At IXOM Chile, we were upgrading some elements of the high volatile solvents area (white spirit, xylol etc).
One of the devices that raised concerns was the scale. It came to our attention that the conventional scale we were using did not adhere to regulations. As a result, we embarked on thorough research and consulted various scale providers for technical expertise. Ultimately, we opted to acquire a unit from PRECISION Chile. This device guarantees operational safety due to its sealed design and lower voltage operation, in contrast to a standard scale. This innovative feature effectively prevents the emission of heat or sparks from its electrical components.
Electronic-Technicians Installing the new device.
After installation and conducting preliminary tests, it is time to
certify the device using a pre-certified weight of 500kg. This
certification process involves thorough testing to ensure precise
measurements, thereby preventing any issues with the final results and
potential wastage of raw materials. In the accompanying image, a truck
is shown carrying one ton of certified weight (indicated by the black
squares), along with other certified weights, to perform tests and
validate measurements up to 1500kg. This meticulous certification
procedure guarantees accurate and reliable outcomes.
The test to ensure the proper functioning of the device is conducted as follows:
Initially, the technicians are required to position 500kg at the
designated points (as illustrated in the image) on the scale. This step
allows for the evaluation of whether each sensor (with each scale
equipped with four sensors near each corner) detects an equivalent
weight. Should any discrepancies arise, necessary adjustments are made
within the counting board (the scale's central processing unit).
Subsequently, this process is reiterated two more times, if not more, to
establish a precise and consistent measurement.
Following the preceding steps, the technicians proceed to incorporate
the complete range of weight loads. This procedure is essential to
validate the scale's capability to measure weights within the specified
range, which, in this instance, spans from 4 to 1500kg, serving the
requirements of various operational processes.
Finally,
they meticulously ensure that all components are in proper order before
providing the client with a comprehensive documentation package. This
documentation not only certifies the installation's compliance with fire
safety standards but also guarantees correct functionality.
Additionally, a one-year warranty is included to provide further
assurance.
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After the installation, as the maintenance department, we took measures
to ensure the safeguarding of such a valuable asset. This proactive
approach was prompted by previous experiences involving forklift
operations and the resulting challenges we encountered.
We had to devise an ingenious method to safeguard the device; constructing a frontal wall was out of the question...
As
you can observe, our anticipation revolved around the possibility of an
operator inadvertently damaging the front of the scale. This concern
stemmed from the fact that when loading pallets, there is no alternative
but to position them directly ahead, leaving no room for deviation.
General Goal: "Protect the scale in a safe and friendly way to any operator"
As evident from the preceding sketch, I conceived the following idea, which serves multiple purposes:
1.
It prevents the need to confront a solid metal wall head-on, reducing
torque exertion when the operator advances and potentially encounters
the barrier (indicated by the blue arrows). This design distributes the
applied force along the ramp.
2. To ensure the sustained
stability of the protective device, aside from utilizing concrete bolts
to secure it to the ground, we incorporated an enlarged plate. This
enlarged plate guarantees that the forklift necessarily aligns with it
during pallet placement on the scale (the red arrow indicates the point
where the forklift's wheel initiates downward pressure on the entire
device).
3. The structure did not require extensive material
thickness; a 5mm sheet metal plate was employed for the "ribs" within
the device, while 3mm thickness sufficed for the remaining plates.
This innovative solution not only addresses the operational challenge effectively but also minimizes material usage.
After few days of normal operation, I checked with the operators:
Both they and the production chief expressed their satisfaction with the straightforward yet highly effective solution.
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After
the previous successful experience, we bought another conventional
scale for another place within the factory and we asked to the same
scale provider to build a similar protective device with the previous
specification.
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