Adam’s new Sentinel dynamic inline checkweigher series boasts nine different models for quality control in a variety of industries. Each one can be customized to meet your exact needs, so you want to be sure you know what you’re looking for.  These five questions are designed to lead you towards the right decision for your facility.

What is a Dynamic Inline Checkweigher?

A dynamic inline checkweigher, like any one of Adam’s Sentinel series, is a machine that detects whether an item is above, within or below pre-set weight limits while the products are in-motion on a conveyor belt.  To learn when it’s time to upgrade from a static checkweighing scale to a dynamic inline checkweigher, you can read our recent blog.

1.    What Products Will You Be Checkweighing?

The number one way to determine which Sentinel Dynamic Checkweigher you should invest in is what type of product you’ll be checkweighing.

Adam’s Sentinel SPH 300 offers a capacity of 600g, which is ideal for small, lightweight items like blister packs or cosmetics. It features a narrow conveyor belt and optional guide rails to help ensure each product goes through in the same way for consistency.

The Sentinel SFD models are ideal for weighing food or chemicals because of their IP65 rating, which means they’re protected from water damage during regular cleaning sessions. With capacities from 500g to 3kg, they can handle most large products and their packaging with ease.

When it comes to the food industry, many companies aren’t only concerned with a product’s weight. Adam’s Sentinel SFC Combi models combine metal detecting and checkweighing, for a two-in-one rejection system that will flag both high and low weights as well as metal contaminants before they’re put to market.

For larger items, like packages and boxes for logistics companies, Sentinel SHD’s aren’t called Heavy Duty Dynamic Inline Checkweighers for nothing. You can choose between four models with capacities from 15 to 60kg.

With so many different options, you want to be sure that your Sentinel matches your product perfectly.

2.    What Accuracy and Throughput Does Your Production Line Require?

This question asks about how precise your checkweigher needs to be when it’s rejecting or letting products pass through. For example, with Sentinel SPH 300’s 0.01g readability, you can set a low limit of 82.62g and a high limit of 82.85g. Your machine will only let products weighing between those two numbers pass.

Throughput refers to how many pieces need to pass through the checkweigher per minute. This is referred to as ppm, or pieces per minute. In general, the lighter the capacity, the faster you can operate. With its 600g capacity, Sentinel SPH 300 can operate at speeds up to 400ppm. In the heavy-duty sphere, Sentinel SHD 300 offers a 30kg capacity, 1g readability and can run products up to 40ppm.

3.    How Will the Checkweigher Fit into Your Existing Production Line?

The best dynamic inline checkweigher will always be one that fits right into your existing production line so you can keep things moving. A few things to consider:

  • Available installation space
  • Conveyor height, width and direction
  • Required product spacing and transfers
  • Reject-system preferences
  • Electrical needs

You can customize many aspects of the Sentinel range to help meet your exact needs, no workarounds required. Even better, they’re delivered to your facility fully assembled!

1.    What Hygiene or Compliance Requirements Must the System Meet?

All Sentinel models offer an IP rating of at least IP54, with Sentinel SFC 200 and 400 COMBI models offering an IP65 option and Sentinel SFD 200 and 300 offering IP65 as standard. IP54-ratings are sufficient for regular thorough wipe-downs with a damp cloth, while IP65 models can handle light hosing.

All models are constructed with stainless steel, which is inherently resistant to bacteria and corrosion, preventing contamination between products. Unique the Sentinel SFD 200 and 300 are their round-tube frames, which along with their smooth surfaces reduce the risk of dirt and clogs. Technicians also can remove and replace the conveyor and belt without the use of tools, maintaining hygienic standards.

Adam’s Sentinel range is fully compliant with US Regulations on Average Weight as of the NIST Handbook 133. Sentinel SPH 300 is also fully compliant with Good Manufacturing pharmaceutical standards for data tracking! Speaking of data…

1.    What Data, Controls & Automation Features Do You Need?

This question covers a variety of features that could help make your final decision on a specific dynamic inline checkweigher model.

Adam’s Sentinels move products quickly, which is why their tall indicator towers are so helpful for visually indicating when products are being passed or rejected from a distance. If you notice that too many products are being rejected, fear not, Adam’s Sentinel series can store the piece weights of up to 10,000,000 items that have passed through the checkweigher, making it exceptionally easy to spot trends when looking at the data.

With expansive touch-screen displays, each Sentinel can track what alarms are going off and for what, the full history of readings, including the date, time, set upper and lower limits and the result of each reading. They can also track what settings were accessed at any given time and when, as well as statistical data and trends. All the data you could ask for!

Check out this chart for an easy comparison between each Sentinel model:

Have questions about which inline dynamic checkweigher is right for you? Contact the Adam team, we’ll get you the answer.