Design And Development Of Automated Counting Machine For Industrial Application.

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATED COUNTING
MACHINE FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal
Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor Degree of Manufacturing Engineering
(Robotic and Automation) with Honours.

by

MUHAMMAD FARIS B MD YUSUF

FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING
2009

ABSTRACT

This project describes and reviews various sensor technologies, particularly through
beam sensor and retro reflective sensor, which is applicable to counting an object in
industrial applications. Aspects of review include technical requirement, design and
fabrication, and instrumentation procedures for the sensors. A comparative between two

sensors on the relative merit and selection criteria is carried out through an analysis of
advantage and disadvantage on real applications of sensors in counting method. Hence, a
details drawing for each part components were prepared and will be check to fabricate
and develop. Electrical component to control a machine were determined with its
function. Some of analysis will be taken as consideration to achieve a target objective of
project such as time productivity counting and type of product been used.

i

ABSTRAK

Projek ini dijalankan untuk membincangkan dan mengulas tentang kepelbagaian teknologi
sensor khususnya sensor sinar penembus dan sensor pemantulan sinar, dimana ia boleh
digunakan dalam membilang objek didalam aplikasi industri. Aspek yang dibincangkan
adalah termasuk rekaan dan fabrikasi pembangunan mesin serta prosedur yang diperlukan
semasa pemasangan sensor dan keperluan teknikal sensor tersebut. Perbandingan di antara
dengan kelebihan setiap sensor dan kriteria yang diperlukan semasa membuat pemilihan
sensor dibuat berpandukan kelebihan dan kekurangan dalam aplikasi sebenar penggunaan
sensor dalam kaedah membilang objek. Justeru itu, gambarajah terperinci di lakukan seblum
proses membangunkan di jalankan. Beberapa analisis dijalankan terhadap projek

membangunkan mesin kira ini untuk mencapai objektif projek dari segi masa yang di ambil
terhadap productivity dan jenis-jenis bahan yang sesuai digunakan untuk applikasi dalam
projek ini.

ii

DEDICATION

Special Dedicated to My Beloved Family

Md Yusuf Mahmud
Jawizah Mamat
Yusrizan Md Yusuf
Nor Fathilah Md Yusuf
Khairul Azli Md Yusuf
Al-Yani Md Yusuf
Nur Ashikin Md Yusuf
Ahmad Mokhzani Md Yusuf
Muhammad Asraf Md Yusuf


And
All my Friends

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to thank my supervisor, Mr. Lokman Abdullah for his valuable advice,
constructive criticisms, stimulating discussions and valuable suggestions during the
preparation of this project report. I would like to express my thanks to all colleagues
who are always ready to give their helping hands. Last but not least, no words can be
used to express my deepest gratitude to my parent and family for their encouragement
and love, which are forever indebted.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENT
Abstract

i


Abstrak

ii

Dedication

iii

Acknowledgement

iv

Table of Content

v

List of Tables

ix


List of Figures

x

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background Study

1
1

1.2

Problem Statement

2

1.3


Objective of Project

3

1.4

Scope of Project

3

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1

4

Historical Development of Counting Machine
For Industrial Application

4


2.1.1

What is counting?

