Shrink Packaging Troubleshootng Guide

Bottom Lap Sealer, Automatic

Not Sealing Hot Wire (Hot Knife see below)

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the sealing system heating	Check	Check to see if the heating system is heating	No	Check heating control system, Seal wires, Heating elements
Yes
Are the sealing pads and tapes in good condition	Check	Check to see if the seal pads and or sealing tapes are in good condition	No	Replace Seal pads and tapes as needed
Yes
Is the sealing wire coming into contact with the seal pad and or tape	Check	Check to see if the seal wire is hitting the seal pad and or tape	No	Adjust the seal arm or seal pad so that they are in alignment and level
Yes
Is the sealing system at the proper temperature	Check	Check to see that the film is being cut off and sealed	No	Adjust the sealing system temperature to proper level
Yes
Is the seal wire clean and strait	No	Check the condition of the seal wire	No	Replace the seal wire if not in good condition
Yes
Are the Seal wire beads or insolating strip in good condition	No	Inspect to see that the seal wire beads or insolating strip are in good condition		Clean or replace the seal wire beads or insolating strip
Yes
Is the sealing wire that is being used the proper seal wire for the sealing machine	Check	Check to see that the proper seal wire is being used	No	Replace seal wire with the proper seal wire
Yes
Is the dwell setting set properly	Check	Check to see that the dwell setting is set properly	No	Adjust the dwell setting. Dwell setting (2-5sec)
Yes
Is the seal arm holding set properly	Check	Check to see that the proper amount of pressure is being applied	No	Adjust the Seal arm holding for proper pressure
Yes
Is the film the proper film for the sealer being used	Check	Check to see if the film is the proper type and is not to old	No	Replace with proper type film and newer stock

L- Bar Sealer Semi-Automatic, Hot Knife

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the sealing system heating	Check	Check to see if the heating system is heating	No	Check heating control system, heating elements
Yes
Are the seal blades and bars in good condition	Check	Check to see if the seal blades and seal bars are in good condition	No	Replace or clean seal blades and seal bars as needed
Yes
Are the sealing pads and tapes in good condition	Check	Check to see if the seal pads and or sealing tapes are in good condition	No	Replace Seal pads and tapes as needed
Yes
Is the seal blades and bars coming into contact with the seal pad and or tape	Check	Check to see if the seal blades and bars are hitting the seal pad and or tape evenly	No	Adjust the seal arm or seal pad so that they are in alinement and level
Yes
Is the sealing system at the proper temperature	Check	Check to see that the film is being cut off and sealed	No	Adjust the sealing system temperature to proper level. Seal bar Temperature (300-400 degrees F)
Yes
Is the dwell setting set properly	Check	Check to see that the dwell setting is set properly	No	Adjust the dwell seting. Dwell setting (2-5sec)
Yes
Is the seal arm holding set properly	Check	Check to see that the proper amont of pressure is being applied	No	Adjust the Seal arm holding for proper pressure
Yes
Is the film the proper film for the sealer being used	Check	Check to see if the film is the proper type and is not to old	No	Replace with proper type film and newer stock

Seal arm not moving down

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the Air connected to the machine	Check	Check to see that the pressure gauge is at the proper setting	No	Adjust the pressure regulator to proper setting (around 60 psi)
Yes
Are the seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors working properly	Check	Check to see if the seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors are working properly	No	Clean or replace seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors that are not working properly
Yes
Are the seal bar safeties set properly	Check	Check to see that the seal bar safeties are set properly	No	Adjust or replace seal bar safety switches
Yes
Are the film clamps working properly	Check	Check to see if the film clamps are moveing freely	No	Adjust or replace the film clamps
Yes
Is the seal arm control system working properly	Check	Check to see if the control system is working properly	No	Trouble shoot the control system until power is getting to the seal arm control valve
Yes
Is the seal arm control valve working properly	Check	Check to see that the seal arm control valve is work properly	No	Replace the seal arm control valve
Yes
Is the seal arm air cylinder working properly	Check	Check to see if the seal arm air cylinder is leaking air or weak	No	Replace seal arm air cylinder
Yes
Is there a lot of wear at the connections of the air cylinder	Check	Check to see if there is exsesive wear at the air cylinder connections	No	Replace any part that are worn and tighten and parts that are loose
Yes
Are there any restriction keeping the seal arm from coming down	Check	Check to see if there are any restriction	No	Remove any thing that is restricting the seal arm from coming down

