Company: Key Technology

Website: www.key.net

Equipment Snapshot: Key Technology introduces new features that enhance their vibratory conveyors—Iso-Flo, Impulse, Horizon and Marathon—for food processing and packaging lines. Together with established features that promote food safety and equipment durability, the innovative new grounding arm, label stand-offs, sanitary drives and Vector-Lock Gen 2 ease use, reduce maintenance and maximize sanitation.

“As the world’s leading provider of vibratory conveyors, we work very closely with our customers to constantly look at the challenges they face and create new solutions. This strategy fuels continuous improvement and reflects our commitment to maintain our leadership position,” said Jim Ruff, general manager of the Integrated Solutions Group at Key. “Our vibratory shakers have always been recognized for superior sanitation and reliability. By advancing the technology, we stay at the forefront.

Key’s new patented grounding arm is made of a single stainless steel structure. Unlike braided wire rope with crevasses, which can harbor bacteria and a crimped ferrule that can fail, the single structure, smooth texture and open design of the new grounding arm enhance sanitation and improve durability. Mounted to Key’s StrongArm spring arms to dissipate static between the conveyor bed and frame, this grounding arm presents no horizontal surfaces where liquid, product or particulates can pool. It comes standard on new conveyors and can be retrofitted to existing systems in the field.

Label stand-offs are superior to traditional riveted plaques, which can trap bacteria, and adhesive stickers, which can peel off after repeated exposure to washdowns. Each conveyor’s identification, specifications and stroke indicator are laser-etched or stamped onto stainless steel and the colorful ISO safety pictogram labels utilize epoxy based baked finish over stainless steel. All these new labels consume less surface area and are attached to the conveyor with stand-offs to reduce laminations, which eases cleaning and improves sanitation.

The oil-free drives that can be used to power Key’s vibratory conveyors have been redesigned. A smaller footprint and a more open mount, which reduce the lamination area, make these maintenance-free drives more sanitary.

The new Vector-Lock Gen 2, used to secure removable screens and covers on Key’s vibratory conveyors, eases use and achieves better clamping. With a larger hook, a bigger radius and additional over-center latching for more positive engagement, this new Vector-Lock clamp enables quick release and quick closing while maximizing load carrying capabilities to secure screens and covers on even the heaviest conveyor systems that handle today’s highest capacities. Simplified geometry makes the new clamp easier to latch, inspect and maintain. It is interchangeable with previous generation Vector-Lock screen clamps and compatible with legacy conveyor platforms, so customers with installed systems can upgrade their conveyors in the field.

All of Key’s vibratory conveyors are inherently sanitary, presenting a stainless steel bed surface that is easy to clean. They are backed by Key’s five-year warranty, which ensures equipment reliability and limits the processor’s total cost of ownership.

Iso-Flo Vibratory Conveyors
Iso-Flo is a versatile family of natural frequency vibratory conveyors with frame-mounted mechanical drives. Key offers Iso-Flo conveyors for product distribution on processing and packaging lines as well as product spreading, distribution, fines removal, scalping, dewatering, inspection, alignment, transfer, and other applications.

Impulse Vibratory Conveyors
Impulse vibratory conveyors feature frame-mounted electromagnetic drives. Designed for processing and packaging distribution lines that require precise metering and low maintenance, such as product mixing, ingredient feeding and scale feeding applications, Impulse starts and stops quickly.

Horizon Horizontal Conveyors
Horizon is Key’s horizontal motion conveyor, which features a mechanical drive. Achieving gentle, quiet and sanitary horizontal motion conveying, Horizon is ideal for many fragile, seasoned, coated and frozen foods. Its drive is powerful and efficient. Machine lengths can be up to 23 meters (75 feet) long.

Marathon Vibratory Conveyors
Based on the same operating principle used on Iso-Flo shakers, Marathon is a natural frequency vibratory conveyor designed to distribute bulk foods distances from 9 to more than 25 meters (30 to more than 80 feet) on one unit. Achieving a long run on one shaker maximizes efficiency while this compact, well-tuned system optimizes performance and offers installation flexibility.

For more information on Key’s vibratory conveyors, visit www.key.net/conveying-solutions.