A line scan lens is a specialized optical lens designed to work with line scan cameras. Unlike standard lenses (which pair with area scan cameras), it acquires image data row by row through a linear scanning method.

       Line scan lenses are widely used in industries such as papermaking, textiles, printing, and metal processing.

• In the papermaking industry, they are used for paper surface defect detection (e.g., identifying pinholes, stains, or wrinkles on the paper) and paper thickness measurement, ensuring consistent paper quality during production.
• In the textile industry, they detect fabric surface flaws (like thread breaks, snags, or uneven weaves) and analyze textile patterns, helping maintain fabric quality standards.
• In the printing industry, they are applied to print quality inspection—including checking registration accuracy (whether colors align correctly) and ink density (ensuring uniform ink coverage), preventing defective prints from entering the market.
• In metal processing, they inspect surface defects of metal sheets (such as scratches, dents, or rust spots) and verify dimensional accuracy, providing reliable support for quality control in industrial production.

      Line scan lenses offer three key advantages over area scan lenses, making them more suitable for specific industrial imaging scenarios:

1. Higher Resolution & Speed for Large/Long Objects: They feature high resolution and fast scanning speeds, enabling high-precision inspection of long, large-format objects (e.g., textiles, metal sheets) in high-speed motion. Unlike area scan lenses— which require multiple shots and stitching (due to limited frame size, leading to potential stitching errors)—line scan lenses capture complete images in one continuous scan.
2. Continuous Imaging for Production Lines: They support non-stop, continuous image acquisition, perfectly matching the needs of continuous production lines (e.g., paper, printing, or automotive part assembly lines). Area scan lenses, by contrast, capture discrete frames, which may miss defects during gaps between shots.
3. Lower Data Processing Load: Their linear data output (capturing “lines” instead of full frames) results in relatively smaller data volumes. This reduces the burden on post-processing systems, boosting both inspection efficiency and accuracy—avoiding delays or errors caused by large-area image data overload.

To select a line scan lens, you need to consider parameters such as working distance, scanning width, and resolution.

• Determine the scanning width based on the size of the object to be inspected and the scanning range—ensure it can fully cover the area of the object that needs detection.
• Choose a lens with appropriate resolution according to the inspection precision requirements—higher resolution is needed for scenarios demanding fine detail detection.