A multihead weigher, also known as a multihead weigher scale or a combination weigher, is a sophisticated weighing system used in various industries for accurately measuring products by weight. It is a key component in many automated packaging lines. It is particularly popular in the food industry for applications such as snacks, confectionery, fruits, vegetables, and other loose or granular products.
The multihead weigher is designed to increase efficiency and accuracy in the weighing process. It includes multiple weighing heads, typically between 10 and 24, arranged in a circular configuration above a collection funnel. Each weighing head contains a weighing bucket or hopper, load cells for weight measurement, and an actuator for controlled discharge.
The Applications of Multihead Weigher in the Food Industry
Multihead weighers are widely used in the food industry for accurately and efficiently weighing various food products. Here are some key applications of multihead weighers in the food industry:
- Snack Foods: Combination weigher are useful for weighing snack foods like potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, and extruded snacks. These machines can quickly and accurately measure the desired quantity of snacks to be packed in individual packages or larger containers.
- Bakery Products: Multihead weighers can weigh bakery items such as bread, rolls, pastries, and cakes. They maintain the desired weight for consistent portion sizes and product quality.
- Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables often have varying shapes and sizes, making them challenging to weigh accurately. Combination weighers equipped with specialized handling systems to weigh delicate and irregularly shaped produce items while minimizing damage.
- Meat and Poultry: Multihead weighers are employed in meat and poultry processing plants for weighing cuts of meat, poultry portions, and processed meat products. They help maintain precise portion control and optimize packaging efficiency.
- Seafood: Multihead weighers are used in seafood processing facilities to weigh various seafood products such as fish fillets, shrimps, scallops, and squid. These machines can handle wet and slippery products with accuracy and speed.
- Pet Food: Combination weighers are also used to produce pet food. They can weigh a variety of dry kibble, treats, and pet food ingredients, ensuring that the correct amounts are dispensed for packaging.
The Advantages of Multihead Weigher
- High Accuracy: Multihead weighers have several weighing heads, typically 10 to 24, to simultaneously measure the weight of products. This results in a higher level of accuracy than single-head weighing systems. The combination of multiple weight readings helps to minimize errors and ensure precise measurements, even for small target weights.
- Speed and Efficiency: High-speed operation make them ideal for applications that require fast and efficient weighing and packaging processes. Each weighing head can handle a specific product stream, allowing simultaneous weighing and minimizing downtime.
- Versatility: The machine is versatile, and it can handle a wide range of products, including dry, fresh, frozen, sticky, and fragile items. It is suitable for weighing various food products, such as snacks, confectionery, nuts, fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood. With adjustable parameters, it can accommodate different product characteristics and packaging requirements.
- Consistency and Uniformity: Multihead weighers ensure consistent and uniform product portions by precisely measuring and distributing the desired weight. This feature is particularly crucial for industries that require standardized packaging or portion control, such as snack foods, ready-to-eat meals, or retail packaging.
- Easy Operation and Integration: Modern multihead weighers have user-friendly interfaces and intuitive controls, making them easy to operate and adjust. They often come with preset programs for different products, simplifying setup and changeovers. Additionally, they can be integrated with other packaging machineries, such as vertical form-fill-seal machines or automatic baggers, for seamless production lines.
- Cost Savings: The accuracy of the machines helps reduce product waste, contributing to cost savings.
Conclusion
Multihead weighers offer precise and efficient weighing solutions, ensuring accurate product portions and optimizing packaging operations. Its speed, accuracy, versatility, and ease of integration make it a popular choice in various industries requiring precise weighing and packaging.
