FC-4100

Product Advantage

Capacitive Label Sensor, FC-4100, High-Precision Detection:

1. High-Precision Detection and Intelligent Adjustment

The FC-4100 utilizes an advanced capacitive detection principle, engineered to reliably identify both transparent and opaque labels without being affected by color variations, surface patterns, or ambient light interference. By achieving a minimum detection gap of just 0.5mm and an exceptional thickness discrimination accuracy of 0.2mm, this sensor guarantees precise positioning even for ultra-thin or closely spaced materials. This high level of detection accuracy significantly reduces material waste and minimizes false triggers on the production line. Furthermore, its unique intelligent adjustment system—featuring reference balancing and intuitive sensitivity button settings—greatly simplifies the operation process. Operators can quickly complete calibration using a single teach button, eliminating the need for complex manual tuning. This user-friendly design significantly reduces setup time during product changeovers, thereby improving overall production efficiency and lowering labor costs for manufacturing facilities.

2. Full-Metal Housing and Durable Design

Built for demanding industrial environments, the FC-4100 features a robust full-metal anodized aluminum housing. This premium construction provides excellent impact resistance, shielding internal electronic components from mechanical shocks and continuous vibrations, while also offering superior heat dissipation. A standout feature is the patented red tail boot anti-break design, which addresses a common point of failure in industrial sensors by increasing the bending life of the tail wire by over 20 times compared to standard designs. To ensure reliable performance under extreme operating conditions, the product has undergone rigorous environmental testing, proving its resistance to high temperatures up to 75°C and low temperatures down to -25°C. With a proven design life exceeding 8 years and backed by a comprehensive 3-year warranty, the FC-4100 delivers outstanding long-term reliability, helping purchasing managers and engineers significantly reduce maintenance frequency and total cost of ownership.

3. Versatile Output and High Compatibility

Designed with maximum integration flexibility in mind, the sensor supports PNP and NPN dual output modes, along with selectable normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) states. This versatility allows it to be seamlessly integrated into almost any mainstream PLC control system, simplifying inventory management for distributors and OEMs who no longer need to stock multiple sensor variants for different machine requirements. Performance-wise, it delivers a stable output current of 100mA, an ultra-fast response time of just 0.1ms, and an impressive operating frequency of up to 10kHz. These specifications ensure that the sensor easily meets the rigorous demands of high-speed labeling, packaging, and sorting production lines without missing a signal. Additionally, the reversible design allows labels to enter and exit the inspection slot from either direction, providing engineers with exceptional installation flexibility in tight or complex machine layouts.

4. Industry-Leading Stability and Manufacturing Excellence

As a recognized national high-tech enterprise, the manufacturer holds 10 proprietary patents and successfully exports products to over 50 countries worldwide, reflecting strong global market acceptance and trust. The FC-4100 is manufactured under strict quality control standards, holding international certifications such as ISO9001 and ISO14001. To further enhance operational safety and reduce procurement risks, the sensor is equipped with built-in reverse polarity protection and short-circuit protection, preventing damage from accidental wiring errors during installation. This meticulous attention to electrical safety results in a failure rate that is significantly lower than the industry average. Finally, supported by three state-of-the-art global production bases located in Changsha, Dongguan, and Kaohsiung, buyers can rely on scalable production capacity, fast delivery times for bulk orders, and the availability of customized services tailored to specific project requirements.

Technical Parameters

The technical parameters table below outlines the exact physical dimensions, electrical specifications, indicator definitions, and interface standards for the FC-4100 capacitive label sensor. These specifications are provided to help technical teams and procurement professionals ensure precise compatibility with existing equipment and verify operational suitability for specific industrial environments.

Product Uses

The F&C SENSOR FC-4100 capacitive label sensor is engineered to resolve complex detection challenges across various automated production environments. By focusing on specific industry pain points, this sensor delivers precise material recognition and reliable high-speed performance. Below are the primary application scenarios and the practical value it brings to different sectors:

1. Food and Beverage Packaging Lines: Transparent Label Inspection

In high-speed bottled beverage and liquid filling lines, traditional optical sensors often struggle to accurately identify transparent labels on clear bottles. The FC-4100 utilizes advanced capacitive technology to overcome this limitation, ensuring precise detection of transparent bottle, cap, and bottom labels. By effectively recognizing material differences without relying on light transmission, it prevents common packaging defects such as skewed placement, air bubbles, or missing labels. This capability directly improves the product appearance qualification rate to 99.5%. Designed for demanding production rhythms, the sensor supports inspection speeds of up to 10m/s, making it highly suitable for mineral water, juice, and other fast-paced beverage packaging facilities where reducing visual defects and maintaining throughput are critical.

2. Pharmaceutical Industry: High-Compliance Label Verification

Strict regulatory standards in pharmaceutical packaging require absolute accuracy in labeling to prevent safety risks. The FC-4100 is deployed to verify the presence and integrity of critical information, including package insert labels, ingredient lists, and expiration dates. Its exceptional 0.2mm thickness detection accuracy allows the system to reliably distinguish between single and multiple layers of labels, immediately identifying missing or duplicate applications. When integrated alongside the FC-2300 ultrasonic sensor for anti-counterfeiting verification, this setup provides a comprehensive inspection solution that fully meets stringent GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements. This ensures complete pharmaceutical information traceability and significantly lowers the risk of costly product recalls.

3. 3C Electronics Products: Anti-Counterfeiting and Information Label Positioning

For smartphone and consumer electronics assembly lines, precise label placement is essential for brand protection and user safety. The FC-4100 ensures the accurate positioning of product model tags and safety warning labels. Electronic manufacturing environments often present significant electromagnetic interference, which can disrupt standard optical equipment. The FC-4100 maintains stable operation in these conditions, ensuring consistent print clarity and placement checks. Furthermore, its dual PNP/NPN output mode facilitates direct and straightforward connection to existing PLC systems. This seamless integration with automated labeling machines helps manufacturers maintain continuous production flow while ensuring every device meets strict quality control standards.

