Challenge
A manufacturer of glass processing equipment located in the western US territory provides proprietary technology based on non-intrusive optical sorting of glass cullet. In order for the optical glass sorters to deliver high quality furnace ready cullet with optimum yield recovery, the sorters require a consistent, even distribution to each of the 5 sorters.
Approach
The company approached General Kinematics looking for a conveyor capable of distributing 20 TPH of glass cullet evenly into 5 separate lanes that fed the optical sorters below. The distribution conveyor was installed on a platform approximately 25 feet above the floor. Key to the project was the elimination of any vibration transmission to the optical sorters as this would severely compromise the effectiveness of the sorters. Other factors to be considered were the abrasiveness of the glass cullet, ease of replace ability of liners, and being able to quickly change to 4 lanes should a sorter go down. Each one of these was a challenge by itself.
Solution
General Kinematics designed a distribution conveyor to meet all of the challenges with a few unique solutions. The replaceable load section was lined with chromium carbide for increased life. The 5 lanes were also constructed of abrasion resistant steel and bolted for ease of replace ability. In order to quickly change from 5 lanes to 4, several replacement sections were included to redistribute the cullet to any sorters should one of them go down for maintenance. Finally, the unit was designed with a positively driven, 180 degrees out of phase counterbalance. The result is an equal and opposite reaction virtually eliminating vibrations and loadings to the supporting platform or structure.
Results
By working with the customer and understanding their challenges, GKC was able to provide a solution with their process and in turn increased productivity and yield. The customer is now looking at a similar application in another facility in the North East US territory.
About General Kinematics
General Kinematics Corporation, incorporated in 1960, was established to market, design, and custom fabricate innovative vibratory materials handling and processing equipment. Today the company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of vibratory processing equipment, holding more than 200 worldwide patents, and is acknowledged as a major contributor to the technical advancement of vibrating equipment design and application. Today, over 50,000 General Kinematics units have been installed in virtually all of the world’s industrialized countries. For more information about General Kinematics products and services, visit the company’s website at www.generalkinematics.com.
