A product path through a counting unit that presents individual pieces to the detection system.
Also called: counting track; product channel.
Are twelve counting channels twelve bottle lanes?
No. A counting channel is a product path inside the counter. A multichannel counting assembly can feed a single-track bottle conveyor or an arrangement with multiple bottle tracks. Product-channel and bottle-track counts refer to different parts of the line.
A module groups counting components at another level. Identify channels within each module, the separation and discharge arrangement, and the bottle-conveyor tracks separately in the layout.
Three counts that describe different machine elements
Label
Object
Product channel
A path presenting solid units to counting.
Counting module
A grouped counting assembly in the stated configuration.
Does adding channels guarantee proportional bottle output?
Channel count alone does not establish output. Product presentation, the counting assembly, discharge and bottle handling belong to a particular configuration. A machine rate needs the actual product and module arrangement, rather than an assumed constant output per channel.
A useful comparison names which channels and modules are active for the proposed product and count. It should retain the associated bottle output and conditions instead of deriving capacity from the number of tracks alone.