By Jeff Bollman Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
A manufacturer of custom bolts and domestic steel manufacturing contacted Thomas Conveyor in need of a conveyor to transport large fasteners being transported from their forges to areas for processing. They needed to increase throughput, despite challenges due to forging temperatures and minimal handling restrictions.
The application objectives were:
Length A robot would place large fasteners (as long as 22”) onto the conveyor line
Temperature The fasteners would have a temperature range up to 1100° F
Transport The parts would cool quickly and needed to be transported on the conveyor into a large steel container located on the shop floor.
After an initial consultation, and determining if any other objectives needed addressing, we were able to determine that a Model 800 wire mesh conveyor would fit their needs well. We optimized the Model 800 to include a wire mesh over herringbone belt with a stainless steel frame.
The conveyor measured 10’ long x 12” wide, with controls and a VFD (variable frequency drive) to allow the customer adjustable speeds (3-60 FPM) depending on which part was being manufactured on the line at that time, and what the cooling cycle would be.
Thomas Conveyor also designed a custom chute at the discharge end that would pivot (left to right) so that the customer could fill a steel container with cooled fasteners; it also utilized a pivot-release pin to swivel the chute to an additional container so the conveyor and the production line would not have to slowed or paused to swap out containers.
The conveyor was designed with locking castors and plugs into a standard 115V outlet. The casters enable the conveyor to be relocated easily when tooling changes are needed.
The client was so pleased with the concept and design that they ordered three units to help with their upcoming busy production schedule.
Wire mesh conveyors can be used in a variety of conditions to handle hot, cold, or oily parts. They are also put into production when items need to be washed or dried.
The automation specialists at Thomas Conveyor & Equipment are here to provide you with solutions to all of your material handling needs and challenges. Call us today at 844 220 0086 for a free consultation.
By Tim Knerr Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Thomas Conveyor was recently brought in by a warehouse manager looking to optimize space in their warehouse for equipment, machinery, cabinets, shelving, and lockers. Given that all of the usable floor space was being utilized, it made sense for the client to utilize the available vertical space in the warehouse with an industrial steel work platform (mezzanine).
After an initial consultation and an onsite visit, a custom design for the mezzanine was engineered and drafted that met all of the client’s space requirements. The extra space created by the mezzanine would allow for storage items and less utilized equipment to be kept on an upper deck, which created several hundred square feet of extra space within the warehouse.
Thomas Conveyor also installed a slide gate on the top deck of the mezzanine, which allows heavy items to be lifted and placed on the second level. Slide gates provide easy access and use minimal square footage. An additional top landing deck was premised, which allowed standard bar grated stairs to be installed, without any loss of square footage of usable deck space on the second story.
Mezzanine framing is installed.
At the conclusion of the project, the usable work area and storage space was doubled for the client. The addition of the mezzanine not only created a much more spacious working area on the main level, but also provided an easier and safer traffic flow for forklifts and other rideable equipment.
Thanks to the prompt response and onsite visit to the clients’ warehouse, the project was completed in a timely fashion allowing the customer no delays with their Q4 budgeting schedule.
Be sure to contact a Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Automation Specialist for all of your material handling needs. Call us today at 844 220 0086.
By Jeff Bollman Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
A manufacturer of outdoor storage and home & garden products contacted Thomas Conveyor & Equipment explaining their on-line business had almost doubled in early 2020.
Their existing system was comprised of a slider bed belt conveyor used to process outgoing shipments. They wanted to add a second conveyor line to handle the increase in orders.
A Thomas Conveyor Automation Engineer provided a complimentary assessment and design consultation; prepared a conceptualized layout with a second conveyor line that would run parallel to the existing line, utilizing existing space, centralizing staff, and making the current conveyor set up more efficient and able to handle the increased output.
It was also recommended that the second line be equipped with a VFD (variable frequency drive) so personnel could adjust the speed of the belt to match the output needed. The second line would also be equipped with a photo-eye at the discharge end to stop the product when it reached the end of the conveyor. This would prohibit packages from falling onto the floor. Another recommendation included the installation of ( e-stops), emergency stops, on both sides of the conveyor line at several points so that employees could stop the belt in case of an emergency.
Thomas Conveyor was awarded the commission and installed the secondary conveyor line (which included 30 feet of gravity conveyor feeding into 30 feet of slider bed belt conveyor). The client was now prepared to handle their newly increased business as well as growth well into the future.
