Open AccessLow Cost Automation of FFS Powder Filling Machine with Dual Core Controller
Author(s) -
N Manikandan.,
Mathanesh. V.R,
S Pravin.,
A Ravikumar.,
R Sivashankaran.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of innovative technology and exploring engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2278-3075
DOI - 10.35940/ijitee.h6978.078919
Subject(s) - automation , mechatronics , microcontroller , automotive engineering , process automation system , computer science , controller (irrigation) , engineering , core (optical fiber) , control system , process engineering , mechanical engineering , manufacturing engineering , embedded system , control engineering , electrical engineering , agronomy , biology , telecommunications
The manufacturing systems used to automatically fill seal and pack food products is referred as Form Fill Seal (FFS) technology. The FFS technology aims to reduce human intervention and thereby reducing contamination of the food products. This requirement is primarily found in Food and Pharmaceutical industries. The production rate in these machines is optimized through accurate time control of the packing process. The sequential steps involved are pack formation, content filling and pack sealing. The current system under study is not economical for short production, multi-ply packing and cannot self-adjust for different widths of bag. To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the existing system, a low-cost automation system is proposed which uses standardized electrical, mechanical and pneumatic systems. Additional weigh and pour mechanisms were included to increase the accuracy of the system. A mechatronics system, developed for this machine is controlled by a Dual Core PIC Microcontroller, which is capable of receiving feedback from sensors and controlling the actuators accordingly. The low-cost automation system involved the mechanical system design, Finite Element Analysis of the mechanical system, electronic circuit design, control system design and HMI programming. The proposed system has increased the production rate at an optimum cost and also the machine size is reduced by five percent. With the increase in production rate and machine size, the developed machine can play a vital role in improving the outcome of a manufacturing system.