10 Environmental Effects on Checkweigher Accuracy
Even the best checkweighers can give erroneous weights if these factors aren’t considered.
Here are 10 environmental factors that can affect your checkweigher accuracy.
- Product Accumulation – Accumulating product (i.e. cheese, tiny meat scraps, water, cardboard box residue) can cause your checkweigher to zero-shift over time. This can result in an under-filled package being considered acceptable. Daily wash or wipe-down procedures and periodic zero checks can greatly reduce accumulation effects.
- Corrosion – Corrosive environments can cause wear and issues on all parts of the checkweigher. Purchasing a stainless steel checkweigher can minimize long term issues.
- Air Movement/Drafts – Drafts from fans, AC/heating systems, traffic near the scale and open doors can affect the scale platform causing false weight. Draft shields can significantly reduce these effects.
- Moisture/Washdown – For washdown environments, ensure all water is off the scale before it is zeroed and operated. Standing water on the scale frame at the beginning of the shift can slowly evaporate during operation causing false weights.
- Static/RFI – Moving conveyors in dry environments can cause static buildup. This static can discharge near sensitive electronics resulting in erroneous readings. Ensure the equipment is properly grounded during installation.
- Voltage Issues – Fluctuating voltages (spikes or brownouts) can cause electronic issues which can affect weighments. Use a power conditioner to ensure consistent voltage.
- Abuse – Over time, load cells cans be affected by impacts to the scale platform. Ensure your operators treat the checkweigher with care.
- Floor Vibration – Heavy machinery near the checkweigher can cause vibrations to be interpreted as false weight. Install checkweighers in locations where floor vibration are minimal. Avoid mezzanines if at all possible!
- Stability – Be sure all feet are carrying equal load and are anchored to the floor. Checkweigher conveyor should be level. A rocking checkweigher will not be accurate.
- Binding – Scale must be free from interference such as touching the entrance or exit conveyor, or leaning an item (box, pallet, broom) against the unit.
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Do you have a checkweigher that isn’t giving you accurate weights?