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Active Contributor

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Africa, Cape Town (Western Cape)
Posts: 11

Valve Controls and Automation

04/19/2012 2:38 AM

We currently have a problem of loosing lots of downtime in one of our Product Filling Machine. If we get underfilled bottle, we kind of struggling to find a fault quicker. We 120 Filling valves and each has a bank of solenoids: Vacuum solenoid, return gas solenoid and pretension solenoid. So when we have underfills on certain valve we first change the probes(filling/level); if the problem is still there then we swop the valves, if the problem moves with the valve, we then replace the valve with a spare unit. But if the problem doesn't move we then change the solenoids. The procedure takes bout 45 to 50 min. We therefore lose lots of time considering that we have to drop all the product to drain as we cannot remove the solenoids while there is still product on the bowl, it's sprays all over (that's another problem we having). I was thinking of installing pressure switches for each solenoid bank to monitor the pressure from each solenoid but it's very costly as we have 360 solenoids all together. Each bank is controlled by an interface card and the bank consists of 24 solenoids that operates on 8 valves and each valve has 3 solenoids (vacuum solenoid, return gas solenoid and pretension solenoid). Is there a better way of trouble shooting that will pin-point whether it's the solenoid or valve that is a problem or the probe, because the total downtime we get is about an hour considering start-up. Any ideas or quicker solutions? I'm prepared to spend on my budjet for extra installations or modification.

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Power-User

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wales, UK
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Good Answers: 18
#1

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/19/2012 3:21 AM

Hi,

It sounds like you have a bit of a nightmare when things go wrong.

What is the product? I am intrigued what each solenoid does in the machine cycle.

What is the machine (make & model)?

Pictures could be a big help.

Best regards,

John

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Active Contributor

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Africa, Cape Town (Western Cape)
Posts: 11
#3
In reply to #1

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/19/2012 7:54 AM

The Make is KHS (INNOFIL ER-ZMS)

There are 3 solenoids operating on one valve : one solenoid controls vacuum; another one controls the return gas and the third one controls the pretension. There are 8 valves in a bank that makes 24 solenoids in a bank that is controlled by a BNR interface card

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Power-User

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Location: Wales, UK
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/19/2012 8:13 AM

Hi,

Do you mean there are 3 solenoid valves for each filling station?

I assume the vacuum is to assist the product into the bottle.

What is the "return gas" and "the pretension"?

What is the product you are bottling?

Best regards,

John

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Active Contributor

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Africa, Cape Town (Western Cape)
Posts: 11
#5
In reply to #4

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/19/2012 8:34 AM

3 Solenoids for each filling Valve and the product is beer

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Power-User

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Location: Wales, UK
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#7
In reply to #5

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/20/2012 3:31 AM

Hi again,

I was hoping that getting you to give more information on the machine that someone would "jump in" and be able to advise you.

I'm afraid I can't see any easy option or short cut to your problem.

Best of luck,

John

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Anonymous Poster #1
#2

Re: Valve controls and Automation

04/19/2012 5:48 AM
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Power-User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: oz
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#6

Re: Valve Controls and Automation

04/19/2012 5:22 PM

Is it castle or Lion?, If its castle make sure you repair ASAP, dont want the prices going up.

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