New conveyer belts take the heat out of power usage and tortillas

TKF's vertical reciprocating conveyer (VRC) features counterweight lift mechanisms that thecompany claims will reduce power requirements in food plants without performance loss. Meanwhile Wire Belt Company's TC-327 has been specifically designed to cool tortillas as they progress along the belt.

The counterweighted lift mechanisms in the VRC reduces power requirements, TKF claimed. A new shaft-mounted drive also reduces maintenance requirements, without a loss in horsepower, the company said.

TKF claims the counterweights effectively cut the live load in half. Also standard is a four-post design, and full top to bottom guarding, regardless of load capacity.

The conveyer is available in unit load capacities of up to 6000 lbs, with a vertical travel of up to 100 ft. Load and unload points can be incorporated at any height, and on any side of theunit, the company stated.

This permits "Z", "C" or right angle flow patterns to be accommodated. Lift speeds can range from 10 to 200 FPM, and the units can be either chain or belt driven.

The bed, while typically constructed of roller conveyor, can be designed using virtually any type of conveyor, including TKF's PosiGrip, the company stated.

Meanwhile Wire Belt has designed its TC-327 out of stainless steel to absorb the heat and allow tortillas to cool when being transported. Unlike plastic modular conveyor belts, the surface of TC-327 is 76 per cent open, allowing for better convection and airflow in a tortilla cooling line, the company claimed.

Wire Belt offers a two-year guarantee and claims the stainless steel design will not stretch, sag, or create a fire hazard in high heat operations.

Packaged with Wire Belt's EZSplice system, the TC-327 includes EZSplice pliers kit and sprockets. EZSplice can extend the life of belts by eliminating weak points caused by the bending and weaving of a traditional splice into the belt, the company claimed.