Packaging Stations Documentation
A packaging station will include various pieces of equipment, but the primary component is the Contro3. This is a programmable embedded CPU controller that is the brains behind the operation. It comes with a full alpha-numeric keypad and a LCD text display. This is how the user will interact with the system, watching the prompts on the display and keying in information that the Contro3 requests. The Contro3 also has a large internal memory capable of storing thousands of transactions, as well as keeping a list of hundreds of products, customers and farms. It fills these data tables from information it receives from the host PC, which it communicates to through a 485 multi-drop line. The Contro3 interfaces with other smart devices, such as scales, barcode label printers, line printers, and laser scanner. In addition the Contro3 has general purpose I/os that can be connected to sensors, counters, relays that can turn motors on and off, and lights. When packaging random weight product the packaging station must have an electronic scale that can transmit the weight via RS-232/422. A typical choice is a Weightronix model WI-125 or WI-127.
To produce labels with an identifying barcode and all other pertinent information a barcode label printer such as the Intermec model 4240 will be used. It will be placed inside a specially designed enclosure that will protect it in the wash down environment. When operating as a checkweigher an Intermec fixed-mount scanner will be used to scan the barcode on the box. A bright LED or light is used to indicate to the user in a noisy environment that the box has passed the check.

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