4

2.1.2

Historical counting device

4

2.1.3

Historical counting machine

5

2.1.3.1


Cremer Company

5

2.1.3.2

Cremer’s Method

6

2.2

Feeder Mechanism in Counting Machine

7

2.2.1

Type of Feeder Mechanism


7

2.3

Counter Detector in Counting Machine

11

2.3.1

Photoelectric Sensor

11

2.3.2

Principle of Photoelectric Sensor

12


2.3.3

Detection Object by Using Photoelectric Sensor

15

2.4

General Counting Machine

17

2.4.1

Method of Sorting and Counting Cans

17

v


2.4.2

Discrete Tablet Counting Machine

18

2.4.3

Counting Method in a Leaves Counting Machine

19

2.4.4

Apparatus and Method for Counting Fruits and Other Object

22

2.5

Counting by using Programmable Logic Circuit

21

3. METHODOLOGY

22

3.1

Description Project Procedure

24

3.2

Counting Method Process

25

3.2.1

Description of Counting Method Process

26

3.3

Application Automated Counter by OMRON Industrial Automation

27

3.3.1

Step for Counting Procedure

28

3.3.2

Description of the Timing Chart

29

3.4

Design Detail of Photoelectric Sensor

30

3.4.1

Technique Used in Photoelectric Sensor

31

3.4.1.1

Through Beam Sensor

31

3.4.1.2

Sensing Method of through Beam Sensor

31

3.4.2

Retro Reflective Sensor

32

3.4.2.1

Retro Reflective Sensor Method

32

3.4.2.2

Retro-reflective Sensors with Polarization Filter

33

3.4.2.3

Limited-reflective Sensors

33

3.4.3

Advantages and Disadvantage Type Sensor

34

3.4.3.1

Through Beam Sensor

34

3.4.3.2

Retro Reflective Sensor

35

3.4.4

Comparison between Through Beam Sensor and

3.5

Retro Reflective Sensor

35

Reason Choosing Through Beam Sensor for Counting

36

vi

4. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING COUNTING
DEVICE

39

4.1

Design Procedure

39

4.2

Working Process Counting Device

40

4.3

Simulation of Working Process

41

4.4

Process Sequence of Simulation

42

4.5

An Electrical of Hardwiring Process

43

4.6

Development Counting Device Planning

44

4.6.1

Description Development Procedure.

45

5. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATED
COUNTING MACHINE
5.1
Design of Automated Counting Machine Component by Using

46

Solid Work

46

5.1.1

Design a Component of Automated Counting Machine

46

5.1.2

Step of Designing of Automated Counting Machine

47

5.2

Automated Counting Machine Circuit

52

5.2.1

Component Electrical of Automated Counting System

52

5.3

Development Process of Automated Counting Machine System

55

5.3.1

Developing conveyor

56

5.3.1.1

Part of conveyor

56

5.3.2

Control panel

57

5.3.2.1

Step developing control panel

58

5.3.3

Laser beam

59

5.3.4

Sensor Receiver

59

6. RESULT

60

6.1

Result of Development Automated Counting Machine System

60

6.2

Automated Counting Machine Testing

61

6.2.1

Manually Counting Testing

61

6.2.2

Automatically Counting Testing

64

6.2.2.1 Description of Automatic Counting Testing

vii

66

7. DISCUSSION

69

7.1

Discussion of Automated Counting Machine

69

7.2

Analysis of Counting Machine

72

7.3

Limitation of Counting Machine

78

8. CONCLUSION

79

8.1

Summary of Project

79

8.2

Conclusion

80

8.3

Recommendations

80

REFERENCES

81

APPENDICIES
A-Design Counting Machine

viii

LIST OF TABLES

1.1

Gantt Chart of PSM

3

3.1

Advantages and Disadvantages of Through Beam Sensors

34

3.2

Advantages and Disadvantages Retro Reflective of Sensors

34

3.3

Comparison between Sensors

35

7.1

Comparison between Manually and Automatically Counting Operation

69

7.2

Counting Time for One Object for Variable
Width Size of Object

74

7.3

Sample with Different Width Size Object

75

7.4

Time Taken to Count with Different Width

75

7.5

Time Cycle for Five Objects

75

7.6

Object Sensed by Sensor Detector

76

ix

LIST OF FIGURES

2.1

A Roman Abacus

5

2.2

First Counting Machine

6

2.3

Cremer’s Counting Principle

6

2.4

Tumbling Barrel Hopper

7

2.5

Bladed Wheel Hopper and Tumbling Barrel Hopper for Feeding of
Durable Cylindrical Parts

7

2.6

Rotating Drum for Orientating Plastic Bottles

8

2.7

Rotary Centerboard Hopper

9

2.8

Feeding of bottle caps in correct orientation.

9

2.9

Creating a single file of washer in a vibratory.

2.10

Orientating Headed Screws or Rivets at the Top Discharge

10

Potion of Vibratory Bowl

10

2.11

Through-beam Sensor

11

2.12

Retro-reflective Sensors

11

2.13

Diffuse-reflective Sensors

12

2.14

Mode Reflectivity Table

13

2.15

Diffused Mode with Mechanical Background Suppression.

13

2.16

Diffused Mode with Electronic Background Suppression.

14

2.17

Variation the Bottle Moves Through The Light Beam.