4. Logistics and Warehousing: High-Speed Label Counting and Sorting

Modern automated warehousing and distribution centers rely on rapid, error-free parcel identification. The FC-4100 is utilized to detect the minute gaps between individual labels on moving packages, capable of identifying spacing as narrow as 0.5mm. Operating at a high frequency of 5kHz, it achieves rapid and precise counting to accurately trigger automated sorting robots down the line. Its versatile, reversible design allows labels to enter and exit the inspection slot from either direction, easily adapting to complex, bidirectional conveyor systems. By maintaining an error rate of less than 0.1%, this sensor helps logistics operators maximize sorting throughput and minimize misrouted packages.

5. Printing Industry: Web Label Quality Monitoring

In post-printing processes, maintaining the consistency of continuous web labels is vital to prevent material waste and downstream application failures. The FC-4100 serves as a reliable monitoring device to verify web label spacing uniformity and detect missing labels in real time. Its intelligent sensitivity adjustment allows operators to quickly adapt the sensor to various substrate materials, including standard matte paper and transparent PET films. Additionally, the built-in short-circuit protection mechanism safeguards the production line by preventing equipment downtime caused by unexpected label accumulation or electrical faults. This ensures continuous, reliable operation for high-volume printing tasks.

Product Operate Guide

This comprehensive operating guide is designed to help users properly install, wire, calibrate, and maintain the FC-4100 capacitive tag sensor. Following these instructions ensures optimal detection accuracy, prevents setup errors, and maximizes the service life of the equipment in your production facility.

1. Installation and Power Supply Wiring

Proper physical installation and correct electrical wiring are the foundation for stable operation. Secure the sensor firmly to the designated detection position on your machinery, ensuring that the target material passes smoothly through the sensing slot without causing severe mechanical impact.

For the power connection, carefully connect the sensor to a reliable 12-24VDC power supply. Strictly follow the wiring color codes: connect the brown wire to the positive terminal (+) and the blue wire to the negative terminal (-). The standard M12 connector facilitates quick and secure wiring, reducing setup time during installation. Always verify that the power is turned off before making any electrical connections to prevent short circuits. The robust metal housing provides excellent impact resistance, but proper mounting alignment remains essential.

2. Smart Calibration Procedures

Accurate calibration is crucial for reliable tag detection. The FC-4100 features a straightforward smart calibration process divided into two main stages: reference setting and sensitivity adjustment.

Reference Setting (Empty Slot): First, ensure the detection slot is completely empty. Remove any tags or backing materials from the sensing area. Press and hold the TEACH button for 5 seconds. Monitor the indicator lights; release the button when the reference light (red H) turns solid. This step establishes the baseline environmental capacitance for the sensor.

Sensitivity Adjustment (Dynamic Learning): Next, insert the tag material into the detection slot. Press and hold both the increase (+) and decrease (-) buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. This action triggers a 10-second learning mode. During this 10-second window, smoothly drag the tag through the slot. The sensor will dynamically learn the capacitance difference between the tag and the gap, completing the calibration process automatically.

3. Output Mode Switching

To accommodate various control systems and PLC requirements, the sensor offers flexible output configurations. You can easily toggle between different logic states without needing a separate device model.

To change the output mode, press and hold the TEACH button for 12 seconds. This extended press allows you to switch between NPN and PNP outputs, as well as toggle between Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC) states. This built-in versatility simplifies integration into existing automated lines and reduces the need to stock multiple sensor variations for different control panels.

4. Daily Maintenance and Care

Routine maintenance guarantees long-term precision and minimizes unexpected downtime. Because capacitive sensors can be sensitive to severe buildup, it is important to keep the sensing area clear.

Clean the detection slot regularly using a soft, dry cloth or compressed air to prevent dust, debris, or adhesive residue from affecting the detection accuracy. Inspect the cable connections periodically to ensure they remain tight and secure. The sensor is equipped with a patented red tail sleeve designed to prevent tail wire breakage during continuous machine vibration, significantly extending the overall service life. Avoid using harsh chemical solvents for cleaning, as they may damage the sensing face.

FAQ

Q: Are you a direct manufacturer of the FC-4100 capacitive label sensor? 

A: Yes, we are an established sensor manufacturer with over 30 years of industry experience. Our production facilities are fully equipped, and our products, including the FC-4100, are CE certified to ensure reliable performance and compliance with international quality standards.

Q: Can I get samples of the FC-4100 sensor for testing before placing a bulk order?

A: Absolutely. We provide free testing samples so you can evaluate the sensor's performance in your specific application. Please note that while the samples are free, the shipping costs will need to be covered by the customer. 

Q: What is the typical delivery time for your sensors?

A: We maintain a robust inventory of 110 different sensor models, allowing us to ship standard orders immediately. If a specific item is temporarily out of stock, our standard production lead time is just 5 to 7 working days. For urgent project requirements, we can expedite production to meet your schedule. 

Q: What payment methods do you accept for international orders?

A: To facilitate smooth transactions, we accept multiple secure payment methods, including T/T (Telegraphic Transfer), PayPal, and major credit cards. You can choose the option that best suits your purchasing process.

Q: How do you handle shipping and logistics?

A: We partner with reliable global couriers such as FedEx, UPS, and TNT to ensure prompt and secure delivery of your sensors. If you have a preferred freight forwarder or require alternative shipping arrangements, we are fully flexible to accommodate your logistics needs.