The Alpine Conveyor is a compact spiral configuration commonly used as an accumulation or elevating buffer zone between machines or as a process step for cooling or drying. It can also be used for line balancing or product changeover purposes.
Alpines can be configured as an elevating/ lowering system with a single or double serpentine configuration. Uses include an in-line accumulator with entry and exit at different levels, or an in-line or off-line accumulator with entry and exit at the same level.
Benefits of FlexMove Alpine Conveyor:
- Keeps a constant sequence while buffering or accumulating products
- Uses a gentle slope while changing elevations and preventing product damage
- Maximizes vertical space, ensures the efficient utilization of machines with different speeds, and provides storage for pucks in FlexMove pallet system applications
- The accumulation zone is simple yet efficient and provides the possibility to continuously have bottleneck machines running
- Reduces the effects of machinery failures. It will accumulate the products from one machine while the nest machine in the line is being repaired or adjusted
- Option of adding more levels when additional capacity is needed
View the complete Specification Sheet here: FlexMove Alpine Conveyor Spec Sheet
Specifications:
- Products can be round, square, oval or rectangular
- Chain Widths: 65, 85, 105, 150 mm
- Chain Lengths:
- Return Chain up to 23 m (75 ft)
- Top Running Chain up to 76 m (250 ft)
- Basic Configurations:
- One Direction, Return Chain: entry and exit at different levels, up to 23 m (75 ft) total length
- One Direction, Top Running Chain: entry and exit at different levels, up to 30 m (100 ft) total length
- Dual Direction, Single Serpentine: entry and exit at same level, up to 76 m (250 ft) of chain
- Dual Direction, Double Serpentine: entry and exit at same level, up to 76 m (250 ft) of chain
- Transfers:
- Side Plow
- X-Tranfer
- Roller Transfer
- Powered Transfer
Possible Applications:
- Product buffering during machine maintenance
- Use of vertical space when there is not enough floor space to accumulate more product
- Product movement at different levels
- Downstream product flow avoiding a bottleneck in your process
- Drying, cooling & curing time
- Product being produced needs more time for process or testing
- Product cycling/batching or to store product while another is being dispatched
- Reduce the forces working on a product when accumulating
- Serves as a walk thru/line access for product to divert onto
Direction:
Direction is determined by the product, belt selection, and product rate.
- Incline: Product being produced starts at a lower elevation and is moved to a higher elevation
- Decline: Product being produced starts at a higher elevation and is moved to a lower elevation
In-Line vs. Off-Line:
If an Alpine is to be used as a buffer, it needs to be determined if in-line or off-line is desired. If in-line is used, all normal production flow goes through the Alpine and would be accumulated upon a storage signal.
Typically, a stop device is required. Off-line has traffic flow around the Alpine and diverts into accumulation as needed.
Call us at 800-214-0322 for more information