In this specific application held a few challenges. Here’s a look at the challenges in a problem/solution format:
- Challenge: The conveyor system would have to be broken into multiple conveyors in order to handle the heavy product load of up to 420 lbs.
- Solution: Any time that multiple conveyors are used, you must have to take into account the transfer points between the conveyors. To keep these transfers tight, a solid urethane positive driven belt with internal aramid tension members was chosen. This belt has limited stretch, can be run under tension, and is capable of going around a 48mm diameter transfer tail.
- Challenge: Conveyors would have to be bi-directional to handle both raw and bagged cheese blocks.
- Solution: The conveyor belt was driven by the proven Dorner 7600 Series AquaPruf ULTIMATE bidirectional centre drive module with 20-tooth drive sprockets.
- Challenge: Minimise the product loss when conveying raw, un-bagged 40 lb blocks of cheese from cheese towers to an auger system.
- Solution: A special troughed guide profile was developed to provide the customer with a troughed belt cross section, which stopped loose cheese curds from falling off the sides of the conveyor belt, thereby reducing product loss.
Outcome:
The cheese tower span was covered using two in line sanitary food grade conveyors, achieving their designed maximum load capacity of 10 cheese blocks (or 420 lbs) while running in either direction.
Product loss at the conveyor-to-conveyor transfer was greatly limited by providing a 48mm diameter, solid stainless steel idler pulley on each idler tail.
UHMW troughing guides were provided to trough both belt edges providing the customer with a conveying system that captured most all loose product on the conveyor belts. Straight guides were also provided to replace the troughed set when conveying packaged cheese blocks. The troughed guides and straight guides could be swapped out without the use of any tools, making the changeover fast, easy and sanitary.