Conveyor object counting system

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello, I’m completely new to the Arduino world.
I need to build a simple system to count objects traveling on a conveyor. I would like to have a primary and secondary tally with each able to reset independently.

System requirements:
Sensor to detect object passing
Manual tally increase or decrease
Tally goal setting
Tally reset
Display
Two lights, one color before tally goal is reached and the other color for when goal reached

What would you recommend for board, display, sensor and enclosure ?

2

School assignment, is it?

1 Like
3

You want a simple system, and then go on to describe a complex system. A simple system would be a microswitch incrementing an electric counter.

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4

It’s simple relative to what can be done with Arduino. This will be used to count horticulture containers on a production line. A microswitch will not work as the containers can be different sizes and positions on the conveyor. I’ll probably use a beam break sensor but I am looking for knowledgeable recommendations for all of the hardware required.

6

No I’m a random dude trying to increase efficiency.

7

Nano V3, 16x2 LCD, box with transparent lid to see the display thru.

2 Likes
8

So they could also be set so there is no visible gap between them. Or some vegetation could confuse your beam-break mechanism. Better to design the conveyor system to align the containers with a gap.

9

Good luck with your project. See if you still think it's simple afterward.

1 Like
10

I built something like this not so long ago. Used an M5Stack Tough and an IR sensor similar to this one: CY-121A-Z Panasonic Industrial Automation Sales | Industrial Automation and Controls | DigiKey

You can get cheap IR sensor units on Amazon that work pretty damn good!

M5Stack Tough has board, touchscreen display, etc. all in one wall-mount enclosure.

You can add external LEDs or stacklights or just change the display colors to reflect goal settings.

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11

The containers are tapered. When the top edges are touching there is plenty of gap near the bottom. Also vegetation is not an issue as this will be used when the containers are being filled with growing media.

12

Actually almost all of your proposed project has nothing to do with Arduino. Any microcontroller could be used. You are asking people on the forum to do the work that only you can do, since we cannot know your environment or capability to bring the proposed system to completion and operation.

13

To clarify, I am primarily looking for recommendations on which Arduino board and display to use. Like I said I haven’t used Arduino before and am asking for input from experienced individuals.

14

Thanks @cedarlakeinstruments I’ll look into that

15

@PaulRB thanks for the recommendation

16

It helps that there's a gap at the bottom but, as @Paul_KD7HB mentions, stuff happens. A clump of potting material or other foreign object could fall out and be interpreted as a pot, two pots could get arranged so the (photoelectric?) sensor sees one object - think employee negligence or machine malfunction, the belt could develop a tear which raises enough to block the sensor. And so on.

It helps to spend some time thinking about all the possible ways things might go wrong.

17

You can set this up and test it with no Arduino. Just use your DVM, digital volt meter, to test it and find a setup that will work. Interface to your choice of Arduino later.