CIS line scan camera Customization for Space-Constrained Environments — Print & Label Inspection

In print and label inspection applications, improving inspection accuracy is only part of the challenge. System designers are required to integrate inspection devices into highly space-constrained machine environments.

This challenge becomes especially critical when inspection systems are:

• Retrofitted into existing production lines
• Added as optional inspection features or upgrades to existing equipment

In such cases, the following issues frequently arise:

• Extremely limited physical space for camera installation
• Inspection points located close to rollers, guides, or mechanical components, requiring strict interference avoidance
• Off-the-shelf industrial cameras whose housing size or connector orientation simply does not fit

As a result, engineers may find that suitable cameras are difficult to identify for such tight spaces.

Why Off-the-shelf industrial cameras Often Fall Short

Most industrial cameras are designed with general-purpose usability in mind.
This typically means:

• Fixed housing dimensions
• Fixed connector locations and cable exit directions

While this approach works well for standard installations, it can become a serious limitation in environments where:

• The installation space is predefined and non-negotiable
• The camera must be mounted in a specific orientation
• Even minor mechanical interference is unacceptable

In these situations, the very “universality” of off-the-shelf cameras becomes a constraint rather than an advantage.

WHEC ‘Custom CIS line scan cameras’ as a Practical Engineering Solution

The core value of customized WHEC CIS line scan camera lies in starting from your constraints and requirements, not from a predefined product.

For print and label inspection applications, customization can include, for example:

• Optimization of housing size and shape to match available installation space
• Adjustment of cable direction and length to minimize internal interference
• Illumination type optimized for specific defect types and print characteristics
• Material transport speed tuning based on line speed and image quality requirements

This approach shifts the design question from “Can we install this camera?” to “Is this camera optimized for the inspection task?”. That shift enables higher inspection reliability and added value at the system level.

Why Customization Makes Sense in Printing & Label Inspection

In print and label inspection, system designs often differ by manufacturer and model series.
Differences arise from:

• Defect types to be detected
• Printing methods (offset, flexo, gravure, digital, etc.)
• Label feeding mechanisms

Because of this variability, adopting a mindset of “selecting a camera customized to the actual conditions and specifications”
often leads to improvements in:

• Inspection quality
• System stability
• Total cost of ownership (TCO)

Customization should not be seen as a special or exceptional option.
In fact, the more constraints an inspection process has, the more rational and cost-effective customization becomes.

WHEC’s Approach to CIS line scan camera Customization

We do not simply recommend standard CIS cameras. Instead, we start from the inspection requirements and installation constraints and propose an optimized configuration.

Depending on the application, the following parameters can be customized:

• Scanning width: Adjustable to match target size and layout, supporting up to max. 6000mm
• Readout speed: Tuned to line speed and inspection timing, supporting up to max. 142kHz (600dpi, CoaXPress, mono)
• Interface options: Camera Link, CoaXPress, as well as GigE, USB, LVDS and analog — selectable to match existing equipment and system architecture
• Working distance (WD): Selectable within a range of 0.45mm to 48.4mm based on mechanical constraints and safety considerations
• Housing dimensions and form factor: Compact or dedicated designs for tight spaces and interference avoidance
• Illumination configuration: Internal or external lighting, optimized according to defect characteristics

By adjusting these elements individually, system designers can evaluate cameras not by whether they fit, but by whether they are technically optimal for the inspection task.

Supporting Complex Integration Scenarios

We address applications with severe mechanical constraints.
Even when standard off-the-shelf cameras are not viable, we work with customers to clarify requirements and propose the most suitable camera configuration. If you are facing challenges in your current inspection process or equipment design, we would be pleased to discuss your application and constraints.