Harrer & Kassen  HK7

Spectrophotometer for continuous online colour measurement

Range of Application
Colour measurement based on the standard CIELab. Continuous online-identification of colours and indication of the deviation of the required colour. Colour determination of products with smooth and planar surfaces, no abrasive bulk material.



Guideline
CIE-Farbraum The CIELAB-System is a colour space, which was specified by the International Commission on Illumination CIE (Commission Internationale d'Eclairage) in the year 1976. It was further derived from the CIE colour system and is based on the CIE “master” space which was introduced in the year 1931. CIELAB system is today the most common colour system. On the basis of this equipment independent 3D-colour model, colour differences can be identified numerically. The model is impartial and complies nearly the human perceptiveness, by adapting the geometrical distance between two colours in the colour space with the human perception.

The measured spectral curves will be reduces on three coordinates.
The axes of the coordinates are positioned rectangular on each other:
L* ,the light intensity, from 0 = absolute black to 100 = absolute white.
a* describes the red - green axis. Negative values are green, the positives are red.
b* describes the yellow - blue axis. Negative values are blue, the positives are yellow.

Therewith the colour can be accurately described in the colour space. The calculation is effected under consideration of a standard light and an ordinary observer, that is, the colour values are calculated under defined physical conditions.


Functionality
Continuous, controlled LED illumination and identification of the product colour in the colour space after CIELab. The evaluation results in the visible light sector from 390 - 720 nm. The distance between sensor system and product has to be kept obligatory absolute non-varying.

The colour evaluation, that ist the output of the measurement results, occures in 4 channels: L*, a*, b* and dE*.
HK7 Übersicht


Configuration
Housing:
   Size HxWxD
   Enclosure
   Color
aluminum pressure housing
230 x 280 x 110 mm
IP65 / NEMA 4
RAL 5024

Connections
   Power supply
   4 analog outputs
   2 PC interfaces
   connection sensor – evaluation unit
   sensor system


100-240V AC
0/4 - 20 mA
RS 232 or RS 485
fibre optic cable
LED-illumination with 9 LEDs
User interface
   Operating
   Monitoring

6 soft keys in integrated keypad
2 x 24 characters in illuminated display
Ambient conditions
   Environment temperature
   Product temperature

-20°C - +85°C
 >0°C - +130°C



Measurement Design
The sensor system is located max. 150mm over the to be detected product surface. The product surface is aproximatively smooth and planar. The products (matals, textiles, food, plastics) are moving on a conveyor belt under the sensor system. Fine powder products are planed by a scraper. For the attainment of top-quality measurement results the environment has to be dust-free. Wit the option “compressed-air“ the measurement can be kept free of dust.



Applications
The range of feasible applications is very large. The material of the product is not relevant, but the surface has to be aproximatively smooth and planar.
Imaginable applications:

  • Plastics industry
  • Food industry
  • Automobile industry
  • Textile industry
  • Chemicals industry
  • Printing industry
  • Lamination industry
  • Cosmetics industry
  • Research
  • Coating of chip boards
  • Lacquering of plates
  • Surfaces of cheese blocks
  • Textiles, panels, webs
  • Degree of whiteness i.e. sugar
  • Meat Processing


HK7-Versions
HK7-1: basic configuration
HK7-2: basic configuration + automatical white balance
HK7-3: basic configuration + measurement of degree of white index + triple sensorsystem
HK7-4: basic configuration + measurement of degree of white index + triple sensorsystem + automatical white balance

Advantages
In difference to spectrophotometers from the competition, the HK7 is not operating with Xenon-Flashlight. The controlled LED illumination is responsible for an improved stability of the measurement.

Technical Data

Measure geometry

45/90
Spot size at 100mm distance appr. d=60mm

Standard lights

D65, A, C,

Standard observer

2° (1931), 10° (1964)

Colour space

CIE L*a*b*, dE*

Spectral range

400nm – 700nm

Spectral resolution

1,3nm

Reproduzierbarkeit

dE=0,1

Gauge head dimensions
HK1-1:
HK1-2:
HK1-3:
HK1-4:


120 x 120 x 90mm
120 x 220 x 90mm
230 x 280 x 110mm
230 x 280 x 110mm

System size

230 x 280 x 110mm

Indication

Relative values, absolute values or reflectance spectrum in PC

Calibration

With implemented white standard

PC-interfaces

serial RS232 / RS485

Power supply

85 – 270 VAC

Protection class

IP65



Calibration
The calibration of the HK7 is done with our easy to use Colourmaster software.



Examples
HK7-spectrophotometer: Colour measurement of syntetic sausage casing
Colour measurement of syntetic sausage casing

Colour measurement of syntetic sausage casing


HK7-spectrophotometer: colour measurement degree of whiteness sugar
degree of whiteness sugar

degree of whiteness sugar