17

3.1

Summary of Project Procedure

23

3.2

Count Method on Counting Machine

26

3.3

Counter Automated in Production Line

27

3.4

The Input, Control and Output Signal Sequence in a Boxing Process

27

3.5

Input Signal

28

3.6

Control Count

28

3.7

Output Control Count

29

3.8

Preset Counter

30

x

3.9

Photoelectric Counter

31

3.10

Sensing Method Through Beam Sensor

32

3.11

Retro Reflective Sensor

32

3.12

Retro-reflective Sensors with Polarization Filter

33

3.13

Sensing Method Reflective Sensors

34

3.14

Structure of a Typical Counter

37

3.15

The Effective Beam of Opposed-Mode Sensors

37

4.1

Step in Design Procedure

39

4.2

Flow Chart Working Process

40

4.3

Electrical Circuit by Using Automation Studio

41

4.4

Hardwiring Process

43

4.5

Development Procedure

44

5.1

Process designing automated counting machine

47

5.2

Shaft’s Conveyor

47

5.3

Conveyor Body

48

5.4

Stand Conveyor

48

5.5

Belt Conveyor

48

5.6

Assembly Component of Conveyor

49

5.7

Box

49

5.8

Digital Counter

49

5.9

Push Button

50

5.10

Indicator light

50

5.11

Control Panel.

50

5.12

Laser Beam

51

5.13

Sensor Receiver

51

5.14

Base

51

5.15

Automated Counting Machine

52

5.16

Schematic Motor Conveyor

54

5.17

Laser Beam Schematic Diagram

54

xi

5.18

Sensor Receiver Circuit

55

5.19

Shaft

57

5.20

Electrical motor

57

5.21

Bearing

57

5.22

Front View Conveyor

57

5.23

Side View Conveyor

57

5.24

Internal View of Control Panel Box

58

5.25

Connector on Control Panel Box

58

5.26

Internal Laser Beam

59

5.27

Laser Beam Position on Conveyor

59

5.28

Sensor Receiver

59

5.29

Sensor Receiver Position

59

6.1

Automated Counting Machine

60

6.2

Flow process manual counting testing

62

6.3

Press push button on orange indicator

63

6.4

Digital counter display

63

6.5

Push button on red indicator

63

6.6

Flow Process of Automatic Counting Testing

65

6.7

Switch Power

67

6.8

The “Dark ON” Operation

67

6.9

Sensor Cannot Receive a Light Beam

68

6.10

Orange Indicator Blinking

68

6.11

Count Up

68

6.12

Count on Preset Value

68

6.13

Red Light

68

7.1

Object Position before Count

70

7.2

Light Beam Blocked

71

7.3

Object through a Light Beam

71

7.4

Position Sensor Detector on Conveyor

72

xii

7.5

Angle of Light Beam to Sensor Receiver

73

7.6

Width Size of Object.

73

7.7

Graph Time Taken for One Object

74

7.8

Graph Time Versus with Width Object

75

7.9

Time Cycle for Five Objects

76

xiii

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Study

Development of counting machine in industrial application has been chosen to fulfill PO
and PEO in course Manufacturing Robotic and Automation. Nowadays, there’s much
manufacturing of machine in engineering field. The method and results of measuring the
accuracy of a particle sizing and counting machine are described and compared with the
results obtained when sizing with a microscope. Machine counting appears to be quicker
and more consistent and accurate than counting by eye (Courshee, R. J. 1954).

A counting machine consists of feeding system in electrical and electronic component.
For an example is vibratory bowl where it’s the oldest method and still most common
approach to the automated feeding (orienting) of industrial parts. Part feeders, which
singulate and orient parts prior to packing and insertion are critical components of an
automated assembly line. The oldest and still most common approach to automated
feeding is the vibratory bowl feeder which consists of a bowl filled with parts
surrounded by a helical metal track. An application of vibratory bowls are suitable for
feeding components for subsequent operations on special machines in cosmetic,
electrical, mechanical, pharmaceutical, optical, bearing and many other industries. The
components can be plastic caps, spouts, capsules and electrical connectors, bearings as
well as heavy parts such as anchor bolts, bearing races and metal sockets.

1

Sensing methods based on electrical capacitance, magnetic and eddy-current effects are
extremely sensitive and fasting acting and are suitable in close proximity to the sensor.
The capacitive probe senses dielectric other than air, such as glass and plastic parts. The
magnetic pickup by induction responds to the motion of iron and nickel. The eddycurrent sensor, by energy absorption detected nonmagnetic conductors. All are suitable
for counting machine operations.

1.2 Problem Statement
The development of the counter sensor technologies makes the choice of sensor in
market higher. It sometime makes the engineer difficult to make the decision making in
other to choose the best sensor that suitable for the counting part. Sometimes wrong
decision will make the thing even worse. So that, this research is developed to identify
the technology itself, technical requirement, and instrumentation and make the engineer
or other bodies that involves can compare the differential between many types of sensor
and make them can used it in correct condition.

