Instrument Troubleshooting
Q1. The filter bag is not sealing.
Possible Causes:
The dial on the heat sealer may not be turned up high enough. In order to seal the F57 Filter Bag, the dial must be set at approximately "4" while the XT4 Filter Bag is sealed at a setting of "6." Different lab conditions may affect the proper setting. Experiement with a bag to "dial in" the correct setting.
The heating element is broken. On the sides of the Teflon cover are two shiny metal strips that keep the cover in place. Loosen the screws that keep the strips tight to the base of the heat sealer and remove the Teflon cover. Check to see if there is a break in the heating element. If there is, take the extra heating element from the box that the heat sealer came in and replace the defective element. Additional elements can be ordered from ANKOM Technology.
The Insulator is not properly installed. The Insulator should be installed to ensure that the heating element does not touch any of the metal on the base of the heat sealer.
Q2. Jars are not rotating well.
When the rotation switch is activated on the Daisy, the jars should continue to rotate until the switch is turned off.
Possible Causes:
There is not enough friction between the outside surface of the jars and the rollers on the instrument. This is especially true if either the outside surface of the jars or the rollers are moist. Many Daisy users put tape on the jars at the point of contact with the rollers in order to create more friction. Of course, it is important to use a type of tape that has a "rough" surface. Many find the tape that athletic trainers use to tape athletes works best. See Service Procedure #35.
The drive belts may be slipping. This may occur if the Daisy has a bit of age on it. The drive belts are the black o-rings that fit on the instrument's pulleys and cause the jars to turn. Overtime, the o-rings can begin to lose their elasticity and become too stretched. When this happens, the rotation will be erratic. If this is the reason for the jars not turning, it is possible to fix the issue temporarily until the new o-ring can be ordered. Remove the o-ring from one pulley and twist the o-ring into a figure 8. This will cause the o-ring to "shorten" and will keep it tight on the pulleys. New o-rings should be ordered and installed if this proves to fix the problem. See Service Procedure #35.
The set screw on the drive pulley may be loose and is slipping on the motor shaft. Tightening the set screw to the flat side of the drive shaft will fix this problem. See Service Procedure
#37 (Pending)
The motor may be going bad. This however is a bit unusual and each of the above possiblities should be investigated thoroughly before ordering a new motor. Contact ANKOM for information on how to test the motor. To replace motor see Service Procedure #30.
Analytical/ Results Troubleshooting
This analysis can be performed using the older Kjeldahl Method with filter bags. The automated combustion instruments (Dumas Method) can also be used. With some of the automated instrumentation, it may be difficult to get the entire filter bag into the "pellet" form necessary but many customers have been able to cut up the bag and make it fit.
Q2. Why should I use the MoistureStop Desiccant Pouch?
Many instruments in the marketplace have the capacity to run 6 samples at a time. After being dried, the beakers, flasks or crucibles are placed into a counter top or cabinet desiccator. Once cooled, they are then removed one at a time and weighed. Each time the desiccator is opened to remove a sample, moist ambient air is introduced inside the desiccator. However, because the lid or door of the desiccator is opened just 6 times, the samples that remain in the desiccator after each item is removed are affected very little by ambient moisture that may be introduced.
Many instruments in the marketplace have the capacity to run 6 samples at a time. After being dried, the beakers, flasks or crucibles are placed into a counter top or cabinet desiccator. Once cooled, they are then removed one at a time and weighed. Each time the desiccator is opened to remove a sample, moist ambient air is introduced inside the desiccator. However, because the lid or door of the desiccator is opened just 6 times, the samples that remain in the desiccator after each item is removed are affected very little by ambient moisture that may be introduced.
With Filter Bag Technology, generally larger numbers of filter bags are extracted at a time. As with the beakers, flasks, and crucibles mentioned above, if the bags are placed in a desiccator after drying, each time the lid or door is opened to remove a bag, moist ambient air is introduced. Because the desiccator is opened up to 24 times, the moisture can more readily affect the remaining bags. If a collapsible, ANKOM desiccant pouch is utilized, the air can be pushed out of the pouch each time a filter bag is removed. This technique provides an accurate and precise result. Every month it is possible to place the small desiccant packets into the oven at 100°-105°C for a few hours to insure that the desiccant is renewed. In addition, to insure the integrity of the desiccant pouch, regular replacement of the zip lock bag should
be considered.
Q3. Can the ANKOM Filter Bags be ashed?
The F57 filter bags are ash free and therefore can be used for ash determination. See Service Procedure #29 for the
Ashing Procedure. The F57 filter bags is ash free and therefore can be used for ash determination. See for the Ashing Procedure.
for the Ashing Procedure. The F57 filter bags is ash free and therefore can be used for ash determination. See for the Ashing Procedure.