction | Stainless steel, hygienic design |
| Protection | IP68 / IP69K configurations available for demanding washdown environments |
| Aperture | Configured according to product dimensions and required clearance |
| Configuration | Detector head only or complete conveyor system |
| Reject systems | Pusher, air blast, retracting belt, drop flap or belt stop |
| Fail-safe options | Reject confirmation, bin full, product registration, low air pressure and additional monitoring |
| Conveyor options | Available in a wide range of belt widths, lengths, heights and configurations |
| Connectivity | Ethernet connectivity and remote access options |
| Interface | Touchscreen control with product memory, password levels and multilingual operation |
| Sensitivity | Established according to the actual product and application |
Data and traceability
Events, alarms and product information can be logged and accessed for documentation, quality control and production follow-up.
Related
Conveyors and convergers — including converger systems that merge product from a thermoformer into a single lane, which raises the achievable detection level compared with inspecting three products side by side.
Checkweighers — if weight control is needed at the same point in the line.
Our unique Service Exchange Concept keeps the line running. If an electrical fault occurs, the complete control unit can be swapped in under three minutes. You get a replacement unit immediately and return the faulty one to us for analysis and repair — so you are not waiting on a repair before you can restart.