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Inspect the springs for breaks or damage and replace as required. Inspect for debris and clean as required.
Press the gripper plate inward evenly, then on one end, then the other, searching for the specific location
causing the binding. Two blocks slide in a housing. Ensure that the blocks are not binding in the
housing. If this is where the binding is occurring, loosen the screws and reposition the block. Then
tighten and test for free movement. Clean all components and reassemble.
With the assembly complete reassembled and mounted in the machine, attach air, and power and turn on
the unit.
4.6 Pressure Bar Alignment / Cylinders Speed Adjustment
The pressure bar must come in evenly, so as to contact the gripper plate at the same time all the way
across. If one side of the pressure bar contacts the gripper plate prematurely, the antijam may activate,
the bag may not be sealed or excessive wear or machine damage could occur.
Check for free movement of the pressure bar: Turn the power to the OFF position and unplug the power
cord. Remove the air line from the regulator and remove the top cover. Once the air is removed, the
pressure bar can freely be pushed toward the front plate. If the pressure bar binds, adjustments will be
required. Binding may be caused by: 1) cylinder rods not being parallel to each other, 2) failing seal
cylinders or 3) bent seal cylinder rods.
To test for parallelism, with the power off and air removed, loosen the screws holding the pressure bar
onto the seal cylinder rods. With the screws loose, press in the pressure bar and check for binding. If the
cylinders do not bind with the screws loose, then the cylinders were most likely not parallel. Tighten the
screws while the pressure bar is touching the gripper plate. Then pull the pressure bar back out checking
for binding. If there is no further binding, attach air and power on the unit and test cycle by pressing the
foot switch or guard switch. If binding still occurs, then the cylinders themselves must be aligned to
make them parallel to each other. This is accomplished by placing shimming material between the
cylinder mounting brackets and the side walls. Contact APPI technical support before proceeding.
To test for failing or bent seal cylinders, with power off and air removed, remove the pressure bar
entirely. Then, push each cylinder rod inward individually. If the cylinder rod binds when not attached
to the pressure bar, then the cylinder must be replaced.
If the cylinders are not binding, check for proper pressure bar movement inward and outward: Watch the
operation of pressure bar for several cycles to ensure that the pressure bar contacts the gripper plate at
the same time all the way across. If one side of the pressure bar contacts the gripper plate prematurely,
the seal cylinder speed must be adjusted.
Two "speed controls" operate the speed of each cylinder’s in and out motion that brings the pressure bar
against the front plate (gripper plate). Increasing the speed of the pressure will increase production. But,
if the pressure bar moves in or out too fast causing the pressure bar to "bang", excessive wear will occur.
Pressure Bar IN Speed Adjustment: The adjustment knob to the rear of the unit controls the speed of the
pressure bar INWARD (towards the front plate). To decrease the speed of the pressure bar INWARD,
turn the knob counterclockwise. To decrease the speed of the pressure bar INWARD, turn the knob
counterclockwise.
Pressure Bar OUT Speed Adjustment: The adjustment knob toward the front of the unit controls the
speed of the pressure bar OUTWARD (away from the front plate). To increase the speed of the pressure
bar OUTWARD, turn the knob clockwise. To decrease the speed of the pressure bar OUTWARD, turn
the knob (A) clockwise.
Adjust the speed of the pressure bar so that it moves in and out rapidly, in a fluid manner, without causing
the pressure bar to "bang" when moving in or out.
