Category: Conveyors & Conveyor Parts

How to Choose Between Conveyor Chain Types

Posted on by Seth Bailey

When purchasing your new modular, rebuildable and durable conveyors from Span Tech, you have a lot of options. Our patented plastic conveyor chain designs provide solutions applicable to a wide variety of products and industries. But which type is right for your various assembly lines and the end product? There are a few questions you should ask yourself that can aid in your decision-making process.

How delicate or small are the materials you’re handling?

If you’re manufacturing delicate products, it’s extremely important to have the proper conveyor chain types that won’t crush, tip or break anything during the process. It can also be difficult to protect small items or to handle small parts while on a conveyor system. That’s why you need a plastic chain conveyor belt that can securely handle and transport small items.

Pillow Top. The Pillow Top chain conveyors can handle the most delicate of products with ease and extreme precision. Perfect for food production facilities, this chain conveyor has the ability to transfer very small products that can get caught or snagged in more traditional conveyors.

MiniLink. For moving small products with extreme care, the MiniLink plastic conveyor chain is the ideal choice. This conveyor combines the functionality of a traditional conveyor system with a compact cross section for easy, delicate handling.

Do your materials need to cool or cure while being conveyed?

Whether your products need to be cooled or cured while on the production line, it’s vital that you have a plastic chain conveyor that can withstand extreme temperatures.

MaxiSpan. The innovative MaxiSpan chain has an adaptable design and remains a top choice thanks to its product-cooling capabilities. This plastic conveyor chain is available in materials that are resistant to most chemicals and constant temperatures ranging from -40℉ to 220℉.

50mm SuperTight. When manufacturing products that need to be cooled or dried on the production line, an open design is key to allow for good airflow. The 50mm SuperTight plastic conveyor chain has just that.

J-Trax. Add efficiency and ease to the process of food and beverage production with the J-Trax system. This functional design features open rods that allow for the rapid cooling of bakery items. With a variety of applications, the J-Trax can be used to cool, bread and batter, enrobe, deposit, drain, dewater and dry.

How messy are the materials you’re handling?

When dealing with particularly messy products, you need a plastic chain conveyor belt that allows excess liquids or remnants to sift through the chains.

MaxiSpan. With its 75 percent open design, the MaxiSpan also allows liquids and debris to fall through the conveyor chain, which equates to less cleanup and less downtime.

J-Trax. The J-Trax conveyor system’s open rod design also allows any excess material to fall through in order to prevent accumulated or hidden debris. The J-Trax design is fully washdown rated with stainless steel, making it easy to clean and sanitize for those producing messier products.

Will your conveyor need to make sharp turns?

The ability for a conveyor to make sharp turns cannot be underestimated. Whether you’re dealing with a tight space or a specialty production line, having a conveyor system that can make sharp turns is a huge asset.

50mm SuperTight. In addition to having good airflow, the 50mm SuperTight chain has the tightest turning radius on the market today. This means that it can cut tight corners in any conveyor layout making it super versatile for any facility.

Pillow Top. The Pillow Top conveyor also offers one of the tightest turning radii on the market for its chain width. In fact, the Pillow Top is actually based off of the 50mm SuperTight design and is a direct replacement for any 50 mm SuperTight conveyor.

SuperTight. Offering an extremely tight turning radius, the SuperTight chain is perfect for anyone looking for a smaller horizontal turning radius. Make any tight turn easily and securely.

Let Span Tech Find the Perfect Conveyor Solution for Your Needs

It’s always best to consult with an expert for a custom solution, and we can help. Span Tech has a large variety of packaging conveyors to suit your needs. Have a question or need more information? Contact our customer service team to learn more about our conveyor features and to start your free estimate today.

Custom Conveyor Belts and Conveyor Features for Packaging

Posted on by Seth Bailey

Custom Conveyor Belt

Packaging conveyors are a must for transporting items quickly and efficiently. That’s why having a custom conveyor precisely for your needs is crucial to ensuring your products remain organized and undamaged. Let’s explore a few features that will help make your conveyor system perfect.

 

Transpositor

Transpositor

Right-angle turns are tricky maneuvers for ordinary packaging conveyors to pull off. The Transpositor helps make these tight turns easy. Its two-tiered system pulls the top section of conveyor away, almost like a trap door. The item then falls a few inches to a second conveyor belt which is rapidly spinning perpendicular to the first conveyor’s direction. This motion stops the item’s momentum and reroutes it into the waiting stationary container just over the conveyor’s edge.

