Conveyor Blog

Our Automation Series Conveyors now have a new option available: a nosebar tail. This will allow for even better transfer of small parts between conveyors or other integrated machines. As with the rest of the Automation Series, our main goal was superior performance and user-friendliness. The nosebar tail has a number of unique features that meet those goals, including:

• Thin, 11mm outer belt diameter insures a tight transfer for even the smallest parts
• Drop-in replacement for the Tension Release Tail idler, making it easy to add to existing conveyors while keeping the popular push-button ease-of-use of the Tension Release Tail
• Does not require a different length belt — or even removal of the belt — when adding it to an existing standard MAE belt conveyor
• Available for all standard conveyor widths
• Available for both pushing and pulling applications

Check out the illustrations below to see the difference between a standard tail and a nosebar tail. As you can see, when a small part travels over the gap between two nosebar tails, it is much less likely to fall between the conveyors than with a standard tail because the gap is much narrower.

Standard Tail:

Nosebar Tail:

For more information, please contact our Sales Department or your local distributor.

Please welcome Hannah Reese Thompson to the world, born May 21, 2005, 8lbs, 2oz. 22″. Baby and mom are doing great. Nice job Chris!

2D and 3D CAD models for our Automation Series conveyors are now available through our Vizseek download site. They join the models for our 125 Series, 250 Series and InnerDrive conveyors (other series are available by request). Along with the conveyor models, we’ve included sides, guides, stands, mounts, gearmotors and drive packages. These files are delivered in the STP format which is easy to use in all major CAD systems.

With the ATX East Automation show just four weeks away, many of us exhibitors and everyone else associated with manufacturing are very interested to see how well that show will be attended. As this year has gone on, some exhibitors have dropped out, however my short list of marketing buddies are all still in and moderately optimistic.

I asked Albert Sabbah, Group Sales Manager for Canon Communications, for his thoughts. “Excited and nervous” were his two quick words of choice. “Since the show is wide spread through many industries from medical to automation to green, really many of the companies are having good years.” Albert was quick to show the numbers as well and they are up and down, depending on the show. I quickly summarized and noticed medical (MD&M), packaging (EastPack), and automation (ATX) are good; plastics industry, questionable.

The bundling effect of shows is working to Canon’s and our advantage. Let’s hope we can say the same come June 12th. Our jobs as marketers, bloggers, buyers, investors, etc. is to help proactively create a victory. Come on everyone, go to this show and buy something. Enough with the nervousness; we want to be excited.

Our longest Automation Series conveyors feature under-frame idlers to prevent belt slack from hanging below the frame. Conveyors 6″ wide or less receive partial-width idlers (shown below), while wider conveyors get a full-width idler (shown above) that runs the entire width of the frame.

The length at which we begin adding idlers varies by conveyor width (see chart below). For especially long conveyors (longer than 16′ for most widths), two idlers are added along the length of the frame.

During belt changes, partial width idlers do not need to be removed. Full width idlers are easy to remove by loosening two screws on each side of the frame.

Idlers increase the conveyor profile from 1.95″ to 2.80″ at the points where they are installed, still considered a low profile design. They’re simple to move If they cause interference (with stands, mounts, integrated machines, etc.), just by loosening the screws.

I often hear stories of customers looking to have either conveyors or replacement parts shipped Next Day Air or Second Day Air. Since UPS is our normal small parcel carrier, our customer service reps often point them to ground shipping instead of air.

As you can see from the map above, we can ship ground to most of the Great Lakes region in just one day. It would arrive by the close of business the following day instead of by 10:30 AM with normal Next Day Air, but in many cases that’s good enough — especially when you consider the savings (see below).

It gets even better when you’re considering Second Day Air. We can ship ground to most of the Eastern half of the country in two days. Packages arrive by the close of business — just like standard Second Day Air deliveries.

The price difference between UPS’ air and ground services is significant. Check out the chart below, comparing the estimated cost to ship a typical 60 lb. package:

Certainly, if you need something by 10:30 am tomorrow, go for Next Day Air, just be prepared to pay for it. But if a slightly later delivery would work for your schedule, consider switching to ground.

Download a detailed PDF map of UPS shipping times from our facility to see how long it would take a package to get to your location via UPS ground (the map is approximate and for UPS deliveries only, please check with UPS for shipping times for your specific ZIP code and shipping method).

This is a good tip to remember any time you’re having something shipped from us or anyone else. It’s an easy way to save a good chunk of change from your budget without adding much (if any) delay. Visit UPS Ground Maps to get the time-in-transit to (or from) and ZIP code.

The frames for our 2”–12” wide Automation Series conveyors are extruded from a single piece of aluminum, but for wider widths (18”, 21”, 24”) this wasn’t possible, so we designed a three-piece frame construction. This move was aimed at keeping costs low while ensuring the frame is strong, has only a few parts and remains straight, since straightness and strength are key components to keeping a conveyor properly tracked. These wider conveyor frames feature a steel slider bed between two extruded aluminum sides (shown below).

The steel slider bed is mounted to the aluminum frame with a series of fasteners that run the entire length of the frame. They are alternately mounted from the inside and bottom. This arrangement gives the frame exceptional rigidity and allows it to resist twisting just like the rest of the Automation Series.

Although heavier than the rest of the Automation Series, these conveyors include all the other features of our Automation Series conveyors, such as the Tension Release Tail, the Pivot™ Rotatable Drive Package and the 35mm sealed ball bearings. As you can see, these conveyors are also compatible with optional V-guide belting.

I’ve put together a brief video on our Automation Series conveyors so you can see some of the unique new features in action, especially the Tension Release Tail and the Pivot™ Rotatable Drive.

This is the first video we’ve put together in HD, so let us know what you think.

IMPO is kicking off their first ever annual IMPOvation awards this year that will be determined by more than 75,000 experts in the field of innovation technology. The goal is to find the company with the product that contributes to the be the most productive, efficient and safest product line.  

Winners will be featured in IMPO’s 2009 July and August issues, recognized online on IMPOmag.com, promoted through their newsletters and email blasts and other nice PR goodies.

You can bet we are offering up our new Automation Series  platform of low profile belt conveyors – Game on!