SPARC 4A

MULTIHEAD WEIGHING MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM

 

Sparc 4a is an evolutionary development from the well-proven Sparc 4 systems.

It has the following additional features:

 

 

Touch Screen HMI

 

The  operator interface or Human Machine Interface is a bright,  10.4 inch, TFT colour touch-screen to enable simple control of the machine.

It is housed in a separate, stainless-steel enclosure with a fully washable membrane.

The touch area is infinitely variable, meaning that the content of the screens is unlimited.

The HMI is effectively a mini computer in its own right and therefore holds all of the  500 product-code settings in its extensive Flash Memory. Unlike conventional PCs the HMI is up and running within a few milliseconds of switching on the power. Similarly it does not require a shut-down procedure – the power may just be switched off.

 

 

 

Full stepper motor capability

 

Up to 32 high power stepper motors may be connected to the system. All stepper motors operate independently thus enabling totally asynchronous operation of weighpans, holding boxes, memory buckets etc. This feature is essential in situations such as staggered discharge.

The opening and closing speed-profile for the motors on each level of the multihead may be separately selected out of 64 pre-determined profiles. Different opening distances and curves are therefore readily available for different products on the same machine. Extremely smooth and quiet operation of the pans is inherent..

All motor drive circuits have over-current and over-temperature protection.

 

 

Increased channel analogue board

 

The existing 16 channel analogue processor board has the capacity for 4 extra channels making a total of 20. The extra channels are mainly aimed at centre loadcell applications thus eliminating the need for a complete extra card for just one or two more channels.

 

 

Increased capacity vibrator board

 

The existing 16 channel card has been extended to have 20 channels. This means that machines having up to 19 heads can be driven from one card and still have a centre vibrator without the need to add an extra vibrator card.

All channels have the same 3.5 amp peak current rating as the existing 16 channel board.

 

Internet  enabled

 

Sparc 4A comes with an optional Ethernet interface which has a built-in Web Server.

This means that the customer may connect the control system to his factory Ethernet network and from anywhere on that network interrogate the multihead with a standard Web Browser.

Statistics and management information may be viewed, parameters checked and changed (subject to password control).  If the customer requires, he may use an appropriate gateway to enable the machine to be accessible on the Internet. This process can be secure and can be an invaluable aid to remote health checking of the machine.

 

 

High power multi-processor architecture.

 

Sparc 4A has the advantage of distributed processing. This means that separate microprocessors service separate hardware functions. A typical configuration would have Six separate processors running. The advantage is in the processing capacity and the robustness of separate, exhaustively tested software modules.

The well-proven robustness of Sparc 4 is maintained through this evolution.

 

 

Sparc Systems Ltd.  March 2002