Equipment Display Simplifies Real Time Weight Calculations

Equipment Display Simplifies Real Time Weight Calculations material handling Electronic Controls Division Simplifying user interface and machine system design requires expertise and products. Often machines require a simple, cost effective weight measurement system to improve loading or processing of materials.

The importance of real time weight calculations

The ability to measure the weight of a container or packager in applications such as material handling or fruit harvesting is important to both optimize and measure productivity. If a wheel loader operator can measure the weight of each load in real time and calculate a cumulative weight, it helps measure productivity. Determining the weight of a material transferred helps minimize the number of truck loads required. In harvesting, the real-time measurement of the load of each container can increase productivity by making sure each load is filled, without being overweight. As a matter of fact, highlighting errors and overweight conditions help increase productivity and machine up-time. Icon images and text messages dynamically shown on the screen are extremely helpful for improved operator feedback as well as to clarify error codes and messages.

Enhanced product functionality for improved productivity

The PHD line of touch screen displays provides this functionality when coupled with pressure transducers. PHD based load weight measuring systems provide a unique solution to customers who are seeking a cost effective, basic load weight measuring system. The PHD28 offers more capabilities than standard number displays through dynamic screens that show the operator error and system fault messages, over weight conditions, color coded icons, messages and multi-lingual capabilities. These features help improve operator productivity as well as increased up time through faster, clearer diagnostic messages. In addition, the onboard CAN communication allows the PHD to interface with other devices to help automate loading and weighing processes for even better machine productivity. PHD28 is available as a standalone or as part of an integrated solution.

Equipment Display Simplifies Real Time Weight Calculations - visual display of weight - Parker Hannifin The PHD28 has a dynamic screen that changes based on the weight and system condition as well as including an operator interface. In addition, it has built in processing power to perform the basic calculations to measure the weight, check the pressure sensor inputs for faults, rescale values in metric or imperial or even change the font size and icons on the screen. System productivity can be improved since the screen can change dynamically, based on weight, system faults or user errors to highlight conditions that could slow down or stop the weighing process. With its compact, 2.8-inch size, it suits many consoles and dashboards without compromising valuable space.

How it works

In this example, two pressure sensors read the pressure on both the rod and piston side of a hydraulic cylinder while checking the inputs values and scaling the readings. The PHD28 has the processing power to calculate the corresponding force of the cylinder based on the cylinder dimensions while the weight of the container can be calculated as well. In addition, it can be used as the operator interface to perform the tare calculations, store the value and then compute the weight of the payload. The PHD28 offers the functionality of the weight display, operator input device and the system information center in one unit to help reduce costs and save dashboard real estate.

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Equipment display simplifies real time weight calculations - John P. Thomas - regional application engineer, Parker Hannifin