Many times, the Item Complete output and its timer are used to run the last pieces of an item out through a roll former. One customer wants a feature that triggers every time the line halts to trigger any cut pieces to be run out through the roll former. One issue is there may be uncut material in the roll former that could strip material out through the shear and into the roll former.

In the past we have solved this sort of issue with the combination of the Uncut Length output and PLC logic. Not all controllers have the output available or access to a PLC.

To solve the customer’s request, we have added the "Item Complete on Halt" setting. It has five options, No, Always and Uncut Length, Halted Only and Uncut Length Only.

When set to No, the Item Complete output works as it always has. It is triggered on the last part of an item.

When set to Always, it will trigger on the standard Item Complete conditions after item completion, and it will be triggered every time the line is Halted from the run mode, provided a part has been produced while running.

When set to Uncut Length, it will trigger on the standard Item Complete conditions after item completion, and it will be triggered every time the line is halted, provided a part has been produced while running and the leading edge of the uncut material is less than the Uncut Length Threshold setting.

When set to Halted Only, it will only be triggered every time the line is Halted from the run mode, provided a part has been produced while running.

When set to Uncut Length Only, it will be only be triggered every time the line is halted, provided a part has been produced while running and the leading edge of the uncut material is less than the Uncut Length Threshold setting.

When Halting, if the Item Complete is active and the either of the Uncut Length options are active and in violation, the active Item Complete trigger will be terminated early to prevent uncut material from being stripped through the shear.

Some additional changes were made so that the Uncut Length Threshold setting is visible even when there is no Uncut Length output available.