Granulator Controls
The primary goal of the controls package is ultimately determined by the process and what level of integration is required.
Basic granulator control
For example, a standalone central granulator that is used intermittently may only require manual controls whereas an integrated beside the press or under the press system may need I/O capabilities for system regulation. If a conveyor belt is feeding a granulator, as the granulator approaches maximum capacity, this feedback may need to be relayed to pause the conveyor feed.
One initiative in the plastics industry is coined “Industry 4.0”, as in the fourth industrial revolution driving the integration of systems, processes, and operators. This parallels what is currently being done in other industries such as water/waste-water reclamation with SCADA systems.
The Germany based IKV – Institute for Plastics Processing – describes it this way: “The key factors are horizontal integration to interlink not only different process steps, but also different companies along the entire value chain, and vertical integration to connect individual part-systems of the production cells to form a single, holistically controllable production system.”
The result for OEM equipment manufacturers is offering solutions on size reduction equipment that cater to both basic controls packages as well as smart system provisions.
New “Industry 4.0” controls have the ability to monitor and trouble-shoot key machine components or integrate with external monitoring systems.
Cumberland’s latest smart control used on the T50 model granulator illustrates the growing capabilities of this technology. The HMI (human-machine interface) allows interface with the PLC, allowing adjustments of settings and ability to view the status of the PLC. The graphic display provides a real-time visual representation of the entire grinder system.
The HMI displays component trending such as granulator motor load current and bearing temperatures. This can be used to extend the life of the unit and minimize downtime. For example, when the knives are dull, the motor load current will increase to give you an indication that the knives are due to be serviced. If the bearing temperature increases to above normal values, it can create an alarm to notify the operator to check for grease or bearing failure and avoid a more serious problem, and ultimately enhancing safety. If a service event happens unexpectedly, historical trends allow you to look back in time at different parameters to help diagnose or troubleshoot the problem.
