Page 35 - MetalForming June 2012

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Capturing Metal Slugs for Salvaging
After the coiled steel is placed on a rollform line, the material is flattened and fed into a hydraulic or mechanical press, where holes are punched into the strip before it feeds through the rollforming stations. Proving particu- larly challenging to the operation: Con- veying the small quarter-sized slugs away from each line to a central under- the-floor conveying line and outdoors to salvage bins.
“We used to use steel belt conveyors with welded tabs on the links,” says Gunter, “and the small slugs being transported on the exterior moving links would constantly slide out of posi- tion and jam the conveyor track. That problem went away when we switched to conveyors using permanent ceramic magnets inside a liquid-tight housing.”
Now, all scrap emanating from hydraulic presses falls onto magnetic conveyors; mechanical presses deposit scrap onto vibratory conveyors, which then moves onto a magnetic conveyor.
Low-Maintenance Magnetic Models
Ridg-U-Rak’s magnetic conveyor of choice: Eriez models, the latest of which are equipped with a unique internal track system called Tuf-Trac, a drive system designed for low mainte- nance, quiet operation and long serv- ice life. The punch-outs now glide along the conveyors’ stainless-steel slider plate—no moving external parts to jam, break or endanger plant personnel. Except for an externally mounted drive motor, the unit is self-contained and the conveyor mechanism is complete- ly enclosed.
“We use several types of Eriez con- veyors to move all the slugs into scrap tubs, which then are picked up by a local recycling company,” says Gunter, noting that the plant runs 10 Eriez mag- netic conveyors in all, the last four of which are Tuf-Trac models installed as part of the 2007 expansion.
“We use horizontal conveyors directly underneath the presses that
move the slugs onto another conveyor which lifts the slugs 14 ft. vertically, where they then are deposited onto outside chutes and into the reclaim hoppers.”
In another area of the plant, the punch-outs are dropped below floor level onto an Eriez horizontal convey- or that lifts the slugs 6 ft. vertically into awaiting scrap bins. The bins then are emptied outside into the reclaim hoppers.
Moving Submersible Parts Quickly and Easily
Because of their liquid-tight con- struction, the lower conveyor sections can be completely submerged in coolant sumps or tanks. The working face is self-cleaning, and excess fluids drain back into the tank—a product feature that ultimately convinced Gunter to install the Eriez conveyors.
“With no moving external parts, the conveyors can go right into coolant and we can pull the slugs out of the coolant and right into the hoppers,” Gunter says. “The slugs from the cutoff operations are sometimes saturated with coolant. When these slugs are dropped onto the magnetic convey- ors, the coolant runs off and is recir- culated, and the slugs are transported to the hoppers.”
The majority of the Eriez conveyors installed at Ridg-U-Rak are Model 6 units with 14.5-in.-wide slide plates. The Tuf-Trac design allows the drive chain to ride in an oil-impregnated UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight) track. The design eliminates the need for oil inside the conveyor housing. Magnets are located on 12-in. centers and supported by twin roller chains powered by a shaft-mounted motor reducer. The conveyors come with spring-loaded chain take-up.
“The conveyors have proven to be very durable and have helped to reduce maintenance costs and machine down- time,” says Gunter. MF
Article provided by Eriez, Erie, PA: 888/300-3743; www.eriez.com.
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