SmartConnex™ K-Tron Feeder Control Overview

KCM with full display and keypad

K-Tron Control Module (KCM) with Integrated Local User Interface
Operator Interface with Display, Control Board and Motor Drive

The K-Tron Control Module (KCM) combines feeder control and motor drive modules into a compact new housing, offering more flexibility and excellent performance. Each feeder has its own KCM, generally mounted directly on the feeder, which is available in various configurations depending on the application.  Control and motor drive modules are combined into one component and may be mounted at the feeder or remotely. Each KCM version comes with all the software needed for continuous or batch applications.

KCM with status display
 

KCM with Integrated Status Display (KCM)
Control Board and Motor Drive

The K-Tron Control Module offers advanced features such as screw speed modulation with patented algorithm that can improve the short-term feeder accuracy on single screw feeders by up to a factor of two at low feed rates.  Integrated refill control for Premier PCS self-contained vacuum loaders or single central receivers with HCU controls. Refill control can be handled through the feeder operator interface eliminating the need for the HSU programming unit.

KSU-II Single Unit Display
 

K-Tron Single Unit Display II  (KSU-II)
Operator Interface with Display
The KSU-II is an economical user interface for single feeders with KCM. It can also be used as a portable display for maintenance or configuration in larger systems where the feeder's primary display point is a higher level unit. The KSU-II can be dedicated to a single feeder or it can network to multiple KCMs. The KSU-II will only view one feeder at a time, but the user can switch between feeders. Up to three KSU-II operator interfaces can be linked to a network of up to 31 KCM's. Each KSU-II can be programmed to access a different KCM.

K-Vision Line Controller

K-Vision™ Single Line Controller (K-Vision)
Operator Interface with Display
K-Vision™ is a feeder operator interface for controlling up to 16 feeders in a single process line, replacing the KSL. K-Vision uses a 10.4-inch color LCD display together with a touchscreen as the primary operator input mechanism. It offers a quad screen display mode for viewing multiple pages on one feeder or a single page on multiple feeders. Support for multiple languages, including Chinese and Japanese, is included. Designed for simple operation and fast and easy start-up, K-Vision offers graphic visualization of process information, utilizing flexible, easy to use trend graphs. This feeder interface offers event logging and supports all of the different feeding control types for both continuous and batch operation.

KSC K-Tron Smart Commander

K-Tron Smart Commander (KSC)
Operator Interface with Display 
The KSC is a PC-based interface able to control up to 30 units in multiple process lines. Feeder, line and system-wide data is graphically displayed and includes historical trends, statistical control, recipe commands, diagnostics, help, and much more. An industrial PC with KSC-Software inside the SmartConnex™ control system controls up to 30 K-Tron feeders including weigh belt and loss-in-weight feeders or batch feeders as well as PID, SFM and SFB components in both continuous and batch modes reliably according to registered setpoint values.

Continuous Gravimetric Extrusion Control System
K-Tron's Continuous Gravimetric Extrusion Control package offers the ability to control extruder speed so that its output has a predictable and repeatable mass flow.By accurately measuring material throughput, gravimetric extrusion control can compensate for material and process variations and provide more consistent end product quality. This technology is most often used in conjunction with single screw, flood-fed extruders. The most common applications are: profile extrusion,cast sheet, blown film, cable coating, laminating, precision tubing, and pipe extrusion. Gravimetric extrusion control is virtually a necessity for multi-layer coextrusion systems. The K-Tron package offers a fully integrated feeder and control solution with mass flow or weight per length control, allowing the processor to set the extruder speed from the K-Tron interface.