The customer was so satisfied with the new conveyor line and its updated configuration, that they had Thomas Conveyor return to install e-stops and a photo-eye on the older, existing line so that it too could be brought up to higher production and safety levels.
The client was now prepared to handle their newly increased business as well as growth well into the future. The customer was so satisfied with the new conveyor line and its updated configuration, that they had Thomas Conveyor return to install e-stops and a photo-eye on the older, existing line so that it too could be brought up to higher production and safety levels.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment offers a wide variety of transport conveyors, including gravity conveyors, belt conveyors, and live roller conveyors. From a single component add-on to a complete automation system Thomas Conveyor will put our years of experience to work for your operation.
Be sure to contact a Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Automation Specialist for all of your material handling needs. Call us today at 844 220 0086.
By Mike Budz Ergonomic Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Thomas Conveyor was recently brought in by a client to help them improve their picking efficiency on fast moving SKU items. They had an existing pick module full of product pallets on their upper levels that could not be replenished fast enough. Thomas Conveyor visualized a solution by providing floor mounted, single level, magnum wheel pallet flow lanes.
The benefits of pallet flow racking is it:
saves floor space
boosts throughput
reduces use of fork trucks, and
enables first in/first out inventory control management.
After an automation solution diagnostic was completed, Thomas Conveyor engineers decided to provide twenty three single lanes of pallet flow conveyor. The pallet flow conveyor was anchored on the floor, side by side, in a straight run. Operators were able to push their picking carts down the run and pick product directly from the pallet.
The lanes allow two pallets, up to nine pallets deep, of the same SKU to be back to back pitched off the floor. Each pallet flow lane is designed to have a pallet mechanical separator provide a gap between the pitched pallets. The mechanical separator removes back pressure from secondary pallets against the first pallet.
When the front pallet is empty:
The operator lifts the empty pallet out of the line
The operator foot activates a manually lever that allows the separator to release the second pallet to move into the first pallet position.
Once the secondary pallet rolls past the separator, it automatically resets and detains any new pallets placed on the flow line.
We also placed entry guides at the infeed of each lane to help the fork truck operator align the pallets into the racking lanes. These are both added safety features.
Prior to the Magnum pallet flow installation, when a pallet was empty:
The operator had to stop operations to find a pallet jack;
Manually move up a second pallet to the front of the line; then
Flag and position a fork truck to bring in a new full pallet, which was dangerous in this high pedestrian traffic area. Each lane also had speed controllers, in the form of centrifugal roller brakes, that slowed the speed of the pallets moving down the line.
Each lane also had speed controllers, in the form of centrifugal roller brakes, that slowed the speed of the pallets moving down the line.
Once the initial pallet flow conveyors were installed, the next stage of improvement was to install overhead selective pallet racking above the new conveyor system.
The new selective pallet racking allows the client to instantly replenish the pallet flow lane when a new pallet is required.
We carefully measured the spacing between the pallet flow rails and installed uprights and beams that fit between the lanes.
Each bay of racking has a wire deck to support the pallet, as well as a bolted on pallet back stop that provides the fork lift operator with a guide. The back stop also provides an extra level of security to ensure that pallets do not over reach and get pushed onto the pallet flow system.
Thomas Conveyor provides turnkey consultation and installation for pallet flow systems.
During the consultation visit sales engineers will walk the floor with the customer to chalk up and measure out production lines to ensure proper fit.
We suggest the end user ship a pallet with product for testing at the factory before we begin the manufacturing process.
We provide a video showing how your pallet works on the flow racking and the satisfactory end results.
Thomas Conveyor will provide to the client an engineered AutoCAD drawing showing plan views and elevation views of the system designed upon accepted orders. This ensures your pallet rack system will be pitched properly and flows well.
This test is done free of charge for your benefit.
Once the pallet racking lanes are manufactured, our installers either union or non union, will deliver and offload the materials to the designated installation site.
Installation is very quick and most projects are completed in a few days.
Thomas Conveyor Sales Engineers are available to provide a complete consultation for any of your material handling automation needs. Give us a call and we can help to redesign or improve your existing or new pallet flow and racking systems!
By Clint Yonkers Ergonomic Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Company was recently approached by a department manager working for a large laminator/holographic manufacturer located in the greater Chicagoland area.They needed assistance with an ergonomic handling problem for changing out impression rolls on their laminating machines.
