Packaging Machine Control Panels - Common Controls
PACKAGING MACHINE CONTROL PANELS - COMMON CONTROLS
Many packaging machines - from overflow fillers, nitrogen purge machines and container cleaning equipment - will use a touch-screen operator interface to allow the users of the equipment to quickly and easily prepare a certain bottle or container for production. Other packaging machines, such as spindle cappers and even power conveyors, require simple adjustments to fingertip knobs or simple handles to make quick adjustments. However, on the panels for almost every packaging machine some common non-touch screen controls exist for safety and ease of operation.
MAIN POWER
Normally found on the side of the control panel on most packaging machines, the Main Power button simply turns on and off the power supply to the control box. Power should always be disconnected from the control box whenever maintenance, upgrades or other work is being performed on the packaging machine. The Main Power switch allows for simple power on and power off of filling machines, cappers, rinsing equipment and other machinery.
E-STOP AND RESET BUTTONS
Human error, component malfunction and general wear and tear can all cause a packaging machine to malfunction on occasion. Sometimes a malfunction to one packaging machine can cause a chain reaction that jams bottles and causes poor performance of other packaging machines. Container cleaning equipment, liquid fillers, capping machines and other packaging equipment will almost always include an emergency stop, or E-stop, button on the control panel. Pressing the E-stop button causes the machine to immediately stop functioning until the performance issues can be resolved. In some cases, E-Stop buttons may also be placed at different locations along the packaging line for easy access.
Once the issue has been cleared on a packaging machine, the button can be released by simply turning it. After releasing the E-stop button, the Reset button can be depressed to resume production.
COMPONENT CONTROLS
Packaging machines will often include component controls on the control panel that are unique to a given machine or type of machine. Rinsing machines, filling equipment and capping equipment may all include a power height control on the control panel. This simply control allows rinse heads, fill heads or capping heads to be raised or lowered by the simple turn of a switch.
Another example of a component control is the pump speed on certain filling machines. A simple dial will allow an operator to increase or decrease pump speed on a number of different fillers, allowing a quick and easy adjustment to different fills. The component controls found on any packaging machine control box will depend on the specific application being run.