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Vibro News

AIR-OPERATED TRANSPORTER REPLACES BELT-DRIVEN CONVEYOR, CUTS DOWNTIME 90%

Tate Access Floors, Inc., Red Lion, Pa., has virtually eliminated the downtime previously attributed to a conventional conveying system after installing a Model 320 Air-Operated Transporter manufactured by Vibro Industries. The Air-Operated Transporter is installed on a line that manufactures perforated access-floor panels, and is used to remove the slugs created in the perforation sequence. One hour of downtime accumulated daily to unclog the old conveyor belt has been reduced to about 5 minutes — a reduction of more than 90%.

Tate Access Floors, the world's leader in raised access floor solutions, manufactures a wide selection of solid and perforated access floor systems typically used in hi-tech environments such as computer rooms, biomedical, microelectronic, pharmaceutical and laboratory facilities, and other "clean room" applications. The rugged panels can bear the weight of equipment and personnel while the perforation provides the optimum turbulent-free air flow for optimum environmental conditions.

The Model 320 Vibro Air-Operated Transporter is used on a line that creates perforated vinyl-laminated-steel 24 x 24-inch panels, which are produced at 200 units per hour on a 1000-ton Danly punch press. As the slugs are punched out of the panels, they fall into metal trays that carry them to the end of the line, where they are automatically discharged into takeaway containers.

"At peak capacity, we run that line 24 hours a day, six days a week," said Steve Dougherty, senior production supervisor at Tate's Red Lion plant, "and with the old belt-driven conveyor we would have to stop the line several times a day because the slugs would get under the belt and jam-up the conveyor. But since we've installed the Vibro Transporter, we've eliminated more than 90% of that downtime."

In this application, the Model 320 Air-Operated Transporter simultaneously operates two discharge trays (see photo). Weighing just 13 lbs., it can transport up to 60 pounds of material at 15 to 40 feet per minute. The slugs move with the slow-acceleration forward stroke, but remains stationary during the rapid return stroke — progressing steadily toward the waste container. This process avoids the application of conveyor chains, belts or springs, which often require frequent downtime for clean-up, scheduled and emergency maintenance and — especially in this application — jams.

Vibro Air-Operated Transporters are currently available in four models, all of which easily adapt to existing conveyor lines. Their compact, lightweight design enables them to be installed in cramped, congested areas, even where conventional conveyors will not fit. Motion sensors for automatic shutoff, cover guards for harsh environments, quick-release clamps for fast tray removal, and adjustable bearing supports for trays are available as options.

Vibro Industries, headquartered in Port Royal, PA, manufactures a premium line of Air-Operated Transporters — the only transporter line that is 100% air operated and 100% American made. Leroy Johnson, president, introduced the first Vibro Air-Operated Transporter in 1985, following 12 years of extensive experimentation and rigorous testing. Since that time, Vibro Air-Operated Transporters have been successfully applied to a long list of manufacturing applications around the world.

For additional information, contact:

Vibro Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 209
Port Royal, PA 17082
Phone: 717.527.2094
Email:

Product Line: Model 250 Air Transporter | Model 320 Air Transporter
Model 450 Air Transporter | Model 850 Air Transporter | Transporter Motion Sensor

P.O. Box 209, Port Royal, PA 17082
Phone: 717.527.2094 Fax: 717.527.2180
Email: