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Mechanical Conveying Spotlight - December 2010
December 13, 2010
7 Min Read
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Automated Material Conveying System
Designed specifically for fully automated handling and processing of highly abrasive, non free-flowing metal flake material, this self-contained bulk material conveying system ensures reliable, repeatable material supply to integrated feeders that meter material for introduction to an inline briquetter. Processed briquettes are conveyed downstream for reclamation. Material supply hoppers with live-bottom, variable frequency drive discharge-metering conveyors transfer material to inclined, cleated, belt conveyors. Downstream sensors monitor material supply requirements and automatically call to discharge-metering conveyors for material as process rates dictate. Integrated material feeders receive and prepare material for metered discharge to the briquetter. National Bulk Equipment Inc., Holland, MI 616-399-2220 www.nbe-inc.com
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Flexible Screw and Vibratory Tube ConveyorsConvey-All/FSC flexible screw conveyors feature a rugged design with only two moving parts for ease of maintenance and cleaning, are available in 10- to 20-ft lengths, and offer a choice of a 3-in. diam helix screw that nominally conveys up to 150 cu ft/hr or a 4-in.-diam helix screw that conveys up to 450 cu ft/hr. Convey-All VTC vibratory tube conveyors have only one moving part for long-lasting operation with low power consumption, are available in 4- to 10-ft lengths with 6- to 10-in.-diam tubes, and convey high rates of difficult flowing or friable dry solids up to 400 cu ft/hr. Both conveyors are specifically designed and engineered to provide flexibility to accommodate other Metalfab up or downstream equipment as bin activators, bulk bag unloaders, Posibins, feeders, and hoppers. Metalfab Inc., Vernon, NJ 800-764-2999 www.metalfabinc.com
Compact Conveyors
These compact low-profile and special-purpose conveyors are designed to reach into, and operate in, confined spaces around production machinery. Standard models are magnetic to provide continuous control of small-to-medium size ferrous parts and scrap even on inclines. Both magnetic and nonmagnetic models reduce labor costs, minimize downtime, and increase productivity. They require less than a 2-in. clearance and are built to withstand the day-to-day punishment of punch press and automated applications. Heavy-duty models are designed for extra-heavy loads, high belt speeds, and applications with heavily oiled materials. The quick-change belt design minimizes downtime for belt replacements and allows for easy on-line tension and tracking adjustments. Bunting Magnetics Co., Newton, KS 800-835-2526 www.buntingmagnetics.com
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Diagonal Plow Belt CleanerThis free-floating, gravity-feed diagonal plow-style belt cleaner complements the company’s line of industrial conveyor belt cleaners. The Model DPT uses the simple method of angular displacement to divert material away from the tail pulley, thus avoiding serious damage to the tail pulley or puncturing and tearing of the conveyor belting. This cleaning apparatus automatically self adjusts after the initial installation, until the blade stop assembly is activated. It utilizes 80 durometer rubber to provide long wiper blade life, and the wiper blade is easily changed when required. Urethane wiper blades are also an option. The mounting flange allows for easy adaptation to most conveyor rails, and the compact size fits in size-challenged spaces. Conveyor Components Co., Croswell, MI 800-233-3233 www.conveyorcomponents.com
Easy-to-Clean Flexible Screw Conveyor
With the flip of a switch you can automatically lower the Helix hi/lo flexible screw conveyor from heights up to 12 ft to an easy-to-access height. Without climbing a ladder you can thoroughly wash down the food-grade or sanitary-finish components between batches. No special tools are needed. An optional mass-flow hopper can be used to encourage discharge of sluggish or non-free flowing ingredients without the need for separate in-hopper agitation. The Helix can convey at rates up to 25 cu ft/min. Hapman, Kalamazoo, MI 800-427-6260 www.hapman.com
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Package and Pallet ConveyorsChantland offers package and pallet conveyors, specialty bag handling conveyors, including Vee and flat belt-closing conveyors, bag-turning conveyors, bag-kicking conveyors, and bag-flattening conveyors, all of which can be integrated into manual and automated filling and palletizing systems. Optional manual or electric vertical lifts are available that make change-over of different bag sizes quick and easy. Chantland-MHS, Humboldt, IA 515-332-4045 www.chantland.com
