Maintaining Heating Elements in Packaging Machine Sealers
PreciseCal Services Inc, a calibration services company, has a customer who utilizes a packaging
machine designed to seal plastic and foil bags. The machine’s sealing surface needs
to attain a specified temperature and hold it for a specified time to seal the bags properly.
The surface then cools and releases at a specified temperature to allow for the subsequent
package placement. Based on the materials and bag design, temperature settings are different
for each batch, requiring a burst test before performing production sealing.
As heating elements may degrade or fail over time, or the Teflon surfaces wear and provide
uneven heating, the calibration provider must test the machine when switching setups.
To verify the temperature at the machine’s Teflon sealing faces, a flat (leaf ) thermocouple
is inserted between the two heating surfaces. A peak measurement function determines
the maximum temperature provided to ensure the system reaches the particular setup’s
specified temperature. The check verifies that the machine’s heating elements are operating
properly, and confirms the temperature is uniform across the surface.
The ASC-400 Calibrator Provided the Perfect Solution
The calibration company’s challenge was to find a temperature calibrator with the
functions to quickly and accurately test and calibrate their temperature measurement.
They selected the JOFRA ASC-400 multifunction process calibrator because it offers the
required peak detection feature. They connect the temperature sensor, and it indicates
the highest temperature the machine produces. They can then make adjustments to
the machine if necessary.
Not only did it meet the application requirements for this particular job, it also offered
them solutions to many other applications. These included freezer checks, pressure
calibrations, and different temperature calibrations. In
many cases, the ASC-400 multifunction process calibrator
provided an additional digit of resolution over their
previous equipment. Beyond being a technical solution,
they found the unit very easy to use with minimal
or no training needed for their technicians. The unit
is smaller and lighter than the calibrator they’d used
before, and has a much more modern user interface
and display. In addition, the location of the cable connections
adds less strain to the connectors than their
previous unit. The calibration provider is very pleased
with the ASC-400.
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