Multi-Conveyor recently built a material handling system to elevate and transport, or redirect, single-serve coffee pods up to a metered scale. The design assists in handling the oddly shaped items while keeping the product moving without a lot of manual intervention.
The company, based in Winneconne, Wisconsin, provides pre-engineered or custom-designed conveyor solutions. Its products have been deployed in various industries, including consumer packaged goods (CPG), packaging OEMs, end-users, robotics systems, and more.
“While pictures and drawings try to express the product’s unique qualities, it is most important to receive actual samples to touch and to test potential strategies,” said Jim Paulsen, senior accounts manager at Multi-Conveyor, when Packaging OEM asked about customized conveyor solutions for oddly shaped packaging. “Leveraging the client’s history as to what works, or more importantly, what doesn’t work, can help speed the process to a solution.”
System features
First, the filled and sealed single-serve plastic cups of coffee enter a stainless-steel bulk infeed hopper. From there, the pods are lifted nearly eleven feet on tall flights that are at least 1.5” tall, or cleats, which can provide stability for the unevenly shaped pods.
The incline is 8” wide and features flights on 5.4” centers, which move on flat top belting provided by Intralox.
Next, the pods transport on a 4’ section to the metered scale. In the event the counter or scale reaches capacity, a stainless-steel three-sided pneumatic actuated pivoting discharge chute with cover was added to redirect the overflow pods into a bulk container bag to keep production flow moving.
Additionally, underside guarding was placed for operator safety. The system also features snap-on bearing covers, clear polycarbonate top covers, and expanded metal bottom safety pans.
Multi-Conveyor says its electrical team provided both the motor and pneumatic controls related to the entire system.
Learn more
Multi-Conveyor provides economical standard conveyors and specializes in engineered products with integration.
Recently, the company also developed an economically friendly, multi-level sanitation solution for flexible food packaging.
For more information on Multi-Conveyor’s material handling offerings, click here.