Precision Screw Conveyors
Designed for the harshest environments, these screw conveyors are precision machined to move virtually any dry, granular, or powdery material, even abrasive substances like fly ash, coal, coke, volcanic cinders, diatomaceous earth, and pebble lime smoothly and uniformly without packing or jamming. Standard screw configurations include variable pitch, tapered flights, cut flights, mixing paddles, and ribbon screws. Screws are manufactured in the U.S. to any specified size using commercially available materials, such as mild steel, 304 SS, 316 SS, T1, AR400, Tri-Braze, and Super C alloys. Conveyor troughing and all component parts are also fabricated in the same material range. Precision Machine & Manufacturing, Eugene, OR 800-722-9841 www.premach.com
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Bag Dump Station with Flexible Screw ConveyorThis bag dump system collects dust generated during manual dumping and compaction of bags, and conveys bulk material downstream, protecting workers, preventing plant contamination and conserving useable product, while reducing the frequency and cost of trash disposal. Pre-engineered, pre-wired, and ready to plug in and run, the compact system integrates a receiving hopper, dust collector, bag compactor, and flexible screw conveyor on a frame for rapid installation and easy relocation. The bag-dump-station draws dust away from the operator during manual dumping and compaction of bags, as the automatic reverse-pulse filter cleaning system causes dust build-up on outer surfaces of cartridge filters to fall into the hopper. The fully enclosed, flexible screw conveyor handles free- and non-free-flowing bulk materials ranging from large pellets to sub-micron powders, including products that pack, cake, seize, smear, fluidize, break-apart or separate, with no separation of blended products. Flexicon Corp., Bethlehem, PA 888-353-9426 www.flexicon.com
Custom-Designed Vibrating Spiral Elevators
Vibrating spiral elevators can efficiently dry, heat, or cool material while conveying. This is accomplished by direct or indirect heat transfer while the product is being conveyed. Custom-designed in sizes ranging from 3 to 9 ft in diameter and up to 35 ft high, they require less floor space than a straight conveyor with equal capacity. A unit with a 7-ft-diam spiral and 25-ft lift is equivalent to a straight 300-ft conveyor and provides adjustable retention time of up to 40 minutes. They feature an isolation system for simplified installation and reduced force transmission to supporting structures. Process flexibility is assured by the Force-Vector drive that allows for frequency, attack angle, and stroke adjustment. Carman Industries Inc., Jeffersonville, IN 800-456-7560
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Twin-Motor Vibrating ConveyorsBEST standard and special application mechanical conveyors and feeders are designed for rugged duty, low maintenance, and long service life. Standard Model TMC twin-motor vibrating conveyors are available from 4 to 18 ft long in flat-pan or tubular-trough construction. Longer conveyor lengths are accommodated by series mounting units in tandem. They can be base-mounted or suspended overhead. Twin counter-rotating motors provide a semi-balanced conveyor design ideal for long-transfer applications. Options include dust-tight trough units with tray covers and flexible connectors, stainless steel construction, sight ports, and scalping screen decks. Metso Minerals Industries Inc., Brunswick, OH 800-827-9237 www.bestvibes.com
Completely Enclosed Conveyor
The Python conveyor can be installed in both a vertical and horizontal position and can be routed around obstructions with radius of turn as small as 10 ft. The conveyor is a dust-free system when transporting material by totally encasing the product. The Python tube inherits closing force when manufactured. There are no mechanical devices needed for closing the tube and for securing conveyed material in any position. An important quality control issue is checking stability of closing forces. The photo shows a special installation that is testing a ready-to-go tube sample for one million open/close cycles. For a 600-ft-long conveyor with a speed of 500 ft/min, one million openings/closings of the tube will be reached after more than 27 months, working 24/7, year-round. ATBC LLC, Park Ridge, IL 847-648-2822 www.python-conveyor.com
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