Killing static on bottle fill line
December 2006
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
A pharmaceutical company fills mouthwash bottles at a rate of 200 bottles per minute. Friction with the conveyor belt and guide rails produced a static charge on the bottle surface that resulted in two problems. First, the static electricity sent false pulses to an encoder responsible for monitoring material flow, causing it to shut the line down periodically. Second, the surface charge was so high that the liquid from the machine's fill spout would divert sideways down the side of the bottle instead of flowing straight down into the bottle mouth.
An EXAIR Super Ion Air Knife model 111012 305 cm with power supply was installed at the entrance to the fill table. The rapidly moving bottles passed under the sheet of ionised air and the surface static was completely neutralised. The falsing problem with the encoder was eliminated and the mouthwash went into the bottle where it belonged.
Static electricity can bring production to a halt as it did in this case. The speed of the filling operation required fast static decay over a large surface area - a situation a static bar alone could not remedy. The laminar airflow of the Exair Super Ion Air Knife delivers a flood of static eliminating ions to any surface the airstream touches, making it ideal for oddly shaped parts like bottles, crates or trays as well as flat surfaces like webs, sheet stock or conveyors.
Further reading:
Festo commits to a greener industrial future by driving sustainability and energy efficiency
Festo South Africa
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
As the world is facing significant ecological, social and economic challenges, Festo is taking proactive responsibility. Their goal is to contribute to a more sustainable future through the development of innovative technologies and responsible actions.
Read more...
Is your compressed air system sustainable?
Artic Driers International
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
We are all aware that compressed air is an expensive source of motive power, but do we actually know what the cost is?
Read more...
Versatile next-generation coaxial seal
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
John Crane, a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, has launched the Type 93AX coaxial separation seal, a next generation dry gas sealing solution engineered to help customers reduce emissions, improve equipment reliability, and lower operational costs.
Read more...
Innovate, accelerate, dominate
Festo South Africa
Editor's Choice Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Festo’s latest innovations, revealed through the Ramp Up Campaign, offer a blueprint for performance excellence, using the anatomy of a race car as an analogy to simplify and powerfully communicate how their technologies address industry challenges.
Read more...
It’s full steam ahead for SKF’s sustainable leak detection solution
SKF South Africa
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
One of SKF’s key customers based in Cape Town, which depends on steam systems for its production processes, was facing costly challenges related to high energy consumption and excessive maintenance hours. SKF recommended the TKSU 10 ultrasonic leak detector as a more streamlined, user-friendly alternative.
Read more...
The smart way to protect hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder rods
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Many industries replace hydraulic cylinders instead of preventing their premature wear. Seal Saver presents a smarter solution by protecting hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder rods from the start.
Read more...
Industrial acoustic imaging tool
Comtest
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Comtest offers the Fluke ii Industrial Acoustic Imager series, a hand-held, easy-to-use tool that visualises sounds coming from small leaks in compressed air, gas and vacuum systems.
Read more...
Servo motor series for explosive environments with expanded certification
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Parker Hannifin’s ongoing commitment to safety and performance in hazardous environments is evident in the new certifications and product improvements for its EY and EX servo motor series.
Read more...
Precision matters: Unravelling the intricacies of hydraulic cylinder honing
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
This article dives into the intricacies of hydraulic cylinder honing, shedding light on its significance, process and the technology behind achieving unparalleled precision.
Read more...
The six pillars of hydraulic system health
Hydrasales
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Hydrasales, a leader in hydraulic and lube oil industry solutions, offers an extensive range of condition monitoring products designed to safeguard your systems. Here are six essential checks for hydraulic system health to keep your systems in optimal shape.
Read more...
printer friendly version