While the Transpositor conveyor system involves some short drops, they are gentle enough to handle any package. Whether it’s frozen food in a plastic container or a regular box, you can rest assured that your products will reach the end of your custom conveyor belt system unharmed.

 

MicroSpan Transfer

Packaging Conveyor Systems

Even custom conveyor belts have to end somewhere. There is often another belt to meet the first one and keep your products’ journey going. The problem is the gap, no matter how small, that exists between the two belts. Even larger products can get lodged in the crack and cause major backups.

The MicroSpan Transfer is the simple solution to this issue. This small conveyor belt bridges the gap between the two main belts to prevent any item, even a small one, from getting stuck. It’s a simple addition for custom conveyor systems that will ultimately save your business a lot of time in troubleshooting.

 

Traffic Cop

Packaging Conveyor

This feature is necessary for packaging conveyor systems that merge two lanes of product into a single lane of output. The two swinging arms of the traffic cop stagger the flow of your packages and prevent collisions or other roadblocks. You also have the ability to control how long the pause will last, allowing one, two, or more units to be released from one lane at one time. This feature gives you the control you need to create the efficiency you want.

 

High Speed Switch

The High Speed Switch, like the traffic cop, is a custom conveyor feature that helps control product flow while maintaining product pitch. However, the switch adds in a sorting element, using guide rods to pull products away from each other or bring them together as needed. The powerful system can not only support up to four lanes of product switching and converging, but can also handle 24-hour continuous operation. It’s perfect for creating a nonstop production flow.

 

Twist Conveyors

Custom Conveyor Belts

Like the Transpositor, twist conveyors are are great for changing product orientation without an external device or human intervention. This packaging conveyor can reorient your product’s angle up to 90 degrees in 60 linear inches, so even the tightest turns are possible.

On top of turning products, twist conveyors can also handle elevational changes. Generally, if the twist occurs on the custom conveyor belt’s center line, the belt will have a natural decline. Taking advantage of the direction of the conveyor’s twist can give you the incline or decline you need after reorienting your product.

 

We Have The Solution To Your Packaging Needs

SpanTech offers a variety of packaging conveyors to suit your company’s needs. To learn more about what custom conveyor features are right for you and start a free estimate, contact us.

Top 4 Custom Conveyor Features For Manufacturing Facilities

Posted on by Seth Bailey

Manufacturing Conveyor

Every business is unique, which is why it’s essential that each one has manufacturing conveyors that perfectly suits its needs. Consider the following features to create a custom conveyor system that sorts your products quickly and keeps your workers safe.

High-Speed Switch

If you have a wide variety of products to separate while maintaining product pitch, the High-Speed Switch feature is for you. This custom conveyor belt feature can support up to four lanes of product switching, converging, and sorting.

The High-Speed Switch uses a series of guide rods and conveyor chains to pull products away from each other and bring them back again. This powerful system can handle 24-hour continuous operation, meaning your production flow never has to stop.

Lexan Safety Guarding

This add-on is recommended for use in conjunction with the High-Speed Switch. The guarding covers the parts of the conveyor moving at the highest speeds, ensuring that your team members can perform their tasks safely. Lexan Safety Guarding can be placed at any point along your custom conveyor belts where you feel safety would be a concern.

Variable Frequency Drive

The Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) gives you complete control over the functions of your custom conveyor. From a single control center, you can start or stop the conveyor belt, change motor speed and direction, and transform power supply. VFD options are available for every SpanTech conveyor, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on it based on the model you choose.

Bump Rotate

Perhaps one of the simplest and most useful features you should add to your custom conveyor system is a Bump Rotate. The mechanical design easily rotates your product 90 degrees without the need for sensors or other powered automation. You can also place two Bump Rotates in succession to achieve a 180-degree rotation. This feature is perfect for operations that require a specific product orientation as they come off the line.

Find The Ideal Custom Conveyor For Your Business

Learn more about manufacturing conveyors that could be perfect for your industry. Then contact SpanTech for a custom quote and the most innovative conveyor solutions on the market.

