AEC OFE Blender - Manual (Page 23)

Loss-In-Weight Color Feeders Chapter 4: Operation 22
Diagnostics Menu
Once the operator has chosen the DIAGNOSTICS MENU, they will have access to the
following settings:
a. Scale Readouts
b. Auger/Pickups
c. Communications
d. Alarm Log
e. Extruder Information
Inventory Menu
When this menu has been selected, the operator will be able to see the current status of the
material.
Printer Menu
Once the operator has chosen the PRINTER MENU, they will have access to the following
settings:
1. Test Print
2. Set Job Number
3. Set Print Interval
4. Print Data
4-3 Operation Procedures
Feeder Operation (Automatic Mode)
The Feeder control will increase the voltage output to the DC gear motor driving the additive
metering screw, until the actual metering rate matches the target metering rate.
In the automatic mode, the feeder delivers material at the rate set in by the operator. The
extruder screw speed is continuously monitored via the proximity switch mounted on the
back of the extruder screw. Once the extruder starts running at a constant speed, the control
learns the screw speed and internally sets up a table to slave in the feeder metering screw to
the extruder screw speed. The production rate extruder screw speed will equal the preset rate
of the feeder. Once this feeder rate to the extruder screw speed relationship table is internally
established, then from this point onwards, if the extruder screw speed is decreased or
increased, the feeder will change its target rate accordingly.
Inventory is kept on the metered material, and can be downloaded to a data collection
network program.
If a communications network is installed, the unit can also be used for production and
downtime tracking as the extruder speed can be continually down-loaded, date and time
stamped, and logged for production reports, etc.