New Hi-Speed Displays, Electronics Upgrade Proven Checkweighing Platforms

State-of-the-Art Displays, Controls Provide Operator More Information, Faster

Open System Allows Communication, Control, Reporting Along Production Line

Chicago - Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed Checkweigher has upgraded its line of proven checkweighing platforms with new displays, controls, and an open architecture system that allows communication, control, and reporting along the entire production line. The new touchscreen displays are easier to see, the controls are easier to use, and the machines are easier to integrate for unified production operations.

New Displays Increase Productivity
Hi-Speed's new XS Control 15-inch and XE Control 5.7-inch dashboard-style touchscreen displays provide intuitive, menu-driven access to checkweigher functions. Familiar, browser-like navigation gives users fast access to basic controls and read-outs, while allowing them to drill down easily into machine and line performance measures and statistics. The vivid displays are readable at up to 20 feet, allowing a single operator to see and control multiple machines.

Each touchscreen provides as many as 23 unique control areas; touchable "buttons" leading to more information. "For instance, there is a seven-to-eight line 'message center' at the bottom of the main screen that scrolls short reports about machine status, fault events, and errors," said Mark Feher, Hi-Speed business development manager, checkweighers. "Touching that takes users to a full-screen view where they can see every event with the time it occurred. This makes trouble-shooting much easier." Similarly, line changeovers require only three taps on the screen, shortening downtime.

Hi-Speed's, X-Series, XS-Series and the CM9400 Canweigh checkweighers will have the XS Control, while the more economical XE-Series will use the XE control. Functions are the same regardless of screen size. Existing Hi-Speed machines can be upgraded with these new displays, controls, and electronics package.

Open Architecture Improves Efficiency
These displays are the front end for a new electronics package for the Hi-Speed Checkweighers, an industrial-strength PC-based system using the Open Modular Architecture Controls (OMAC) for easy integration into production lines. The new system also allows the checkweigher to be set up as an OLE for Process and Control (OPC) server to store production data and present it on the Internet.

The Hi-Speed Checkweighers can use this industry standard to communicate with and control other intelligent sensor machines on plant networks via serial, Ethernet, Ethernet IP, USB, Bluetooth (for wireless report printing), Fieldbus, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, or ControlNet. This network also allows the Hi-Speed Checkweighers to provide feedback for continuous process improvement. For instance, a trend toward excessive unit weight could trigger a signal from the Hi-Speed Checkweighers to a filler machine to reduce fill and bring unit weight back within the targeted range, reducing rejections and waste.

SOURCE: Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed