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Inline process scales are quality control conveyors that are used to verify proper weighting of items. They integrate easily into existing conveyors systems and are designed for many industries. They are most often installed in food packaging systems, though they are also found in the recycling and postal industries. They are designed for ease of use and are automated, so they can be placed, set up and left alone once they’re functional. Newer models are capable of handling more items per minute and can be customized to work with a number of products.
One of the most important aspects of quality control is ensuring that each package contains a uniform amount of product. The most efficient way to do this is with inline process scales, because these machines don’t need to halt the flow of material to perform a check. An onboard display screen outputs the weight of each package that travels over the conveyor and flags any that are underweight or overweight. From this display, an operator can change the device’s settings to only allow for a weight range. This display will also show the rate at which the material is passing through the machine, the total number of items during a run, and the weight of the last few items to pass through. These devices also put together production reports that cover a specified timeframe. A production report will detail average weight of product and give the user a look at any patterns in the material stream.
These machines can weigh an item in a fraction of a second. Some inline process scales can check more than 100 items every minute. This speed keeps the product line moving and stores a wealth of data that can be used to improve on the factory’s processes. If packages are consistently flagged for improper weight, it may signal a malfunction somewhere. These quality control devices not only protect the consumer from a flawed product, they ensure that the producer is operating at peak capacity. Flawed product may be harmful for consumers, so these machines should be considered mandatory in the food and animal feed industries.
Most inline process scales can automate removal of flagged product. This is most useful in postal separation facilities, where packages have to be sectioned off by weight. If the box or bag is flagged by the conveyor, it can divert it to another channel. Multiple conveyors can be placed in alternate channels to further separate diverted packages. The end result is automated and efficient separation of multiple weight ranges. Factories that package food can more easily separate their products using this conveyor structure.
At recycling and reclamation plants, inline process scales are used to create multiple material channels. When a load of material arrives at the recycling plant, glass, paper, plastic and metals are all mixed together. These materials cannot be recycled together and must be efficiently sectioned out, or the recycled material will be flawed. One of the ways that reclamation plants do this is by weighing each object as it is conveyed. Heavier items, like glass and metal, are quickly removed from papers and plastic. These machines keep the plant running at high volume, ensuring high volume output and low costs.
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