Very nice LogBoss. Im stuck with photo eyes, and am going to 'go with it' so to speak.
My basic idea is this, and everyone will find fault in it im sure.
Put a photo eye at the bottom of the hopper. This is not in direct line of the falling product, so starting the 'ram forward' cycle after this 'guy' has been 'closed' for 10 seconds or so, seems to make sense. That will only ensure the chambre is full, or 'bail' if that is what it is called.
As stated before, I'm using RLL, so on that particular rung, the photo eye contact (in logic) will start a timer. If that timer reaches 5 or 10 seconds (field adjusted) the ram will go forward. It will stop if it hits the ram forward limit, or high pressure switch.
If the upper photo eye does similar, it will indicate the hopper is full, and stop product.
When all photo eyes are happy, product will commence.
Keep in mind, im keeping this one very basic.
There is much more to this project, and the motor timing functions are a great idea.
This old 'guy' and I mean machine, not me, only has one pressure switch.
We are going to send the 'bale' into a very large container, and just keep sending and sending. So it is not really a compressed 'bale' of paper going into the large container.
The pressure switch will activate only when this 'huge', and I mean HUGE container, is full. So we are 'bastardizing' a horizontal baler, to do things different.
Having two pressure switches only makes sense, as I would hard wire the 2nd pressure switch into the E-Stop circuit accordingly, as well as an input on the PLC.
Should have it working before Christmas.
A load cell is out. Totally. It does not 'tell' the converyor to 'stop', its just a guess. Not appropriate here. (the load cell said 'she' was only at 50 Kilos, but the plant manager said the mess on the floor... damn dry stuff, or was that the heavier stuff, who hit the button for dry?)
Anyhow, thanks again.
I am rather shocked to find this site. Like I said, Im a newbie to real world software programming, but Im not stupid. I was always the top of my class, which means little.
Thank you so much for your help, because it is real, and it trully makes sense. It is practical, and again, amazing.
It allows one to choose from a vast array or great ideas. Ideas that work, I hope.
Anyhow,
John