Calibration and Verification Methods for Continuous Weighing Batchers and Conveyor Scales

Business entities across nearly all economic sectors use continuous weighing batchers and conveyor scales as mass measuring instruments. The accuracy of these instruments directly depends on metrological traceability. However, many enterprises are unable to perform verification of these measuring instruments due to the complexity of the procedure in real production conditions. Consequently, there is a need to improve approaches for transferring a unit of mass to conveyor scales and continuous weighing batchers.

The purpose of this review is to analyze the primary methods for transferring the unit of mass to these measuring instruments, examine their advantages and disadvantages, and describe how various conditions influence measurement accuracy.

The author analyzed data from the Verification module of the Arshin subsystem, which is part of the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements (FGIS Arshin of the FIF UEM) for the period 2020–2024. The analysis revealed a growing trend in the use of conveyor belt scales as accounting measuring instruments, despite the complexity of the verification procedure. This trend confirms the critical importance of metrological assurance for the operational reliability and accuracy of these devices.

The study focuses on six calibration and verification methods for conveyor scales and continuous weighing batchers. In particular, a method in which the author has professional involvement is considered – the method based on the use of a 5th-class mass standard. As a result, its advantages compared to other methods have been identified: a) it can be applied to any conveyor scales and batchers; b) it is significantly simpler than pouring; c) it accounts for all the established influencing factors; d) it ensures reliability with traceability to the State Primary Standard for the unit of mass GET 3–2008.

Furthermore, some limitations have been identified, the elimination of which is necessary for further improvement of the approach. Specifically, the method is currently applicable only to conveyor scales and batchers with a relative error of 1% or greater. The conclusions of the review can provide metrologists with a basis for selecting the most optimal calibration and verification methods for batchers and conveyor scales, which constitutes the practical significance of the study. The scientific significance lies in the formulation of proposals for improving the quality and reliability of measurements and expanding the application of continuous weighing batchers and conveyor scales.

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