PLC Programming

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is used to specify or program the various heat sealing parameters used to make seals with the Novaseal heat sealing machine.  The Human Machine Interface (HMI) device shown in the photos below permit on screen data entry for each parameter.  The HMI device will not permit you to change the proprietary code used by Novaseal to program the function of the PLC.

There are four (4) parameter values that can be entered by the operator.  These values will change for each heat sealable material used with this heat sealing machine.  The four parameters are Pulse Time 1 (abbreviated PLS TIME 1; Pulse Width 1 (PLS WDTH 1); Pulse Time 2 (PLS TIME 2); Last Phase Cool (LST PH COOL).  By example, during the machine acceptance, Novaseal got the best results sealing GI’s polyethylene material with settings of:  Pls Time 1 =2.1s; Pulse Width 1 =2.1s; Pulse Time 2 = 2s.  Last Phase Cool > 2.5s to max 8s.

Novaseal proprietary pulsing technology (patent pending) is based on these parameters.  The first value, PLS TIME 1, is the time in tenths of a second for the i-wire to initially heat up.  The longer the time, the more heat is generated.  A setting of 20 is really 20 tenths or 20 divided by 10 or 2 seconds.  A setting of 24 is 2.4 seconds, and so on. 

PLS WDTH 1 is the second value and is defined as the length of time the initial heat setting is allowed to absorb into the layers of material before the next pulse time is generated.  Lower values for PLS WDTH 1 can usually create more overall heat.  PLS TIME 2 represents the third value and specifies the next surge of heat.  LST PH COOL is the fourth value and represents the non heated time duration under pressure.  When the time set for LST PH COOL runs out, the UPPER SEALING BAR automatically opens and the heat sealing cycle is complete.

Determining values for each material can vary based on machine power, and therefore difficult to create a chart of standard values unless all machines used the same sealing power.  Your machine includes a PowerPak which means that parameter values will be less duration than a machine without a PowerPak.  Additional transformers can further reduce cycle time.  The values shown in the example below were used to seal your PE material.  For vinyl, the sealing parameters are larger.  If you need help determining parameter values, call Novaseal.
 

The first screen (above) identifies Novaseal Corporation as the manufacturer of the 3.3-Meter Wide Format Heat Sealing Machine.

The second screen (above) provides contact information for Novaseal.  Press NEXT button to scroll through sequential values.  PREV button is to scroll backward to previous screens.

PLS TIME 1 is on the third screen (above), and is shown with a parameter value of 22 tenths or 2.2 seconds.

PLS WDTH 1 is on the fourth screen (above).  Value shown here is 3.0 seconds.

PLS TIME 2 is on the fifth screen (above)  Value shown is 2.1 seconds.

On the screen above, we’ll change the parameter value for LST PH COOL.  There are two ways to erase a parameter value.  One way is to press F5 or CLR button, and othe other way is to press F4 UP arrow.  In this example, we press the UP arrow and the number ‘1’ appears.  If left alone this value would be 0.1 seconds.  We don’t want that value, so to increase value, each subsequent click of the UP arrow increases the number incrementally.

We pressed or clicked it until we go to the number ‘3’.  Next we press the F3 or LEFT Arrow.  This key moves the ‘3’ value one digit to the left which makes 0.3 seconds become 3 seconds.

Using the UP arrow again increases the value of the digit to the right of the ‘3’ such that the time is increased from 3 seconds to 3.2 seconds.

In this example, we like 3.2 seconds, so next we press F6 ENT for Enter which enters value change for parameter to 3.2 seconds.  To change any other value, use NEXT or PREV to scroll to the value you want to change, then click or press UP Arrow or CLR button and follow the instructions above to program a new value for that parameter.  Don’t forget to press the F6 button to store the new value.