May 28 2019 03:35 PM

Integrates truck scale weighing functions with production and business activities

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Companies are looking to increase profitability and efficiency by increasing the number of weighments they can make over a given time. One way to achieve this is by integrating weighing functions more closely with daily production and business activities. New truck scale instruments are being developed that fit in with today’s culture and business environment, where there is a greatly increased expectation that user interfaces will provide immediate feedback and be easy to use. One example is Fairbanks’ new FB2560 instrument, which includes faster processing power, expanded USB capabilities, an updated operating system, and more memory.

Faster processors with updated operating system and software
Faster and more powerful processors provide quick response time and improve user experience. For example, the FB2560 features a 1.83GHz quad core processor, a big upgrade from the prior model’s 1.6GHz dual core processor. Also, installation and calibration are streamlined in the FB2560 through use of a web interface.

Downtime is minimized and repair and calibration costs are significantly reduced with Intalogix® Technology, which allows the instrument to help diagnose load cell issues. The Intalogix Technology digitizes analog load cell signals, letting users track what is happening in each load cell. The key benefits of such a system include increased resolution and accuracy, much easier problem isolation and troubleshooting, and unprecedented lightning and surge protection. And, because Intalogix works with virtually any analog load cell, no special proprietary load cells are required.

The new instrument now includes five USB ports, increasing the number of devices that can be integrated into the overall system. One is a USB 3.0 port, often referred to as SuperSpeed USB. Devices that adhere to the USB 3.0 standard can transfer data about 10 times faster than the older USB 2.0 standard.

The operating system has been upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, which will allow for extended operating system support for this family of instruments. The RAM was doubled to 4 GB to increase the speed of the user interface. Along with the new hardware, software enhancements include additional features to improve service and support. The new instrument is available in NEMA 12 desktop, washdown, panel mount, and rack mount versions.

The external display uses a Digital Video Interface-1 (DVI-1) connector, which provides the ability to connect an external flat panel monitor to the FB2560. Power requirements for the FB2560 are now 100-240 volts of AC power at 47-63 Hertz, allowing the instrument to be used in applications with varying supply voltages.

Driver assist terminal speeds vehicle weighing process

The Driver Assist Terminal (DAT) available for the instrument is designed to speed the vehicle weighing process and reduce associated operating costs. By allowing drivers to remain inside their vehicles, the FB2560 DAT also eliminates safety concerns and liabilities that can occur when drivers walk across scale platforms and traffic lanes.

The new FB2560 instrument also features Axlematic, an application that allows for axle-by-axle weighing of vehicles on both full-length platform and short platform scales.

The short platform axle weighing application allows vehicles to be weighed one axle at a time. The weighing operation can be used on an axle truck scale with dimensions of 10-feet x 10-feet or larger and can process gross-tare-net weighing, manual weighing or auto axle weighing.

The full length platform Axlematic application resides on the FB2560, providing important axle weighing features and functions, including serial connectivity, onscreen IP camera interface, full color touch screen display, Ethernet connectivity and transaction reports via email.

Using the full length platform weighing application allows trucks to be weighed one axle at a time on a standard full length truck scale. The system can be configured for manual or auto axle weighing and gross-tare-net or inbound/outbound weighing. Once the vehicle is completely scale borne, a legal-for-trade gross-tare net ticket can be provided.

Easy to use instrument provides immediate feedback
The new FB2560 instrument offers features that provide immediate feedback and make it far easier to use than earlier instruments. It represents a big step forward in integrating weighing functions more closely with daily production and business activities.