Margin Meter: Diametric Control for Sausage and Packaging Industries
Providing quality control in the manufacture of sausage casing, Matrix’s Margin Meter monitors diameter to ensure the integrity of the product and to reduce waste. Additional industry applications include Packaging and Textiles; the same levels of returns have been seen here as well, and also include reduction in waste, increased efficiency and recipe consistency.
The Margin Meter monitors not only the deviation of casing size, but also the actual size of the casing. With the size reading based on the lay-flat measurement, the system is made easy to compare to other readings throughout the entire process. When the measurement exceeds a threshold, relay contacts are energized to control the gross inflation of the casing. A transducer (resists very high temperatures) is installed inside the dryer, at the input of the dryer, and relays casing diameter information with high accuracy (+/- .05 mm) and precision (+/- .005 mm), to a monitor display at the front panel of the dryer. The monitor in turn, sends a control signal to the PLC controller, which activates an actuator at the output of the dryer. The actuator proceeds by adjusting automation and settings, to return the casing diameter to its original diameter specifications. Previous attempts (laser applications) by other company designers to manipulate diameter were unsuccessful due to the inability of their instrument to withstand the high temperatures and harsh environment in the measurement chamber. The Margin Meter solved this problem.
With the casing size and fill ingredients uniform throughout the production process, the integrity of the product is maintained. With the casing size constant, there is reduction in waste of both casing and fill ingredients. Defective product leads to increased tear down time, defective product removal, and major losses in re-set-up time. The Margin Meter prevents this lost time, as well as increasing production speed, as the variable is now under control. Subsequently, as with all of Matrix’s products your company’s return on investment is rapid. For a production line schematic set-up, see Margin Meter Installation.
Additional Quality Control in Batching, Tracking and Preventive Maintenance in Sausage Manufacturing can be found in our Food and Beverage section under Industries. Our software and hardware packages provide hand scaling and automatic batching control. Our lot tracking software is FDA reviewed, and provides details of incoming ingredients, batches in production and outgoing product. The terms preceding, immediate and subsequent sources will become very familiar as the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002 (Article III) has implemented its final ruling. All Food and Beverage Companies as of December 11, 2006 must be compliant: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Bioterrorism/Recordkeeping/ucm061619.htm. Matrix Controls will protect you and you will protect us.
Engineering Overview:
The monitor works as follows: the signal coming from the transducer is amplified and scaled to a proper reading. Then it is compared to internal thresholds based on predefined tolerances. If the signal goes out of tolerance the monitor will assert an output alarm. There are two alarms, one for HIGH and one for LOW limit.
Technical Features:
- Viewed Tolerances through two 3-digit front panel displays
- Case Size and Deviations viewed via front panel 4-digit display
- Calibration of System for determined case sizing done through deviation
- Center Potentiometer determines set point
- Flashing 3-digit display alerts operator to out of control process
The following companies have seen rapid return on investment and dramatic savings/increased profits over the past 50 years:
| * Alstyle Apparel * Antex Knitting * Anvil Knitwear * Caracol Knits * Danube Knit Fashions * Delta Apparel * Dominican Knits * Duraflex |
* Fruit of the Loom * Gilden Activewear * Hanesbrands Inc * Hilmex * Jockey International * Main Knitting * Milliken & Co. * Monarch Machinery |
* Narricot Industries * Polartec Inc * Russell Corp. * Texollini Inc * Ultratex Inc * Vanguard Supreme * Yazbek |