Check weigher

AP Dataweigh 3 bed checkweigher with touchscreen reject and accumulation station

Check weigher is an automatic or semi-automatic machine used in the packaging and manufacturing industries to ensure that the weight of a packaged commodity is within specified limits. Any packs that are under or over the specified limit can be removed from the production line automatically by the machine. Check weighers are critical in ensuring compliance with labeling regulations and maintaining product consistency.

Overview

A check weigher typically consists of a series of conveyor belts. The first conveyor belt weighs the product in motion, and the weight is recorded. If the product is within the specified weight range, it continues down the line; if not, it is rejected by a rejection mechanism. This process helps in maintaining quality control and ensures that products meet the required standards before they reach the consumer.

Types of Check Weighers

There are several types of check weighers, including:

• Manual Check Weighers: These require an operator to place items on the scale manually. They are suitable for low-volume production lines.
• Automatic Check Weighers: These are integrated into the production line and automatically weigh products as they pass through on a conveyor belt. They are ideal for high-speed and high-volume production environments.
• In-motion Check Weighers: A subtype of automatic check weighers, these are designed to weigh products accurately at high speeds.

Applications

Check weighers are used in various industries, including:

• Food and Beverage: Ensuring packaged food products are within specified weight ranges.
• Pharmaceuticals: Verifying the weight of packaged medicines to ensure dosage accuracy.
• Cosmetics: Ensuring that cosmetic products are not underfilled or overfilled.
• Manufacturing: Used in the assembly line to ensure components meet specified weight criteria.

Benefits

The use of check weighers in production lines offers several benefits:

• Ensures compliance with legal requirements for product weights.
• Reduces material wastage by minimizing overfilling.
• Enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring product consistency.
• Improves efficiency by automating the quality control process.

Regulations

In many countries, the use of check weighers is regulated to ensure consumer protection. For example, in the European Union, the use of check weighers is governed by the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), which sets out the requirements for measuring instruments, including check weighers, used for commercial transactions.

See Also

• Quality Control
• Packaging Machinery
• Industrial Automation