Improved conveying
efficiency and ease of maintenance are key drivers in food
production. Intralox has resorted to using one belt instead of
rollers, while CSi has adopted ultrasound technology.
Intralox believes that its new Series 2200 Radius Flush Grid (2.6) belt with insert rollers represents a breakthrough for food processors. The machine allows plants to standardise on a single belt in heavy-duty conveying applications that include straight runs, radius turns, and low back pressure accumulation.
Intralox claims that using one belt instead of rollers or multiple belts enables plants to reduce maintenance, eliminate problematic transfer points, and minimise the number of drives installed per conveying application.
Another advantage of the new model is its long-lasting durability in tough applications. This is because the machine features 19.1mm-thick, impact resistant modules and rugged sprockets. This also helps to decrease the risk of jams and product damage by eliminating transfer points.
In addition, rollers protruding above and below the belt allow manipulation ofproduct speed vs. belt speed to create spacing between productsor increase throughput.
Manufacturer CSi also claims that its new range of pallet conveyors offers food processors a number of useful innovations. The equipment is made of stainless steel and aluminium, features ultrasound sensors instead of photocells and is economically viable because of its modular design.
"By making the best use of high quality material, the operational costs are kept to a minimum and an extremely high degree of reliability and system availability is achieved," said CSi marketing manager Leon Nelen. "High availability, high reliability and cost effectiveness were the key design criteria for this new line of products."
Because of the integrated control concept of the new i-Veyor range, Nelen claims that considerable cost and time saving schedule can be achieved on the design, installation and commissioning of a new installation. The conveyors are controlled by a standard control cabinet, equipped with industrial PC (IPC) and a touch screen.
To optimise the modular concept, all sensors are connected to the control cabinet by the plug and play field wiring bus, enabling additional sensors to be easily added. The conveyors have integrated cable-trunks in the construction for the field bus I/O and power cables.