EZSpan Plastic Belt Conveyor Alternative

Posted on by Seth Bailey

Span Tech has announced its newest line of durably designed power “belt” conveyors, a more efficient alternative to traditional conveyor systems. The new EZSpan plastic belt conveyor can benefit a wide array of industries, including pharmaceutical, cosmetic, e-commerce, packaging distribution, plus many more.

The EZSpan tabletop conveyor system utilizes extremely thin, modular plastic chains, offering several advantages over typical belt conveyors. For one thing, the new flat belt conveyor system from Span Tech virtually eliminates any possible tracking issues that are considered “the norm” with traditional belt conveyors. Plus, the thin conveyors are built to fit perfectly between machines without the worry of the take-up unit creating a large gap or interfering with the machine. And that’s just the beginning.

What Makes EZSpan Belt Conveyors Unique

  • No need for tracking components. Thanks to the self-centering MicroSpan chain in place of a traditional belt, there’s no need for tracking components (like crowned rollers or adjustment screws) that require constant monitoring. And the take-up unit’s new automatic “tension detector” alerts you if there is too much chain stretch in the system.
  • Hassle-Free Maintenance. Rather than using a splice kit or ordering an entirely new belt, EZSpan offers the ability to quickly and easily replace links when needed. The conveyor drive unit has also been designed for increased performance and to make maintenance easier than ever, with most components accessible simply by removing a few pins.
  • Constant end-to-end distance. There are no take-up units at the ends of the conveyor, meaning the length you order is the length you get — and the length it stays. Choose any length from 2.4 feet up to 30 feet.
  • No integration problems. The EZSpan is the thinnest belt conveyor on the market, with a profile height of only 1.5 inches. This makes the power belt conveyor easy to integrate into your existing machinery.

How EZSpan Belt Conveyors Can Boost Efficiency

  • Less equipment needed. No gaps between machinery means no need to buy equipment to fill them.
  • Better use of human resources. Since employees won’t have to monitor the EZSpan like they would standard belt conveyors, they can spend their time more productively.
  • Reduced downtime. Simpler maintenance means more time in operation.
  • Cost savings. EZSpan’s space-saving design equates to long-term cost savings.

A Complete Power Belt Conveyor System

A variable frequency drive is also included with the EZSpan belt conveyor, and all components have been designed for increased performance and durability, and easy maintenance.

Optional low-profile nose bar, adjustable guide rail, and supports and casters are also available.

Tested And Proven

The EZSpan belt conveyor design has been extensively tested to ensure it meets or exceeds demands. Time after time and test after test, it’s proven to be a more practical alternative to traditional belt conveyors — and wiser business investment.

Get your own EZSpan belt conveyor system to make the most of your operation’s time and money. Start here for a quote.

3 Signs Your Operations Could Benefit From A Spiral Elevator Conveyor

Posted on by Seth Bailey

If you find that the only place left for your business to grow is up, then a spiral elevator conveyor is just the type of conveyor you need. Moving your product up and down is just one of the things a spiral conveyor is good for, though. Here are a few signs that your operations could benefit from this multi-functional elevator.

You’re Tight On Floor Space

The first and most obvious reason you should invest in the spiral elevator conveyor is to help you save space. This specific type of conveyor is perfect for handling any product, no matter how delicate. There is no pressure applied at any point, so feel free to send even your most fragile materials up and away.

You Need A Conveyor With Many Applications

The spiral conveyor is ideal not just for elevating your products, but also cooling and curing them. If materials have a time delay before they can be moved to the next part in the process, the spiral elevator can give you that time. Many people eliminate separate coolers or dryers from their operation because of how efficient the spiral conveyor is when combined with these applications. You’ll save space, and money, in more ways than one.

You Need To Elevate Products Quickly

With speeds up to 250 fpm (76.2 mpm), the OutRunner Spiral Elevator will distribute your products efficiently without sacrificing gentleness. You also don’t have to worry about having a product range that is too broad — the design of this spiral conveyor evenly distributes the load amongst each tier, meaning you aren’t limited to which speed or incline setting you can use for each unique load.

If you’re in need of a solution to streamline your operation, you may need a spiral elevator conveyor. Start your estimate now.