A Thomas Conveyor Ergonomic Engineer visiting their location to provide a consultation and solution assessment; based on the valuation findings he designed a custom ergonomic unit that could facilitate use on multiple machines.
One of the ergonomic challenges presented was that the unit had to enter the process machines sideways with limited headroom.This required the ergonomic unit to have very short legs and lifting masts.
The task involved was directed semi-annually, but it is very difficult and dangerous to employees.It involves removing a large roll from inside a rigid machine frame which is recessed 40” from the initial machine opening.The roll itself is 8” in diameter x 43” long and weighs 350 lbs.
The client required a device:
Which could fit within the machine frame with the restricted headroom
Telescope a very thin platform under the roll
Lift it slightly
Retract it back to the platform
Lower the roll and finally
Pull away the lifter, platform, and roll all at the same time.
Please keep in mind, this is a simplified and abbreviated explanation.The process is actually quite tedious and is repeated several times because the clearances are so tight and there are various obstructions.However, at no point during the entire process is an operator exposed to any dangerous conditions.With the new and improved ergonomic solution, they are no longer required to be under or around the roll during a change sequence.
In conclusion, the modified lifter solution was able to roll up to and under the customer’s machine.The platform is able to extend and retract, all while in the lowest vertical position on the mast. The lifter was outfitted with multiple counterweights due to the legs being very short, and the load located on the outmost area of the lifter’s leg load center.This custom lifter/lifting solution encompasses our traditional lifter technology, all while maintaining a very small footprint.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Company is an authorized and factory-trained distributor of Lift-O-Flex™ ergonomic lifters. As described above, these lifters are specifically designed and manufactured to suit each application no matter how stringent. They are lightweight and precision-built, featuring a manual transverse and battery-operated lift feature. Each lifter can be supplied with customized tooling allowing a host of different methods for grasping, lifting, turning, and rotating.
A manual foot-operated, three-position central brake system allows for the rear casters to be set at either a freewheeling swivel or locked for single directional travel. These lifters are available in the standard powder coated/aluminum anodized construction or in stainless steel wipe or washdown versions.
The next time you encounter an impossible product handling application contact Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co. for a customized solution. Our Ergonomic Engineers and Automation Engineers have the expertise to help you with your ergonomic lifting application.
by Mike Budz Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has been cracking down on warehouse safety in recent years, especially in 2019. We have seen several customers get a mandate from OSHA of “better protect your employees by ‘Date X’ or you will not be able to continue operations”. Besides the loss of operation time, in 2019 OSHA levied a new penalty for willful and repeat violations, at a whopping $132,598.00 per violation!
The question is how can you better protect your employees? One simple and economical solution is by installing new perimeter guarding and machine guarding.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment offers simple and economical perimeter guarding to be placed around any machine or area in your warehouse that may be unsafe for an employee to be walking or working around. Nearly all of the perimeter guarding we offer is in stock; it also meets ISO and OSHA safety standards. Our guarding per ISO Guideline 13857 can be installed as close to 8” to the machine/hazard. This will save your facility valued square footage. Our ability to tightly border your equipment is due to the mesh fencing grid, which is sized at 1-1/4” x 2-1/2”. The industry standard is 2”x2”, which we surpass,allowing you to save an average of 25” of floor space! The mesh fencing is shipped in full length sections and cut to size in the field. This allows for field adjustability and changes, as well as a quicker install since no welding is required.
The entire product is made in the United States of America!!! Our standard, and in stock, posts are 2” x 2” with a 6” base. Post heights can vary with stocked heights of 5’, 6’, 7’, and 8’ tall. The mesh panels are finished in a powder coat black, while the posts are finished in a powder coat yellow. Additional custom colors are available.
Complementing the mesh fencing is a wide variety of swing and slide doors, based on the machine layout.Standard swing door sizes range from a minimum 34” wide up to a double hinge of 94”. Standard slide doors range in size from 34” up to 142” wide.
Initially, a Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Automation Engineer will visit your facility to assess the layout and determine your caging needs. We will procure measurement of the areas needing guarding, interview, and work with your machine operators about access points, and compile our findings in an AutoCAD drawing showing the guarding layout notating access points, all free of charge.We will also provide a detailed quotation based on the assessment, with suggested product, accessories and options.
