Gravimetric Extruder Control -

GravEx
Control your Extruder
Control Product Quality
Save over 2% Raw
Material
Quick Job Changes
The GravEx is a gravimetric extrusion control system which utilises
the loss in weight principle to control and maintain a consistent
weight or thickness of your extruded product. It will maintain your
product weigh to better than +/- 0.5% of target.

It will automatically react to variations in material bulk density,

extruder back pressure, ambient conditions and any other influence
to extruder output stability to maintain your product consistency.

How It Works

The GravEx throughput controller sits between the material storage

hopper and the extruder throat. It monitors the loss in weight of the
material in its weigh chamber and from this calculates the mass
throughput rate of the extruder. In Auto Control mode GravEx can
control the extruder or the process line speed to maintain a set
output or a set product weight per unit length.

When the weight of material in the weigh chamber falls below a

preset value a slide valve opens and refills the chamber from the
material storage hopper.

To prevent damage to the load cells the GravEx has a protective

outer hopper made from powder coated zinc plated steel. The inner
weigh chamber and the inlet slide valve are made from 304 grade
stainless steel. The control electronics are mounted in a cabinet
attached to the outer hopper.

Interface Modules

In order to operate the GravEx controller needs input from the

process: The extruder screw speed and the process line speed. In
order to control it needs to be able to change the extruder screw or
process line speed. There are many ways this can be done
depending on the control wiring for the main system.

Rather than run potentially hazardous signals from the main

electrical cabinet to the GravEx controller, a set of interface modules
are installed in the main electrical cabinet and a low voltage
communications cable run to the Gravex controller.

All control signals are optically isolated. Speed input modules can
use digital pulses or analogue voltage input. Extruder and line
control can be by motorised potentiometer, digital output, relay
output or analogue output.

Control Outputs

Fundamental to the design of GravEx is the philosophy that when not in Auto Control mode, the extruder or line speed
control should revert to the normal operator control. To best achieve this GravEx uses control signals to increase or
decrease the speed rather than setting an absolute speed using an analog reference output. The preferred control
outputs are motorised potentiometer (for older lines) or direct ramp up/down digital inputs to the line PLC (for newer
lines). Analog control output is the least desirable option because it almost impossible to avoid a step change of speed
when changing from Auto to Manual control mode.

Features:
The GraveEx will control your extruded product to +/- 0.5% of target by adjusting either the extruder screw
speed or the line speed thus maintaining your product quality and eliminate over weight/usage.
Automatically compensates for process variations caused by raw material bulk density variation, extrusion back
pressure, ambient conditions and any other factors affecting extruder output stability.
Very quick responce time which can shorten job change and set up time by more than 30% resulting in
increased production time and reduced waste.
The weigh hopper is completelt enclosed by a metallic hopper to isolate it from external interference and
provides mechanical protection of the load cells giving you a long and reliable service life.
Integrated adaptor flange for feed throat mounting , top flange designed to mount machine hooper or blender.
Stand alone, co-ex or fully integrated with Weighbatch AdvanTec central control system.

Specifications:
Standard models for 100, 200, 400 & 800 kg/hr.
Throughput or weight per metre control standard.
Dynamic parts in contact with the material are
stainless steel.
Static parts in contact with the material are powder
coater steel.
Power supply single phase 230 V, 50 Hz std.
Pneumatic air supply 6 bar, regulator supplied
Options:
Output control modules for 10 turn potentiometer,
push botton or PLC speed control.
Thickness display for film applications, requires entry
of width and density.
Wall thickness disply for pipe applications, requires
entry of diameter and density.
Remote mounted operator controls.
High temperature version for hot dried material.

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