Continuous Loss-in-Weight Blenders Instruction Manual

Continuous Loss-in-Weight Blenders Chapter 2: Functional Description 18
PLC Control Panel
The PLC control panel may be mounted on the side of the blender frame, or remote mounted
near the blender. It uses an Allen-Bradley SLC 5/04 programmable controller with standard
24 vdc input output cards. This design provides excellent blender performance along with
easily replaceable off-the-shelf parts in case of any electronic component failure.
Touch Screen Interface
The PanelView 600 color touch screen display can be mounted up to 50 feet (15 m) from the
PLC control panel. It is very user friendly after installation and setup, simply enter in the
proper recipe and start the blender.
If it is desired to have a local display and control of the blender at the operator station, an
optional PanelView 600 can be installed.
Motor Drive Panel
The auger motor drive panel is mounted on the blender frame adjacent to the PLC control
panel in most applications. The motor drive panel is permanently wired on the blender. The
standard panel contains Yaskawa GPD 205 variable frequency motor drives, a power supply
and manual volumetric backup system wiring components.
The motor drives on the blender are standard, off the shelf drives and are readily available
from Yaskawa distributors and the manufacturer.
Power cords to each drive motor are equipped with plugs to facilitate auger removal and
motor replacement, if necessary.
Optional “Quick Color Change” Kit
The optional “QCC” quick color changeover kit allows the virgin material to be gravity fed
so the processing machine can be operated, while a color change is being done.
The virgin material auger metering assembly is equipped with a lower slide gate and
discharge tube. A flexible hose connects the discharge tube with a cast aluminum flange
below the blender that is equipped with an angled inlet tube stub. When the slide gate is
opened, virgin pellets will gravity feed to the bottom of the blender and bypass the blender
augers and the lower mass flow weigh hopper, allowing the extruder to be operated.
The blender augers can then be removed and the colors changed without the processing
machine having to be “re-strung”, and the product having to be re-gauged.