Once the quote has been signed, Thomas Conveyor will supply factory engineered drawings for your approval. Signed and confirmed orders generally take between 1 to 2 weeks to ship, depending on custom requirements, etc.Installation is quick and efficient; since Thomas Conveyor has dedicated mechanical crews experienced with installation of the guard fencing and can handle projects of any size.
In October 2019 a company approached Thomas Conveyor & Equipment and stated that OSHA had given them one month to get their warehouse OSHA compliant with perimeter and machine guarding. Thomas Conveyor Automation Engineers were onsite within one day to survey and provide design consultation and layout. We were able to provide multiple unique and tailored solutions, including custom double swing doors to allow for product chutes, as well as high post extensions, so fork trucks could clear the post headers to drop off and pick up pallets.
We were able to ship over 50 doors/gates, as well as roughly, 1000 feet of fencing with a two week time frame. We then put the crews to work on the install, working for 14 straights days, including Saturday and Sunday, to beat the OSHA inspection timeline. We were able to make the deadline to the customer's great satisfaction and allow them to pass their OSHA inspection with flying colors!
Contact Thomas Conveyor & Equipment today for a free warehouse guarding evaluation and for a custom consultation of a future safety perimeter and machine guarding project!
by Larry Tarson Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Maintenance Comes in Two Forms: "Before a Breakdown" and "After a Breakdown"
Often the cost of repairs after a breakdown is much higher than before a breakdown. If a pulley shifts and rubs a conveyor frame, an early adjustment or bearing replacement can prevent a hole being cut into the conveyor frame. This takes the conveyor out of service.Production is impacted.More staff is needed to manually handle the product.In addition, you are at risk of staff injuries, such as back sprains, etc.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment can provide maintenance on either a “Regular Basis” or “On Call Basis”.
If your employees are alert and notify you of differences or changes in your conveyor system, then maintenance on an “On Call Basis” may be cost effective for you.
Signs that your conveyor needs maintenance “Before a Breakdown”:
If you see that a belt is rubbing a conveyor frame. Have it tracked.If the belt runs without touching the frame, then it is OK. While the conveyor can operate with slight rubbing for a short length of time, long term rubbing will cause severe damage.
If you hear squealing or grinding noises: Schedule a technician to check it out.When ball bearings fail, they develop flat spots.Instead of rolling, they begin to slide.Eventually the balls wear a hole thru the race (the part which holds the balls in place). Normally, squealing is not a cause for alarm if responded to early.When squealing is ignored, first, you suffer the annoying high pitched noise during use; secondly, it heralds complete conveyor failure.Once a bearing squeals, replace it.It will not improve with continued use.
If an incline belt will not carry a full load, then one of the following conditions may be the cause: - The belt requires tensioning; - A key has fallen out of a sprocket; - The lagging on the drive pulley has been polished smooth
When the belt is loose, there is slippage between the drive pulley and belt. Often you will hear a squeal. When a key falls out of a sprocket, there is slippage between the sprocket and the shaft. You may hear a squeal or have little or no belt movement. If the lagging on the drive pulley is worn, then slippage between the belt and pulley can occur under light loads, even with correct belt tension. All require diagnosis and corrective action.
If your employees do not pay attention to your conveyors and/or your in house maintenance staff has other responsibilities, then Thomas Conveyor can provide periodic maintenance and inspection. We will work with you to schedule a convenient time for maintenance services.
Let Thomas Conveyor be your expert partner in providing material handling equipment and maintenance. Call us at 708-449-2100.
by Bill Lisy President Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Thomas Conveyor & Equipment was recently approached by a customer who needed to address a series of problems faced by many of our customers today. The customer, a major supplier of packaged sauces and condiments to the fast food industry, was faced with rising costs, a lack of qualified job candidates, and a need to increase productivity.
Their existing process involved manually delivering stacks of pre-erected cases to each cup machine operator. The operator would then place an empty case in the fill position of the cup machine and once a case was filled push the case down a gravity conveyor line to atape machine. The process was labor intensive and productivity suffered.
TCE engineers went to work to provide a design to automate the entire process starting with the front end. The first thing that needed to be addressed was their manual case erecting process.The TCE automation engineering staff designed and installed a Wildeck™ mezzanine outside of their production room. It was determined that a Wexxar WF30 automatic case erector would be installed on the deck on the mezzanine. The mezzanine would utilize existing overhead space, and the Wexxar unit is capable of automatically erecting cases at a rate of 30 cases per minute.
