Push-pull chains specified for industrial washing machines

Good technical specification, an attractive price and sound application advice were the reasons why Birmingham-based Industrial Washing Machines (IWM) has purchased Framo Morat Linear Chain units from R. A. Rodriguez. These actuators were selected to provide a robust and reliable push-pull mechanism for a system designed to wash and dry a wide range of plastic and metal bulk transport containers.

IWM offers a full range of standard washing and sanitising systems to manufacturers across the industrialised world. A large proportion of the company's business, however, also comes from its ability to design and manufacture special-purpose equipment to satisfy unique washing needs. Indeed, it was for a bespoke machine built to handle containers up to 1000mm x 1200mm x 1200mm that the Framo Morat Linear Chains were specified.

The size of these vessels necessitates that they be loaded onto the machine's receiving station by fork lift truck, whereupon the first of the Framo linear chain actuators pushes the item - weighing up to 300kg - into the washing cabinet. Its counterpart at the other end of the machine is pulls the clean and dry vessel from the cabinet and onto a discharge platform, ready for unloading by fork lift.

Identical push-pull chains

Managing Director Carl Hollier states: "This actuator offered the necessary strength to do the job and enabled the design to remain compact and relatively simple to control. The chain and drive units are identical on the push/pull systems with the only difference being the grabbers we designed for the respective functions."

For RA Rodriguez, the addition of the Framo Morat Linear Chain to its range has proved a popular choice for applications calling for long strokes where space is at a premium. The special profile of the chain, with interlocking fingers at one end, enables it to be rolled up for efficient storage in one direction and form a rigid thrust device in the other.

The device provides high positioning accuracy, constant stroke speed and shock-free motion, which is vital for IWM, as the smooth transfer of the container into a very precise rotating drum is crucial to the process. The compact nature of the actuator was also an important factor. As Hollier concludes: "This allowed the machine footprint to remain compact and for us to use less material in its manufacture. The actuator certainly made an important contribution to the cost-efficiency of the project."

Follow the link for more information about the Framo Morat Linear Chains.