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Controls and options

Controls and equipment options

Atlas Vac standard features and patented options were developed in response to the requirements of medical device manufacturers. Each option below shows what it changes on the sealer, what remains unchanged and what it requires.

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Atlas Vac sealer control panel with color touchscreen
Atlas Vac operator controls

Start from the need

Identify the option by what it must do

Each option changes one part of the sealer. Select an option to see what it changes, what remains unchanged and how it works.

Need Option Availability What it changes Limits and requirements
Move the tool into the press Auto Shuttle Optional on pneumatic models; standard on the All Electric Electric actuators cycle the shuttle in and out The press drive remains pneumatic
Run the cycle without hand sensors Light curtain Optional on pneumatic models; standard on the All Electric One-button start with a safeguarded loading area Requires Auto Shuttle and Auto Pressure on pneumatic models
Set and hold air pressure Automatic pressure regulation Optional (Process Control) Closed-loop control of air pressure within locked limits Does not measure or control force
Observe sealing force Direct Force Sensing Optional on pneumatic models; standard on the All Electric A lb‑f reading on every press stroke Reference only on pneumatic models; not closed-loop control
Match the tool to the recipe RFID Tool ID System Optional The sealer will not cycle on a tool and recipe mismatch Separate from standard barcode matching
Remove sealed trays Auto Eject Optional Pneumatic lift of sealed trays as the shuttle returns Requires Auto Shuttle and Atlas Vac eject tooling

Motion and safeguarding

Shuttle motion and light curtains

Manual and automatic shuttles

  • Manual shuttle

    Standard

    The operator moves the shuttle under the platen and starts the press with both hands on the Banner Opti-Touch sensors. Both hands remain on the sensors until the platen closes on the tool, and the operator withdraws the shuttle once the platen has lifted.

  • Electric Auto Shuttle

    Optional on pneumatic models

    Electric actuators move the shuttle in and out with programmed acceleration, deceleration and speed. The PLC continues to control the press stroke, seal time and release. Standard on the All Electric.

    • Changes shuttle motion only. The press drive remains pneumatic.
Video to follow
1830 electric shuttle

Light curtains

A horizontal or vertical light curtain spans the tool loading area, with separate safety circuitry integrated with the press air supply and shuttle motion. Any interruption returns the cycle to home. A single green push button replaces the hand sensors, and the operator prepares the next load while the cycle runs, without the push-pull motion of a manual shuttle.

Requires
Auto Shuttle and Auto Pressure on pneumatic models. Standard on the All Electric.

Safety circuit

  • Dual-channel Ross safety-rated valves replace the standard single-channel valves
  • CE marked
  • Designed to ISO 13849 and OSHA Category 3 requirements, as stated for each configuration
  • Designed to corporate “zero access” requirements where specified

Pressure and force

Air pressure is the input. Force is the output.

A pneumatic press converts regulated air pressure into force on the tool. Pressure regulation controls the input; Direct Force Sensing reads the result.

  1. Input Air pressure Set and held by the regulator
  2. Conversion Pneumatic press Cylinder applies the stroke to the platen
  3. Output Force on the tool Read in lb‑f by Direct Force Sensing
Explanatory diagram

Manual and automatic air pressure

Manual regulation

Standard

A precision manual regulator sets the pressure, which is shown on the PLC screen through a transducer. High and low limits are set under password, and alarms stop operation outside them.

Automatic regulation

Optional · Process Control

The pressure setpoint is entered on the PLC screen and held by Festo closed-loop control. Operators can adjust only within the locked limits, and the same alarms apply.

  • Regulates air pressure. Does not measure force.

Direct Force Sensing

Patented

Reads the force in lb‑f applied by the press on every stroke and shows it on the PLC screen. Specifying lb‑f in a sealing protocol accounts for differences in air pressure, sealer brands and models, and tooling, so results can be aligned across sealers, lines and sites.

  • Available on every pneumatic model; standard on the All Electric
  • Pneumatic models: a reference reading, not closed-loop control
  • 1518S and 1518 Dual: requires Auto Pressure and Auto Shuttle
  • 1522, 1830S and 1830 Dual: requirements To be confirmed

Tool matching and tray handling

RFID tool identification and Auto Eject

RFID Tool ID System

Introduced by Atlas Vac

Each tool carries a recipe identity, written under password. The operator must select the recipe that the tool requires, or the sealer will not cycle. Several product and tool changeovers a day can be made without a supervisor password.

Optional on all sealers, as single-product sealers may not require it.

Requires
Process Control

Barcode matching

Standard on all sealers

Matches a tool barcode to the recipe and to a third item, such as a traveler document, through the UDI feature.

Records and data

Auto Eject

Optional

Sealed trays are lifted pneumatically as the Auto Shuttle returns home, with an adjustable hold of 1–10 seconds. A manual eject command is included, and older tooling continues to run without the lift.

Requires
Auto Shuttle and matching Atlas Vac eject tooling
Tooling
Video to follow
Auto Shuttle with Auto Eject

Prerequisites by model

What each option requires, model by model

Availability is shown for each of the six principal models. Every configuration is confirmed with Atlas Vac engineering at quotation.

Option 1518S1518 Dual15221830S1830 Dual1830S All Electric Requires
Auto Shuttle Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Standard None
Light curtain Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Standard Auto Shuttle and Auto Pressure (pneumatic models)
Auto Pressure (Process Control) Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Not applicable None
Direct Force Sensing Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Standard
  • 1518S and 1518 Dual: Auto Pressure and Auto Shuttle
  • 1522, 1830S, 1830 Dual: To be confirmed
RFID Tool ID System Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Confirmed per order Process Control
Auto Eject Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional Confirmed per order Auto Shuttle and Atlas Vac eject tooling

Standard controls and safeguards of the range are on Medical tray sealers.

Installed equipment

Adding options to an installed sealer

Several options can be added to Atlas Vac sealers already in service. Retrofit eligibility is confirmed by serial number.

  • Auto Eject

    Available for select sealers and tooling sets. Provide the sealer serial number and the tooling assembly part number.

    Discuss a retrofit

  • Touchscreen data and access

    UDI input, barcode scanning, data logging, access control and connectivity on the 10″ color touchscreen.

    Records and data

  • Overtemperature protection

    A redundant overtemperature circuit for many older Atlas Vac sealers.

    Overtemperature retrofit

Configuration enquiries

Discuss a configuration

Atlas Vac engineering reviews the model, process and tooling with your organization and recommends the options and prerequisites that apply.

Useful if you have it

Model and serial number · The need: movement, safeguarding, pressure, force, tool matching or tray removal · Tooling assembly part number for retrofits

Request a consultation +1 (513) 407-3513
Address
Atlas Vac Machine, LLC
9150 Reading Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45215, USA
Phone and email
(513) 407-3513
sales@atlasvac.com
Hours
Mon–Fri 08:00 am – 05:30 pm
Saturday by appointment
Sunday closed