Seal Arm Not Dwelling in Down Position

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is the seal dwell timer set properly	Check	Check to see that the seal dwell timer is set properly	No	Adjust or replace seal dwell timer
Yes
Is the Safety overide working properly	Check	Check to see if the safety overide is working poperly	No	Adjust or replace that seal bar safety overide switch
Yes
Are the film clamps working properly	Check	Check to see if the film clamps are moveing freely	No	Adjust or replace the film clamps
Yes
Is the safety control system working properly	Check	Check to see if the safety control system is working properly	No	Trouble shoot the safety control system to find problem

Seal Arm Not Returning Up

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the Air connected to the machine	Check	Check to see that the pressure gauge is at the proper setting	No	Adjust the pressure regulator to proper setting (around 60 psi)
Yes
Are the seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors working properly	Check	Check to see if the seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors are working properly	No	Clean or replace seal arm flow controls and or exhaust restrictors that are not working properly
Yes
Is the seal arm control system working properly	Check	Check to see if the control system is working properly	No	Trouble shoot the control system until power is getting to the seal arm control valve
Yes
Is the seal arm control valve working properly	Check	Check to see that the seal arm control valve is work properly	No	Replace the seal arm control valve
Yes
Is the seal arm air cylinder working properly	Check	Check to see if the seal arm air cylinder is leaking air or weak	No	Replace seal arm air cylinder
Yes
Is there a lot of wear at the connections of the air cylinder	Check	Check to see if there is exsesive wear at the air cylinder connections	No	Replace any part that are worn and tighten and parts that are loose
Yes
Are there any restriction keeping the seal arm from coming up	Check	Check to see if there are any restriction	No	Remove any thing that is restricting the seal arm from coming up

Discharge Conveyor not working

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the conveyor timer set properly	Check	Check to see if the conveyor timer is set properly	No	Adjust or replace conveyor timer as needed
Yes
Is there power to the conveyor drive motor	Check	Check to see if there is power at the drive motor	No	Trouble shoot the conveyor control system to see why power is not getting to the conveyor motor
Yes
Is the conveyor belt moving freely	Check	Check to see if the conveyor belt is bond	No	Adjust the conveyor belt track to relieve the binding
Yes
Is the conveyor belt tension set properly	Check	Check the conveyor belt tension	No	Adjust the conveyor belt so that it is not to tight but tight enough to move product
Yes
Is the conveyor drive roller spinning	Check	Check to see if the conveyor drive roller is spinning	No	Adjust chain or belt tension and or replace the Chain and sprockets or belt and pulleys
Yes
Is the conveyor idler roller spinning freely	Check	Check to see that the conveyor drive roller is spinning freely	No	Adjust or replace the worn bearing and or parts

Infeed Conveyor not working

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the sealer	Check	Check to see that there is power to the sealer	No	Turn on power to sealer
Yes
Is the conveyor timer set properly	Check	Check to see if the conveyor timer is set properly	No	Adjust or replace conveyor timer as needed
Yes
Is there power to the conveyor drive motor	Check	Check to see if there is power at the drive motor	No	Trouble shoot the conveyor control system to see why power is not getting to the conveyor motor
Yes
Is the conveyor belt moving freely	Check	Check to see if the conveyor belt is bond	No	Adjust the conveyor belt track to relieve the binding
Yes
Is the conveyor belt tension set properly	Check	Check the conveyor belt tension	No	Adjust the conveyor belt so that it is not to tight but tight enough to move product
Yes
Is the conveyor drive roller spinning	Check	Check to see if the conveyor drive roller is spinning	No	Adjust chain or belt tension and or replace the Chain and sprockets or belt and pulleys
Yes
Is the conveyor idler roller spinning freely	Check	Check to see that the conveyor drive roller is spinning freely	No	Adjust or replace the worn bearing and or parts

Product Detect Photo Eye not working

Possible Cause		Test		Action
Is there power to the photo eye	Check	Check to see that there is power to the photo eye	No	Troule shoot the electical control system untill power is at photo eye
Yes
Is photoeye working properly	Check	Check to see that that the photo eye is functioning properly	No	Adjust or replace the photo eye
Yes
Is the photo eye alined properly	Check	Check photo eye alinement	No	Adjust photo eye alinement
Yes
Is the photo eye in the proper location	Check	Check photo eye location	No	Adjust the photo eye location so that it is see the product flow
Yes
Is the photo eye selection switch set properly	Check	Check that the proper photo eye has been selected	No	Adjust the photo eye switch so that the proper photo eye is being used
Yes
Are the photo eye lenses clean and free from debri	Check	Check to see that the photo eye lenses are clean and free from debri	No	Clean and remove debri from photo eye lenses

If you need further assistance from a professional packaging technician, please call McLeod & Dewey at (800) 548-4008 and ask for the Service Department they will be glad to assist you in any way possible.