Weighing feeder retrofits and upgrades

The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a detailed overview of important application points when considering a weighing feeder retrofit. The focus is on weighing feeders used for both weighing and control where the feed rate is controlled by varying the belt speed. The information is also applicable to noncontrolled constant speed weigh belts. This paper discusses the consideration between a new feeder and a retrofit kit and then focuses on weighing feeder retrofit kits. This focus includes an overview of typically required components, a discussion of application considerations and a more detailed discussion of important components. This paper addresses the question of stand-alone integrator use versus the use of programmable logic controllers. Finally, some important economic considerations are discussed