The Raptor Inline Checkweigher ’ s ultrahygienic washdown design with a Clean-in- Place ( CIP ) mode , has been engineered for easy and deep sanitation to prevent cross contact contamination .
the position of cutting blades . Helping to ensure the entire batch isn ’ t off-spec .
Catch before the batch
Given the focus on manufacturing waste , identifying and actioning under or over weight products before the energy intensive process of baking or placing into expensive packaging is more imperative than ever , highlights Fortress Europe ’ s Applications Engineer Daniel Shail . “ Leaving the weight check until the end of the process is one of the most wasteful activities as it could result in an entire consignment of baked or packaged products being recalled , not to mention the many hours wasted in production and workforce salaries .”
A large number of food processors continue to check units within batches randomly by hand . Not only
is this labour intensive , but it can also lead to significant variations in product quality , cautions Daniel .
Automated inline checkweighing allows for individual pieces that are off target weight to be removed and reworked , as well as providing corrective feedback to the upstream portioning equipment .
Daniel continues : “ Weighing raw product on the conveyor line without removing it to place on a separate scale is the most efficient method . It also mitigates against potential human contaminants . For products with a number of processing variables , such as different densities , lean-to-fat ratios and even live raw bread dough , these different weight variations all need to be factored in .”
The Raptor Inline Checkweigher ’ s ultra-hygienic washdown design with a Clean-in-Place ( CIP ) mode , has been engineered for easy and deep sanitation to prevent cross contact contamination . Specifically , the tight-fitting conveyor and Fortress Technology ’ s unique ‘ notool ’ conveyor removal innovation overcomes the longstanding industry challenge of loosening belt tension during cleaning and maintenance . In just seconds , operators can unclip and disconnect the conveyor motor and lift out the entire conveyor assembly . This allows for the belt support frame to be fully-sanitised too , reducing the build-up of loose product . Belt tension and alignment are instantly restored when clipped back into place .
To keep the Raptor Inline Checkweigher compact , Fortress Europe engineered the reject unit to sit beneath the conveyor within the body of the machine . If the checkweigher identifies products that don ’ t meet the target weight specifications , the conveyor dips , dropping products into an equally hygienic and lockable BRCapproved reject bin . Enabling line operatives at regular interviews to open , remove and place the product back upstream for re-portioning .
Addressing the potential issue of airflow negatively influencing weighing accuracy or airborne contaminants landing on raw ingredients , the Raptor Inline Checkweigher also features an interlocked conveyor cover with special engineered cut outs .
Demanding data Data gathered via the Raptor ’ s management control system can also help to track uptime and address line inefficiencies . Using the swipe touchscreen , processors can select the statistical parameters most relevant to their operation , including giveaway by weight and percentage , portions per minute , rejected product numbers etc .
The easy to use graphical display automatically logs and reports Reject Integrity compliance tests . This intuitive digital interface also helps to significantly reduce set up time between each batch .
To keep the Raptor Inline Checkweigher compact , the reject unit sits beneath the conveyor within the body of the machine .
For enhanced traceability , reports - configured by time , date or product code - can be downloaded and easily converted to common management reporting and software applications . Secure remote and authorised access levels ensure processors have all the tools needed to troubleshoot , diagnose and resolve equipment issues on the spot and minimise system downtime .
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