Thompson Scale Offers Upgrades
for Filling and Packaging Machinery

(May 9, 2006) HOUSTON, TX – Thompson Scale Company, a leader in weighing systems, packaging machinery controls, and custom production scales announces its filler machine upgrade capabilities. Filler upgrades provide a cost-effective way to modernize existing equipment to maximize their productivity.

The 4693 Filler Upgrade from Thompson Scale is available for a large variety of filling and packaging equipment, including machinery that puts product in bags, boxes, tubs, totes, drums, or bulk bags. Highly integrated, yet simple to use, controls along with new components are used to increase the accuracy of mechanical packaging machinery and improve operations.

Many valve bag filling machines are still in their original all-mechanical condition. Others have either been purchased with some form of controls, or have been modified to provide electronic control, but still lack the accuracy and performance that most companies require.

The upgrade process mainly consists of removal and replacement of existing mechanical counterweights and levers, replacing them with rigid and accurate flexure load cell frames. The existing pneumatic controls are removed and replaced with electrically controlled solenoid valves and new piping. The installation of electronic filler controls makes each system complete and up to date.

This upgrade uses advanced technology to achieve the desired results. A high precision load cell flexure provides accurate weighments for precise filling. The filler controls offer an extensive feature set with the highest possible accuracy. An internal closed-loop feedback is capable of weight tracking and control.

Thompson Scale’s unique Traffic Control feature allows up to four spouts on a common production line to be operated by two 4693 Controllers. Controls are "networked" via the Traffic Control card, and allow complete control of bag drops, increasing production rates and eliminating bag jams. Filler upgrades also allow total control of all filler equipment I/O with no PLC required. Another useful feature is the modernized equipment’s ability to integrate to TSC’s StatPak-PC production reporting and analysis software.

Mechanical or old electronic packers take at least four to five bags on each scale to "line-out" the filler and achieve acceptable weights when changing from one product or weight to another. The 4693 Filler Upgrade hits target weight on the first bag or second bag. This dramatically reduces product changeover time and reduces waste.

Most existing mechanical fillers require the operator to pay close attention to changes in bulk density and final weights, adjusting the packer many times during production to ensure the weight of the bags stay within specifications. The upgrade eliminates this time consuming process since the controls automatically track changes in bulk density and flow rates. A final check weigh is also performed on every bag to confirm proper weight. All of this can be done without sacrificing production rates.

Mechanical fillers require near-constant maintenance to remain accurate. This upgrade eliminates virtually all moving scale parts and requires little to no maintenance. Calibration is usually only required once a month. Typically, the upgrade reduces rejects from the industry average of 5 to 8% to less than 2%. The cost of a filler upgrade can quickly be recovered with the amount of improvement it makes to overall production and product weight accuracy.

Thompson Scale is the only company to offer filler controls specifically designed to operate packaging machinery. Virtually all other controls are just basic weigh meters, which require an additional programmable logic controller (PLC) or other types of programming.

Thompson Scale’s 4693 Universal Filler Controller is capable of operating multi-fill heads or spouts. This controller can hold 75 unique product recipes in memory and display useful information on production. Each controller also offers English and Spanish menus in full sentences for better comprehension. Control components are interchangeable with our line of checkweigher controls for simplified troubleshooting and common spare parts.

Filler upgrades are available now and are field installed directly by Thompson Scale’s highly experienced technicians. They provide complete start-up and training with minimal downtime. For more information, call 713-932-9071 or visit our Filler Upgrade product page

Thompson Scale Company

Thompson Scale Company is a leading manufacturer of weighing systems and packaging machinery controls. Thompson Scale has provided the manufacturing industry with highly accurate and reliable weighing solutions for over 30 years. Products include in-motion checkweighers, universal filler controllers, remote digital displays, inline rejector conveyors, and filling machinery upgrades. The company offers quality equipment with training and service in support of all products. Thompson Scale systems are made in the USA and sold to manufacturing facilities around the world.

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