Top 5 Custom Food Handling Conveyors & Conveyor Features For Food Production Companies

Posted on by Seth Bailey

custom conveyor systems

In the world of food production, minimizing and preventing product damage, while maintaining the safety of your employees, and keeping your facility in top condition can be a Herculean task. Because of this, having conveyor systems with features that keep your facility safe, productive, clean and efficient is extremely important. Here at SpanTech, our food handling conveyors are designed to not only meet these needs but exceed them.

Keep reading to view our top five custom conveyor features for the food production industry and learn why you need them in your facility today.

 

Metal Detectors

It’s vital to keep metal contamination out of edible products. The best way to prevent any possible metal contamination is by utilizing a metal detector on your food handling conveyor.

At Span Tech, Our conveyors can be equipped with custom, state-of-the-art metal detectors. They offer reliable protection against contamination by ferrous and non-ferrous metals.  Our metal detector-ready conveyors are best suited for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries.

 

Clean Out Holes

Cleanliness and the ability to clean efficiently are important aspects of keeping your food processing conveyors in tip-top shape. Clean out holes are commonly used in food production facilities that need to maintain a high level of cleanliness year-round.

Our washdown conveyor is commonly used for better access to the inside of the conveyor bed for a more effective and efficient washdown.

 

Pillow Top Chains

A top feature for food production companies when it comes to custom conveyor systems is the ability to handle the most delicate of products. This is where pillow top chain conveyors come into play. This custom conveyor belt add-on is perfect for food production facilities due to its ability to handle delicate food products with ease and precision.

SpanTech’s innovative pillow top chain virtually eliminates the need for a powered transfer unit and allows the conveyor to sit extremely close to the transfer unit. This results in the successful transfer of very small food products that could otherwise get caught or snagged in traditional transfers.

 

Sidewalls

Sidewalls for custom conveyor belts can sometimes be an overlooked aspect of food production. But it should never be underestimated. These sidewalls are an effective way to both ensure sanitation and guard against the moving sides of the conveyor chain. They also function as a guide for products on a food processing conveyor belt.

Our add-on sidewalls are the perfect safety component for not only your products but your employees. SpanTech sidewalls create a low amount of friction. Sidewalls are available for a custom design or fitting to individual applications.

 

Drip Trays

In a food production facility, liquid and debris can easily fall off of a conveyor. Drip trays are designed to catch liquid and debris and prevent a potential safety hazard or any damage to the product.

SpanTech’s drip trays are custom designed for each individual custom conveyor. Available in stainless steel, drip trays can be equipped with drain plugs so liquids can be routed into a centralized drainage system.

 

Get A Totally Custom Conveyor System Today

All of SpanTech’s conveyor systems and add-ons are completely customizable to fit your specific needs. Have a question or need more information? Contact us today.

The Benefits of Plastic Chain Conveyor System

Posted on by Seth Bailey

When choosing a conveying solution for your project, there are a wide variety of types of conveyors to choose from.  Most people are familiar with roller conveyors or belt conveyors already.  SpanTech makes Modular Plastic Chain Conveyors. They provide the most flexibility in design and the lowest total cost of ownership versus all other conveyor types.

Plastic Chain Has More Options

Span Tech has an enormous collection of chain links to choose from. When it comes to building a chain pattern we have over 200 different links and counting!  This gives us the advantage of being able to match the chain to the customer’s product specifically for the best results possible.

Plastic Chain Can Go Anywhere

Belt conveyors can only go where they can be stretched between two rollers.  This limits them to discrete straight and curved modules.   Every time the product has to change direction, a new conveyor is required.  This is not the case with modular chain systems.  Long runs of conveyor which contain straight sections, horizontal bends, vertical inclines/declines, and even helical curves are all possible in a single conveyor solution – for example, horizontal or vertical offsets.

Repairs are Faster and Easier

Repairing belt conveyors is a time-consuming process. It is costly and leaves the belt with an obvious repair point which could potentially cause issues with products being caught on it.  Some belt conveyors cannot be repaired but must be replaced completely which is also quite costly.  Modular chain conveyors are incredibly easy to repair. Sometimes they require no special disassembly of the components other than the chain itself.  Since there is no tensioner or catenary to deal with, repairing chain links on a modular chain system is incredibly fast and inexpensive.

So the next time you are deciding on a solution to your conveying project, it may be beneficial to give modular plastic chain conveyor belt a second look. Minimize your downtime and increase your throughput with Span Tech Conveyors.