Modified bottle infeed for improved efficiency

A large beverage plant was experiencing difficulties with a special bottle shape at the bottle washer’s infeed. At the end of last year, on Krones’ recommendation, the company therefore installed a new type of bottle infeed as an upgrade, where the bottle pick-up point can be adjusted to match the diameter involved. Result of the replacement initiative: the line’s efficiency was immediately and substantially improved.
The completely modified bottle infeed is available for bottle washers of the Lavatec KD and KES series with a finger-type infeed. This module incorporates a host of improvements designed to further upgrade the washer’s functional reliability.
Together with an optimised control system, the infeed conveyors bring the bottles to the pickup position in almost pressure-free mode. In the modified bottle infeed, an extended accumulation table with plastic wear strips then ensures optimum bottle inflow. An innovative lift mechanism loosens up the bottle flow on the accumulation table which relieves well-nigh all the pressure on the containers as they approach the bottle table.
Finally, a movable transfer unit with a fixed profiled guide at the pick-up point transports the bottles smoothly and quietly into the pockets. The design of the bottle guides on the accumulation table ensures that fallen bottles never get as far as the infeed.
The totality of these improvements produces trouble-free operation in the bottle infeed area and leads to a significant rise in overall efficiency.
In addition, gentle handling reduces bottle scuffing to a minimum.

14 Aug 2008