Error-proofing is an industry term that relates to the implementation of mechanisms to
prevent product defects. Also known as Poka Yoke from the Japanese ‘poke’
(inadvertent errors) and ‘yoke’ (to avoid), error-proofing is a common-sense concept
developed and popularized in that country. Based on the philosophy, even the smallest
number of defects is unacceptable. Poka Yoke maintains that the best way to eliminate
defects is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Awareness involves the
acknowledgement of breakdowns in the manufacturing/assembly process and employing
training, audio-visual aids and general assistance for personnel to combat those issues.
Detection introduces manual or automated inspection techniques to filter out defects.
Prevention which includes process improvements or automation to ensure no errors are
(or can be) made.

2

The primary issues are limited range and sensitivity to sensors. There need to increase
the sensing range, reduce cost, and expand capabilities led to the development of
photoelectric sensors optimized for detecting clear objects. Initially, ultrasonic sensors
were more dependable and accurate at identifying targets, but over the last few year
improvements in photoelectric sensors have made them the primary choice for sensing
clear objects (better edge detection, increased resolution, indifference to size, shape, or
temperature of target).

1.3

Objective of Project

Objectives that have to be achieved at the end of this project are design and development
of an automated counting machine.

1.4

Scope of Project

The scope should be identified and planned to achieve the objectives of the project
successfully on the time. Scope of this project is concentrate on how a counting device
works for count an object or particle. Hence, analyses on automated counting machine
such as test and accuracy of counting device to count an object.
Table 1.1: Gantt chart of PSM.
CHAPTER /WEEK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2: LITERITURE REVIEW
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 4: DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
CHAPTER 5 : DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS
CHAPTER 6 : RESULT
CHAPTER 7: DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 8 : CONCLUSION PSM

3

8

9 10

11

12

13

14

CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1

Historical Development of Counting Machine For Industrial
Application

2.1.1 What is counting?

From Wikipedia Encyclopedia, count is a mathematical process for an object where it as
be set aside with desired of number objects to repeatedly action to adding or subtracting.
Hence, counting also can be involved more than one for example; counting by a two (2,
4, 6, 8….). From the archeological, they have found that a counting has been used last
500,000 year.

2.1.2 Historical Counting Device

On 500 B.C to 1300A.C, Babylon culture is the one who made up a first counting device
called Abacus. The Abacus is used to calculate an arithmetic process and it’s also act as
a calculating tool on that time. After hundreds year, a counting board have been develop
by Roman where it’s called the hand of abacus. Year per year, a counting machine
device have been continuous develop until an era of computer been arrived on 1950’s.

4

Figure 2.1: A Roman Abacus (Illustrated from Wikipedia Encyclopedia).

2.1.3

Historical counting machine

2.1.3.1

Cremer Company

On 1949, Cremer Company has built up a counting machine in packaging and counting
line logistics. This company preferred supplier for counting machine and packaging
solution on pharmacy, confectionery, bakery and frozen foods, packed snack food,
hardware, medical supplies, flower bulbs, etc. A customer of this company in this world
wide used counting and packaging machine are Nestle, Cadbury, Frito Lay, Kraft Foods,
Glaxo, General Mills, Masterfoods, ConAgra, Chupa Chups, De la Rosa, Sabritas,
Philips, Bayer, Wyeth Ayerst, Pfizer and Boehringer, Eli Lillyand and Dr. Oetker.

In 1982, Cremer introduced the first linear tablet and capsule counting machine. Ever
since, the CF model has been renowned worldwide for its 100% accuracy, high capacity,
simple cleaning and operation, high reliability and durability. The Cremer CF counting
machine is a high-speed tablet and capsule counting machine for pharmaceutical and
pharma industries - medicines, vitamins, food supplements, health products etc.

5

Figure 2.2: First counting machine (Illustrated from Cremer Company).

2.1.3.2 Cremer’s Method
A line principle is used on all counting machine in Cremer Vibratory plates to separation
of products before falling through detector channel. Cremer’s method on count products
is products are cascaded down through a Memory flap see Figure 2.3. Hence, the correct
quantity is discharged into a bucket elevator or packaging machine.

Figure 2.3: Cremer’s counting principle (Illustrated from Cremer Company).

6