Subminiature button load cell – bag sealer validation application

When a customer purchases sterilised or other sealed pouches and packaging, tears and partially broken seals are not always apparent and can result in spoilage and an unusable product. In order for the manufacturer or Packaging Plant to mitigate seal failure and ensure seal integrity, verification of the heat sealing force is critical, as over or under applied sealing force can cause premature failure of the seal. In this application by utilising a pair of Futek LLB130 load cells to monitor the force applied to pouch during the pouch sealing process. The manufacturer can monitor and intercept faults, ensuring the integrity of the seal.

HOW IT WORKS

In this application, as per the conceptual diagram, a pair of Subminiature Button Load Cells are placed so the force exerted on the heater bars by the packaging can be measured. As the pouch moves through the heater bars for sealing, the bars are forced outward, resulting in the load cell buttons measuring the applied force. Utilising two load cells ensures that the heater bars are spread apart evenly and functioning correctly mechanically. The resulting load cell output is then amplified by the IAA series analog amplifiers for input into the PLC allowing for fault monitoring and pouch seal validation.

PRODUCTS IN USE

Futek’s Subminiature Button Load Cell (LLB Series) paired with the IAA Series analog amplifier for feedback into a PLC.