A checkweigher is an automated scale used for quality control and line management in industrial production. It can route parcels based on weight and has various programs for flexibility. Checkweighers can increase production capacity, improve quality control, and increase safety.
A checkweigher is a scale that can automatically check weights on a packaging or assembly line for quality control and line management. This device can operate independently without a technician to control it and increases the speed and automation of the line. Many companies make checkweighers for industrial production of a variety of things. Used or leased equipment may be available for a facility that wants to use a checkweigher but doesn’t want to invest in purchasing a brand new model.
The checkweigher has an infeed conveyor belt which moves the packages to be weighed onto the weight belt. The scale typically picks up weights very quickly, with only a momentary pause needed to weigh each package. Based on the weight, the machine can decide whether to route the parcel onto a reject belt because it is the wrong weight or onto another conveyor so it can go out for delivery. Underweight and overweight items can be manually inspected by employees.
Checkweighers typically have a variety of programs that can be set up for maximum flexibility and usability. Technicians can set tare weight to obtain an accurate weight on package contents only, rather than the weight of a package and its contents. They can also set tolerances. For something like a packet of pills, the weight tolerances are very tight, because each packet should contain an exact number of pills, all of which should always weigh the same. For fruit cartons, these tolerances could be wider.
You can place records in the memory of a checkweigher and switch between programmed weights. This allows operators to use one checkweigher to produce many products, not just one. It can also adjust programs if the new package requires a change in the tare weight or if the package design changes; for example, a sugar company might switch from 5 lb (2.27 kg) bags to 4 lb (1.81 kg) bags and would have to adjust its control scale to reflect this change. The scale could log data and offer a moving average on package weights.
These devices are part of an interconnected network of systems capable of automating procedures on an assembly line. This can improve quality control, as the balance is less prone to errors than a human operator. It can also increase safety by keeping human operators out of areas that have moving parts, and could increase production scale by allowing the company to do more, because it has increased its processing capacity due to automation.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
