Dipix has developed an innovative method for measuring the color of the bottom surface of moving products. The Bottom Color Imaging System (BCIS) mounts on the infeed of a standard Dipix CS24 In-Line Inspection System and provide measurements such as:

• average bottom color (overall average or average color without light/dark regions)
• surface area of light colored regions (e.g., flour on heels for buns)
• surface area of dark colored regions (e.g., burnt debris)

Bottom color information from the BCIS can be used to reject individual objects in the same manner as all other Dipix measurements. All data is stored and can be shown on the operator displays and/or used in standard Dipix reports.

Where plant-floor conditions required a NEMA4X rating, Dipix can provide system enclosures that meet this washdown rating.

Any Dipix measurements can be automatically sent to a compatible PLC in either an analog (two wire 4-20mA) or digital format (OPC-Server/Ethernet). This is often used to send critical process data to PLCs in order to automate a portion of the manufacturing process (e.g., automatic oven control based on Dipix color data). This option can also be used to send data automatically to existing PLC-based data collection systems.

All Dipix systems are provided with one touchscreen user interface. If another user interface is required at a different location, Dipix can provide an additional touchscreen within 300 feet of the system's electronics enclosure.

If one of Dipix's standard products does not meet the needs of a customer application, customized systems can be developed specifically for the application. System customizations range from simple conveyor modifications (e.g., wire mesh belt) to entire turn-key' systems that include special conveyors, unique belt widths or that meet special accuracy requirements. Similarly, if Dipix's current measurements do not include a critical size, shape or color measurement for a certain product, new measurements can be created and added to the list of available results.

A wide variety of alarms are available with every Dipix system. These alarms are customizable and inform operators of abnormal conditions (e.g., out-of-spec, high rejection rates, trends away from target). All of these alarms are shown to the operators on the system touchscreen, but can also be connected to an external strobe light or horn to ensure that operators are made aware and respond immediately to these conditions.