adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created By: jimmy45
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I am building a packing machine for putting WOOD shavings into a plastic bag. It will be semi-automatic: A conveyor screw will move the stuff from a silo to a container that is equal to the volume of the bag. When the container is full, the conveyor screw will stop. I have it otherwise figured out, but the problem is that i do not know what type of sensor to use to show when the container is full. It will be like a big bucket, open from top with a flap that opens once it is full (that will be pneumatic, with a foot lever). Any ideas? When the bucket is filling up, there will be more or less constant flow of the material, so i would assume that photoelectric sensors might be bit problematic. Furthermore, there will be dust, which might mess up. I could use several sensors in order to minimize false signals. Anyway, it is not so accurate, the bag will be around 25-50 litres (not sure yet), and i would be happy with + - 10% accuracy. I am not very familiar with sensor types, so this might be a bit stupid question. But you gotta start somewhere...
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created by: jimmy45
I am building a packing machine for putting WOOD shavings into a plastic bag. It will be semi-automatic: A conveyor screw will move the stuff from a silo to a container that is equal to the volume of the bag. When the container is full, the conveyor screw will stop.
I have it otherwise figured out, but the problem is that i do not know what type of sensor to use to show when the container is full. It will be like a big bucket, open from top with a flap that opens once it is full (that will be pneumatic, with a foot lever).
Any ideas? When the bucket is filling up, there will be more or less constant flow of the material, so i would assume that photoelectric sensors might be bit problematic. Furthermore, there will be dust, which might mess up. I could use several sensors in order to minimize false signals. Anyway, it is not so accurate, the bag will be around 25-50 litres (not sure yet), and i would be happy with + - 10% accuracy.
I am not very familiar with sensor types, so this might be a bit stupid question. But you gotta start somewhere...
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created by: andremholmes
Ultrasonic with analog output comes to mind.
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created by: jimmy45
capacitive sensors seem to be promising. However, sometimes we have very rough material, so that the particle size is 3-5cm. Then there might be the problem that directly in front of the sensor there is a gap. One option would be to put 4 sensors and pair them so that it is enough that 2 sensors activate. Capacitive sensors need the material to be directly in front of the sensor, right?
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created by: pressgrove
Most capacitive sensors have a teach function on them that allows you to tell it what it should ignore. I had an application where the sensor needed to point up in a very dusty environment. I actually piled dust on the sensor face as high as I could to teach the sensor it's off state.
Created Date: March 31,2017
Created by: Cap
http://bindicator.com/
Cap
Created Date: April 01,2017
Created by: Bering C Sparky
Most food products that are bagged usually have the amount of product in the bag stated as a weight.
Weighing your product might be a better solution.
We use scales with analog outputs to bag fish meal in my industry, it works quite well to get very consistent bags.
BCS
Created Date: April 01,2017
Created by: jimmy45
Most food products that are bagged usually have the amount of product in the bag stated as a weight.
Weighing your product might be a better solution.
We use scales with analog outputs to bag fish meal in my industry, it works quite well to get very consistent bags.
BCS
HAHAHAHAHAHHA, I just notice I made a typo in the first post. I meant to say wood shavings :D :D :D Not food.
We are not eating wood. Sorry. So we are packing process left overs to be used for example for heating or as a bedding for horses. I will correct the typo to the first post.
And you are absolutely correct. If we were in food industry, weight-based measurement would be better. But for use, volume is better since the weight varies a lot. And our purpose is to fill the bag as much as possible and still be able to seal it.
Created Date: April 03,2017
Created by: Anvilsoup
capacitive sensors seem to be promising. However, sometimes we have very rough material, so that the particle size is 3-5cm . Then there might be the problem that directly in front of the sensor there is a gap. One option would be to put 4 sensors and pair them so that it is enough that 2 sensors activate. Capacitive sensors need the material to be directly in front of the sensor, right?
My experience with shavings baggers (40 years ago) leads me to think that your volume calculation will also need to change if you are compressing the shavings into a brick like bale. The sensing time for many of the bindicator products will also be problematic. Your best bet will be an analog sensor or a simple timer. Either will work if you can have the operator make adjustments.
Created Date: April 03,2017
Created by: jimmy45
It's hard to beat something from Bindicator, since that's all they do! I really like their rotary paddle indicators for the grain bins we work on.
that would be the best, no doubt about it. but the price and availability... hmmm.... maybe I just try with cheap Capacitive proximity sensors and see how it works out.
Created Date: April 03,2017
Created by: jimmy45
My experience with shavings baggers (40 years ago) leads me to think that your volume calculation will also need to change if you are compressing the shavings into a brick like bale. The sensing time for many of the bindicator products will also be problematic. Your best bet will be an analog sensor or a simple timer. Either will work if you can have the operator make adjustments.
we are not (yet) baling. just putting the material as it is to bags. since this is very marginal product, but essential due to recycling and minimizing waste, we do not want to focus too much on it. as i mentioned earlier, we just need to fill up the bags as much as possible (with being able to seal them), no matter what is the weight of the package. baling is propably the next step.