Position: Conveyor belt weighing equipment has improved significantly over the last few years, states Famdra Industrial Weighing sales and engineering manager Naren Naidoo.
Modern, state-of-the-art belt weighers boast a number of features that are the result of recent advances in belt weighing system technology, he says.
These features include ease of installation, innovative design and robust construction. Technology advances have also led to belt weighers with conveniently positioned loadcells, for ease of maintenance, as well as equipment with a built-in calibration test weight. In addition, new generation scales features pivot and cup loadcell mechanical coupling.
“Since these components are not fastened together, cable breakages are eliminated and the user need not contend with difficult de-coupling procedures,” Naidu explains.
Quick assurance testing is also a relatively new and invaluable feature, he says.
“This works by simply placing any known weight (even a person) on the belt, within the scale area. All weigh idlers have equal load representation.”
A further beneficial feature on modern equipment is the weight display, he notes.
“Weight is displayed in mass units. The test mass placed on the weigh platform is what is indicated.”
Naidu says that, previously in South Africa, almost all belt weighers and their technologies were imported.
“Within the last eight years, however, technological advances in the country have led local manufacturers to focus on the development of high accuracy accounting scales. The innovative suppliers who developed these considered facts such as the expense of earlier mechanical scales. While these offered good mechanical reliability, they were clumsy misfits onto the conveyor structure, and were costly.
Other designs, such as the pivot-type weigh platform and multi-loadcell weigh platform, were reflected on when advancing the technology.
Pivot-type weigh platforms allowed for a simpler design but did not give the client total confidence in terms of accuracy. The multiple loadcell design does not have the convenience of a test weight, and it is difficult to identify ‘off-spec’ loadcells during trouble-shooting.
“Today there are belt weighers that incorporate the strong features of the previous designs and more. For example, an electro-mechanical weigh platform with easy demonstration of accuracy and full floating that allows direct mass readout of the load on the platform. Further, a built-in test weight with a single loadcell design offering as size specification accuracy.”
Naidu says purchasers should consider all of the equipment’s features when choosing a new belt weighing system. Understanding what equipment is available is essential in choosing the ideal belt weigher for one’s requirements, Naidu stresses.
“Further, it is important that users play an active role in equipment development by passing on suggestions or communicating particular needs to suppliers. It is through these types of partnerships that the industry as whole will benefit,” he concludes.
“Famdra’s belt weighers, for example, offer a full floating, counter-balanced weigh platform; single loadcell; calibration test mass; speed encoder with drive unit; indicator and weight batching controller.”
