EPSA-1

Overview

The Hobart EPSA-1 is an Access PrePack stand-alone scale for commercial portion weighing. Its stated weighing capacity is 50 lb with 0.01 lb increments, and the listed maximum is 50.09 lb. The product listing identifies it as a digital portion scale with a rectangular platform. In the Access PrePack system, the scale’s weighing function works alongside product records and label-related information to support prepack and food-preparation tasks.

The Access PrePack platform can store information for thousands of products. The system manual describes product records that can include NutriFacts, safe-handling information, expanded text, health tips, meal planners, recipes, cooking instructions and merchandising graphics. These are system capabilities; the information available to an operator depends on the records and configuration in use.

Key Features

• Portion weighing: A 50 lb capacity with 0.01 lb increments supports portion control for food prepared or packed by weight.
• Touchscreen operation: Access PrePack standard features include a large 10-inch colour touch display, three-screen gesturing, and a pop-up alphanumeric keyboard or numeric keypad.
• Product lookup: Operators can search the product database by description or by the nearest PLU number.
• Product and operator notes: Notes can be available to support product handling and operator tasks. On-screen help questions and answers are also listed as standard features.
• Shelf-life information: Product and shelf-life data can be managed by day and/or hour; the system spec sheet also describes management by days, hours or minutes.
• Supervisor functions: The system supports creating COOL records on the scale and backing up the database to a USB drive. Its USB port can support an external keyboard or USB drive.
• Label-related functions: The Access PrePack system supports expanded text and special message fields, subject to label size. Its spec sheet lists EAN13 barcodes for packages with a total price over $99.99.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Hobart
• Model: EPSA-1
• Product type: Access PrePack stand-alone digital portion scale
• Weighing capacity: 50 lb x 0.01 lb
• Listed maximum weighing value: 50.09 lb
• Platform type: Rectangular
• Display: 10-inch colour touch display, listed as a standard feature across the Access PrePack models
• Operator interface: Three-screen gesturing; pop-up alphanumeric keyboard or numeric keypad
• Product search: By description or nearest PLU number
• Product and shelf-life data: By day and/or hour; system spec sheet also states days, hours or minutes
• Database backup: USB drive support
• USB use: Supports a USB drive or external keyboard
• Optional accessories: ACCESS-SAKIT stand-alone kit and ACCESS-HWSKIT hand-wrap station kit; listed as available at extra cost
• Warranty information in the product listing: One year for parts, labour and travel time during normal working hours within the USA. Confirm applicable terms for Canadian installations.

Installation & Requirements

The Access PrePack system supervisor manual states that the system should be installed or moved only by qualified Hobart service technicians. It gives an operating temperature range of 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C). The manual specifies electrical power of 120 or 208/240 volts, 50 or 60 Hz, single phase (two wires plus ground) for the system, and says the power cord is located on the back of the printer unit. These are Access PrePack system requirements from the manual; confirm the requirements for the complete EPSA-1 configuration and its connected equipment before installation.

The supplied sources do not state an EPSA-1 clearance requirement, gas connection or ventilation requirement. No gas specification is provided for this scale.

Operation

Operators can use the Access PrePack interface to find a product by description or nearest PLU number, review operator or product notes, and access on-screen help. Product and shelf-life information can be maintained by day and/or hour, with the system spec sheet also noting minute-based management. The wider system manual describes product information such as safe-handling text, recipes, cooking instructions and NutriFacts; these records are used when entered and configured for the system.

Supervisor setup can include store information, such as a store name, store ID and store graphic. The manual explains that a store graphic can print when the selected label type provides space for it. Supervisors can also configure normal scale operation, including which transaction, COOL and operator-change information is collected. The manual describes flashkey grids for product access and notes a maximum grid size of 16 by 16 rows and columns.

Access PrePack label options depend on the selected label type and installed printer configuration. The system manual lists label widths of 1.5 inches, 2.25 inches and 3 inches, with label lengths from 1.5 inches to 4 inches in the combinations shown in its label-size table. Some lengths may require a custom label type. Available label fields can include sell-by and packed-on dates, when permitted by the label type. The system spec sheet lists EAN13 barcodes for packages with a total price over $99.99.

For supervisor data handling, the system can back up its database to a USB drive. The USB port can also support an external keyboard. The exact printer, console and accessory configuration should be checked for the intended installation; the optional ACCESS-SAKIT and ACCESS-HWSKIT are listed separately at extra cost.

Troubleshooting

The supervisor manual provides a specific recovery step for an unresponsive console: use the reset switch on the bottom of the console to reboot it. Pressing the switch initiates an orderly operating-system shutdown; pressing it when the console is off powers it on. The manual cautions that the reset switch shuts down the operating system only and does not remove power from the console.

For power-down, the manual says not to unplug the system. Use the on/off switch on the back of the printer. For weighing checks, the manual notes that packages near the middle of a 0.01 lb increment may normally vary up or down by 0.01 lb. It states that variation greater than 0.01 lb indicates the system needs adjustment; contact an authorized Hobart service representative in that case or when adjustment is otherwise necessary.

Applications

The EPSA-1 is suited to portioning food by weight in commercial kitchens, grocery and meat departments, and other prepack operations. Its capacity and 0.01 lb increments support portion-control tasks, while Access PrePack product records and shelf-life information can assist teams preparing packaged foods for sale. When used with a compatible printer configuration, the wider system supports product labelling with available date, text and barcode fields.