Reading print and length marks on cables
As the cable travels between guide rollers, a line-scan camera continuously images the print on its jacket. The read type, batch and length sequence is compared with the expected format; missing or faint print is linked to the length record.
The read code and length mark are linked to the winding record; missing or mismatched print sends a region warning to the PLC and a marked strip image to the operator.
- 01 Guidance
- 02 Line trigger
- 03 Strip image
- 04 Reading
- 05 Record
The print strip is kept facing the camera.
- Characters read
- —
- Length mark
- —
Scenes are illustrative simulations; they are not customer references or performance guarantees.
Need
Text on a round jacket is foreshortened by the curved surface and may leave view when the cable rotates. Faint print and surface reflections weaken character boundaries.
Solution approach
An overhead line-scan camera separates light print from the dark jacket under bar lighting. The encoder triggers image lines and guides keep the printed strip in view. OCR is applied to the unwrapped strip, comparing code and length sequence with the expected record.
Process steps
- 01
Guidance
The print strip is kept facing the camera.
- 02
Line trigger
The encoder triggers lines according to cable travel.
- 03
Strip image
Successive lines form the printed strip.
- 04
Reading
Code and length characters are matched to the expected format.
- 05
Record
The length position of missing print is recorded.
Related applications
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