HK5

The HK5 is a powerful spectrophotometer for continuous in-line measurement of color and organic components – non-destructive and highly precise. The system is ideal for use in pipelines, tanks, containers or above conveyor belts – for example in the food, textile, plastics or metal industries.

Thanks to its modular design, the sensor can also be installed in places that are difficult to access, while operation is convenient via the evaluation unit. The integrated calibration function and the open calibration software allow maximum flexibility when adapting to individual processes.

Features at a glance
  • Real-time measurement of color (CIELAB) and organic components
  • Non-destructive inline measurement in pipelines, in tanks or on conveyor belts
  • Modular design: sensor & evaluation unit can be mounted separately
  • Permanent LED lighting instead of xenon flash light for maximum stability (service life at least 10 years)
  • Open calibration system: Existing calibrations can be expanded, new ones can be easily created
  • Dust-protected operation thanks to optional sensor cleaning with compressed air

Product description

The HK5 works on the basis of spectrophotometry and uses continuous LED illumination to measure the color and organic components of a product in real time. The system is specially developed for the CIELAB color space, which is used to objectively determine color differences and reflects human perception as accurately as possible.

The measurement is carried out by directing the light through the sensor onto the product to be measured. The reflected light is then recorded and analyzed by a detector. The sensor measures the intensity and spectral composition of the reflected light in the visible range and in the near-infrared range (NIR). This measurement enables the precise determination of color (CIELAB values) and organic components (e.g. moisture or sugar content) in the product.

The modularity of the system makes it possible to install the sensor in places that are difficult to access, such as in narrow pipelines or above conveyor belts, while the evaluation unit can be conveniently placed in another, easily accessible location. The spectra of the product are recorded directly on the sensor using a calibration probe and stored in the device’s internal memory. These spectra can later be read out with the calibration software and used to validate and further adjust the measurements.

Thanks to the open calibration, existing calibrations can be extended or new ones created at any time. This flexibility is particularly advantageous in dynamic production environments where the properties of the product can change over time.

Thanks to the continuous measurement and real-time monitoring of the product, faulty production can be detected at an early stage so that immediate adjustments can be made to the production process in order to maintain consistent product quality.

Applications:
  • Pipelines, tanks & containers: The sensor is installed directly in pipelines, tanks or containers to continuously monitor the color and organic content of the product. Common applications can be found in the food industry, chemical production and sugar industry.
  • Conveyor belts: The sensor can also be used on conveyor belts to measure products such as sugar, metal parts, textiles, plastics or food in real time. It is crucial that the measuring sensor is positioned a maximum of 150 mm above the product surface and that the surface is smooth and even. Fine powder products can be smoothed by a scraper to ensure exact measurement values.
  • Dust-free environment: For particularly precise measurement results, it is necessary that the environment around the sensor remains dust-free. This can be ensured by connecting a compressed air system to clean the sensor.

LAB color wheel: Visualization of the color dimensions a* and b*

In this interactive visualization of the CIELAB colour space, you can see how colors behave along the a*-b* axes. The slider can be used to change the L* value (brightness), which adjusts the entire color wheel accordingly. This makes it clear how light and color interact in the LAB model.




What sets the HK5 apart

Modular design & flexibility

The sensor and the evaluation unit are separate, which enables flexible installation in hard-to-reach places. Operation is convenient via the evaluation unit, even if the sensor is mounted far away.

Continuous LED lighting

In contrast to xenon flash lights, the HK5 uses long-life LED lighting (at least 10 years), which ensures stable and reliable measurement.

Real-time measurement & open calibration system

The HK5 enables continuous measurements in real time and offers an open calibration system that allows extended or new calibrations directly by the user.

Non-destructive measurement & ease of maintenance

The non-invasive measurement keeps the product intact, while the optical components with no moving parts ensure low maintenance and a long service life.

Technical data

Measuring method
Type of procedure:

Spectrophotometry with CIELAB and NIR measurement

Assembly technology

Stainless steel housing (evaluation unit):

400 x 499 x 212 mm

Die-cast aluminum housing (sensor):

120 x 220 x 90 mm

280 x 230 x 110 mm

Weight (evaluation unit):

approx. 20 kg

Weight (sensor):

approx. 4 kg

Protection class:

IP66 / NEMA 4

Connections

Power supply:

85 – 265 V AC, optionally 24 V DC

Analog outputs:

2x 4 – 20 mA, isolated 1,500 V

PC interfaces:

RS 232 or RS 485

Digital inputs:

Ext. start/stop

PROFI-BUS-DP:

optional
User interface

Operation:

6 softkeys integrated in the membrane keypad

Display:

2x 24 character LCD, LED illumination

Temperature ranges

Ambient temperature:

-20 °C to +40 °C

Product temperature:

–

Seniors

Design:

Spectrophotometer sensors

PC requirements

Processor:

min. 300 MHz clock frequency, recommended Pentium III processor (or faster)

Operating system:

Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit) or higher

Working memory:

512 MB RAM (or higher)

Connection:

USB interface

Downloads

Would you like to find out more about this product?