Integrated PLC and HMI updates rice packaging machine

With locations in Guatemala and Honduras, Imapsa Automation specialises in preventative maintenance engineering. This particular application relates to automating rice filling and packaging machinery.

Imapsa is always looking to give its customers not only a reliable system, but a great looking customised display. At the time, the rice filling and packaging machinery was in desperate need of modernisation. In order to hold true to their commitment to quality and reliability, Imapsa needed to find a way to reduce the set-up time and build a more flexible system. The timing for the different steps of the filling process was originally made mechanically by a camshaft with seven cams and seven microswitches; this process needed to be more efficient. Imapsa also needed the ability to give information to its production department to track the efficiency of the machine and the operator.

Unitronics' Samba SM35-J-T20 integrated PLC and HMI was ultimately chosen for the task. The drum sequencer command and the high-speed (encoder) inputs of the SM35-J-T20 were the key factors that made automating this machine easy and effective. In the past, when the operator would change the type of rice bag for different brands of a final product, making adjustments required the mechanical and manual adjustments of the cam and microswitches. Now, with the Samba, the operator can simply adjust the machine by entering and changing the degrees of the electronic cam. The 3.5inch colour touchscreen and the resolution also enabled Imapsa to design great-looking displays that were easily understood by the operators. The PLC additionally provided the much-needed ability to send reports to the production department to track the efficiency of the filling speed, the number of bags filled, the operating time, and a data table showing the start time and any stop time.

Ober Yela of Imapsa Automation comments: "With fast delivery times, and constantly updated software, Unitronics has always listened to our customers' many requests, and have implemented them since we decided to start our automation division in 2001. Great support via both the technical support team and the Unitronics forum. And, of course, great price!"

Follow the links to watch a video of this rice packaging application and to find out more about the Unitronics Samba SM35-J-T20 integrated PLC and HMI.