Archive for May, 2009

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.