Checkweigher - Control Scales

Checkweighers are often used as process control instruments to check upstream events such as filling, grouping and packaging (product inspection). The collected data is the basis for following statistical evaluation of production processes and quality control. This data often gets evaluated immediately (inline process control) to be able to control further production steps such as

rejecting products with shortage of weight
calculation of weight dependant quantities (eg. volume, number)
tendency prognosis for continuous adaptation of filling and dosage machines
filling level control
product labeling with weight data

Scales In-Motion: dynamic weighing as inline process control

Integration of checkweighers into production-courses puts high requests for speed and resolution of the weighing cell. The supply also has to guarantee, that only one single product passes the checkpoint at a time. Modern dynamic checkweighers with digital data-processing complete several hundred weighings per minute and allow band-speeds of more than 100m/min. On the basis of already using control mechanisms within the merchandise flow checkweighers can offer, beside the pure weight regulations (i.e. mass regulation), to affiliate further components of product inspection like metal detectors.

“… a 'package' is defined as the combination of a product and the individual package in which it is packed when:
- it is placed in a package of whatever nature without the purchaser being present and;
- the quantity cannot be altered without the package either being opened or undergoing a perceptible modification (except in the case of knitting yarn).”

excerpt from "Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006"

Typical design

Checkweigher with additional metal detector and pusher element (transport direction from right to left)

A typical checkweigher setup consists of a computing unit for data analysis and package flow control and a series of conveyor belts, in detail these are:

Infeed conveyor belt: accepts goods from previous station (here with additional metal detector)
Singling conveyor belt (optional): ensures optimal feed, so that only one package at a time will be on the following …
Weighing conveyor belt: for actual weight measurement
Ejector belt: forwards the goods to the following process station; usually equipped with pusher or rejecting element

Bizerba is a worldwide operating, in many sectors market leading technology enterprise for professional system solutions of weighing, information and food service technology in the segments Retail, Industry and Logistics.

Since 1866 Bizerba has significantly been determining the technological development and progress by being no. 1 in customer service and innovation. Regarding changes and innovations Bizerba was on permanent "stand-by", which was an important success factor on its way to becoming a global manufacturer of high-tech and software.

About Bizerba Checkweigher

Bizerba provides comprehensive solutions for flexible food weighing, packaging, labeling and control tasks. The company also oversees the smooth integration of hardware and software components providing quality, reliability and efficiency.

Bizerba offers a complete product range for the manufacturing and processing industry, comprising high-speed weigh labeling systems, checkweighers, logistics, industrial weighing and data technology, load receptors, electronic indicating terminals, industrial PCs and high-speed slicing.

Bizerba’s systems are designed to create greater transparency in all production processes, to ensure quality assurance via networking and the improved use of materials via weight statistics.