The next challenge was to design a conveyor system to convey and deliver empty cases to each of the cup machines.We designed a 24 volt motorized roller conveyor with zero pressure zoned accumulation and “pop-up” right angle transfers belts to divert the cases. The cases will be conveyed on the main “trunk line” conveyor and then transfer to descending gravity case accumulation chutes feeding each of the cup machines. The accumulation chutes utilize a pneumatic case escapement to allow one case to be discharged into the filling zone of the cup machines as a filled case is discharged.Full cases are then discharged onto a 24 volt motorized roller zoned accumulation conveyor and travel to a Wexxar BEL 290 automatic tape case sealer.The case is then conveyed to a top tier automatic palletizer.
by Jeff Bollman Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
A contract packager approached Thomas Conveyor and Equipment (TCE) looking for a time sensitive solution. The packager needed several pieces of tabletop conveyor to complete a new Pouch-Fill line for a contract they recently received. The start date had been accelerated and they now needed a conveyor system in a three week time frame.
The customer provided TCE with a basic layout of their existing equipment. TCE then designed a tabletop conveyor system to connect several pieces of existing equipment, which included a pouch filler, check weigher, case erector, hand packing station, case sealer and finally to a palletizer.
TCE reviewed their needs, and customized a solution that included: A 12” wide tabletop conveyor (12 GA, powder coated mild steel). Conveyors included adjustable guide rails to accommodate different size pouches Extended LBP roller transfers to ensure smooth transitions of products (on and off the conveyor) and VFD’s (pre-wired and installed) to allow customer customization of speeds depending on product line and existing equipment run rates.
Tabletop conveyors come in standard 3.25”, 4.5”, 7.5” and 12” widths. These conveyors are available also available in a wash-down configuration or for use in a rugged shop floor environment.
Our fully adaptable tabletop conveyors can be designed for a variety of applications including transporting, merging, diverting, or accumulating products; they can also accommodate a wide range of processing requirements including, filling, labeling, and product inspection.
Tabletop conveyor features include:
Use in almost any production or warehouse environment
Durable construction ensures reliability
Industry-standard spare parts
Units can seamlessly integrate into existing production lines
Handles cartons, can, jars and bottles.
Be sure to contact Thomas Conveyor & Equipment, Inc. at (708) 449-2100 or visit our website at www.tceconveyors.com for all your material handling needs.
By Owen Toomey Automation Engineer Thomas Conveyor & Equipment Co.
Industrial steel work platforms (mezzanines) are the best way to fully utilize existing overhead space so you can operate more profitably and efficiently. Your warehouse can gain valuable working, office, storage or manufacturing areas at marginal cost when compared to new construction and sometimes even with a significant tax depreciation advantage. Thomas Conveyor & Equipment can help you put this extra available space to work fast, with minimal interruption to your working floor area.
My customer, a pharmaceutical company, needed a solution for operators to access the top of three tank vats for maintenance. I designed a mezzanine with a bolt-together construction to form a strong and secure unitized structure with heavy-duty columns and thick baseplates. The structure provides rigid support while minimizing obstructive bracing underneath the mezzanine. The mezzanine was designed to be built around the three tanks.
After we received approval on the mezzanine design, my installers erected the mezzanine. I believe that safety is always the biggest concern, so I designed a custom gap plate around the three different size tanks. The gap plate was fabricated from 7 gauge steel sheets. I designed the gap plate to have 8 pieces per tank for easier shipping and installation. We fastened the gap plate on top of the bar grating with saddle clips. Engineering was completed on the plate to ensure that the operators will have a safe platform to stand on while accessing the top of the tanks for maintenance.
There are various decking options available including roof deck and resin board, bar grating, and others. Framing options available are:
Bolted C-Section
Beam and C-Section
Beam and Beam
Beam and Bar Joist; or
Truss Girder and Bar Joist.
The different framing options have different load capacity and span size. They also have inherent advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application.
Contact Owen Toomey to discuss your new mezzanine application at 708-449-2100.
major supplier of packaged sauces and condiments to the fast food industry, was faced with rising costs, a lack of qualified job candidates, and a need to increase productivity.
