Checkweighers

A checkweigher, or a scale with checkweighing functions, is a static or in-motion scale primarily used to ensure that the items being weighed are within a specific acceptable weight range. If the item is outside of that weight range (either under or over), it is usually taken out of the production line to be adjusted.

Checkweighers are typically categorized by in-motion or static checkweighing.

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In-Motion Checkweighers

There are many kinds of in-motion checkweighers, also known as conveyor scales, but they all have one characteristic in common: they checkweigh items while in motion, usually on a conveyor belt. Many in-motion checkweighers are also completely automated. Product is brought to the scale via the conveyor belt, and depending on the weight, the item is either pushed forward on the belt to continue the production process, or it is diverted off the main line to be adjusted for its over or underweight. In-motion checkweighers are also referred to as belt weighers, in-motion scales, conveyor scales, in-line scales or dynamic scales.

In-Motion Checkweighers

Cherries in Motion

This cherry producer uses a MotoWeigh® IMW in-motion checkweigher on their conveyor line to checkweigh cherry boxes. The producer needs to make sure there are enough cherries in the box to hit the minimum weight compliance, but they don’t want to give product away for free; therefore, a checkweigher is essential. Since this producer owns a large operation and processes a huge amount of product during a short period of time (peak of season), automating the checkweighing process by integrating it into their existing production line was necessary.

Checkweighing Used in a Variety of Industries

In-motion and static checkweighers can also be used in non-food industries. The resolution (precision of weighments) of the checkweighing system can also vary greatly. For example, an in-motion checkweigher can be used near the end of a shoe packaging line. Each shoe box would go over a low-resolution checkweigher to simply check that the weight of two shoes is in the box. Checkweighers can also have a very high resolution for precision weighing. For example, a pharmaceutical company packaging packets of pills would need a much higher resolution to checkweigh that the correct amount of medication is in each packet.

Static Checkweighers

A static checkweigher requires an operator to place an item on the scale and read the scale’s indication for under, acceptable or overweights and either keep that item within production or set it aside. Any scale can be used as a static checkweigher, but many manufacturers create bench or floor scales specifically for checkweighing. These models generally come equipped with light indicators (yellow/green/red) to visually indicate if the item is under, within or over acceptable weight limits. Static checkweighers are also referred to as check scales or over/under scales.

Static Checkweighers

Food Processing: Checkweighers Provide Consumer Confidence

In this example, a CW-90X washdown checkweigher is being used to weigh containers of meat to ensure the customer is receiving the correct amount of product. This checkweigher’s over indicator is just as critical as under; the processor needs to make sure there is enough product in the tray, but they also need to avoid giving away excess product. Hitting the ideal weight range is critical in food processing and other industries that sell by weight.

Shroom: CW-90 Checkweighers are the First Step to Automation

A mushroom farm in Putnam, Ontario uses CW-90 checkweighers to help speed up their weighing process while maintaining accuracy. The scales are wirelessly connected to the host and mounted on carts to help the pickers move along the aisles more efficiently. The checkweighing systems screen for any overweight containers to help eliminate giving away product while also making sure to hit the minimum weight requirements. Static checkweighers help this farm reach their goal to progress into robotic-picking and reducing the handling of mushrooms.

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