Tap into potential savings, optimise processes and hygiene, individually configurable operation and extremely simple programme and product changes. These arguments are cited by companies as reasons for their investment in a Höfelmeyer grading machine. The systems are used when products of different sizes need to be sorted automatically according to weight, quantity or optimal weight combinations.
The hygienically designed, stainless steel graders are ideally tailored to their application, for example in the fresh or frozen sector to classify meat, fish, natural products and much more. They consist of a combination of dynamic weight detection and a modular distribution system. The layout of the system, consisting of a loading conveyor and a separating, weighing and sorting conveyor, as well as its extensive features, can be adapted to a customer’s requirements.
Products are fed to the grader manually or via the customer’s own conveyor technology. After their separation, they are precisely weighed. The scales are designed for a weighing range of up to 150 kg with a digit increment between 0.1 g and 50 g and a throughput of max. 160 cycles per minute (depending on the product). Based on the weighing result, the products are then sorted by means of stainless steel diverters. This is done using internally defined weight classes for instance, or with the aim of achieving an optimum combination of products by weight. Paloxes positioned on the sorting belt serve to pick up the products. Up to 16 sorting units can be realised (on both sides or on one side). Combining Höfelmeyer graders with downstream line distributors is possible as well as with upstream metal detectors etc.
The control unit consists of an industrial PC with touch operation on a separate stainless steel stand and stainless steel control cabinet. The modular software allows easy adaptation of programmes as well as the creation and maintenance of products by the customer. The repertoire also includes a direct view of weight data progression and extensive statistical, also web-based, evaluations. In addition, fault messages are visualised for fast troubleshooting including error documentation, plausibility checks, system parameterisation via touch display and much more. Manual operation facilitates straightforward, fast cleaning processes and maintenance work. Compressed air monitoring, sorting monitoring, and fill level monitoring for collecting containers can also be realised if required.
The visualisation and operating processes are calibrated to a customer’s requirements and infrastructure and are intuitively comprehensible. A connection to a company’s network is provided via Ethernet.
In practice, the grader’s hygiene concept has proven itself many times over. Minimised welding seams, optimum surface designs and much more contribute to a low degree of soiling and best cleanability. The grading machines are designed in protection class IP69.
The comprehensive service package includes the remote maintenance tool 'Direct VIEW S' based on Augmented Reality. It is quickly launched via a direct call button and can be visualised on smartphones, tablets or special smart glasses. This Service 4.0 makes an important contribution to increasing the availability and productivity of the systems, making sorting processes safe, precise and faster.
