tna roflo® VM 3 High Throw Vibratory Conveyor
products | 2 mins read
February 24, 2014
The people at tna are our strongest resource. They create the innovative solutions that make both tna, and you, our customers, a success. Here, we offer you a look inside the inner-workings of tna, and how our unique solutions are developed.
tna roflo® VM 3 High Throw Vibratory Conveyor, Tim Scott, product development engineer, tna
While traditional vibratory conveyors are highly effective for the transportation of most products, when it comes to loose leaf salad or sticky goods, the situation can be a little more tricky. Clumping slows down, or can even stop, product distribution, drastically reducing line efficiency.
Well aware of the issues that different product types could cause to smooth transfers, Tim and his team was determined to find a solution and improve system throughput and efficiency. He therefore developed the tna roflo® VM 3 high throw vibratory conveyor with a dimpled pan that can handle a wide variety of products with ease, including sticky confectionery and fresh vegetables like lettuce and spinach leaves. The dimpled pan has a smaller surface area for products to stick to, therefore reducing the risk of clumping and improving throughput and cleaning times.
In addition, the new high throw conveyors come with an innovative ‘H’ base, which allows for a more vigorous motion while ensuring highly efficient operation. Traditional conveyors use square hangers to attach the springs that achieve the vibratory motion. However, with the increased motion, it was found that they underwent too much stress, causing more frequent breakdowns. Through testing and analysis of various shapes and sizes, Tim and his team concluded that the circular ‘H’ base performed best. The curved shape alleviated the torsional stress by distributing it evenly across the entire circle, achieving effective vertical lift of the product to smooth out lumps in the product feed and ensure efficient operation.
