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Stainless Steel Conveyor Belt with Custom Product Handling Attachments for Electrical Connector Component Manufacturing

A customer recently approached Belt Technologies seeking a solution to their product handling challenge. The customer produces electrical components including sensors, fiber optics, power systems, cable assemblies, and electrical connectors. They were working on expanding their electrical connector manufacturing operations and required a precise and repeatable way to safely transport the small components.

Stainless Steel Is Ideal for the Unique Challenges of Electronics Manufacturing

conveyor belt for electrical connector manufacturing

Many electrical components are manufactured in static-free, vacuum environments designed to protect delicate circuitry from potential contamination. Stainless steel is the ideal conveyor belt material for these applications because it does not require lubrication and does not generate particulates.

This particular application did not have such stringent environmental operating requirements. However, the system needed to be incredibly precise. The product needed to be positioned accurately throughout the manufacturing process to be properly aligned with specialized sensors; the sensors would help assemble the electrical connectors. This made indexing and precision a top priority in the conveyor system design.

Custom Attachments Guarantee Safe and Precise Product Handling

Our engineers worked closely with the customer’s engineering department. They thoroughly reviewed the client’s initial drawings and functional models and translated them into working equipment. The project began with motors and nesting provided by the customer. Our team worked with the customer’s engineers to design an appropriate frame and conveyor belt made of sturdy, 301 FH stainless steel that would function as intended with the provided components. The belt was fitted with custom attachments to ensure precise positioning of the electrical connector components as they are transported. The new conveyor system was assembled and installed without incident and has been performing exceptionally well. Watch the video below to see the new conveyor systems in action:

https://belttechnologiesinc.wistia.com/medias/z2qlcxuxi1?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640

Belt Technologies engineers have the ability to work with you to provide manufacturing feedback and design input that will ensure your conveyor system provides optimal product throughput and quality. We have the knowledge and skill to create custom conveyor systems perfectly designed to suit your unique automation application. Contact the experts at Belt Technologies today to learn more.

Metal Conveyor Belt for Gel Capsule Production

A leading producer of fluid-filled gel capsules for a variety of pharmaceutical and food processing applications recently contacted Belt Technologies seeking a metal conveyor belt. The belt was to be used in the automated production of menthol gel capsules used in certain brands of cigarettes. The company’s manufacturing process required the capsules to be transported securely through an imaging system for quality inspection.

Challenging Design: Conveying Gel Capsules for Inspection

The system design called for a conveyor belt with perforations that could hold each individual menthol capsule as it is sent through a quality imaging system. In this system, defective capsules (those that are incorrectly size, have fluid leaks, etc.), are sucked out of the belt and disposed of. All production would be performed in a clean room environment to prevent contamination. Due to the small size of each capsule and the required degree of accuracy, the belt would need to have reliable tracking in order to ensure precise movement through the imaging system.

Stainless Steel Conveyors Are Sanitary and Precise

Our metal conveyor belts are highly sanitary, thanks to the unique properties of stainless steel. Studies have shown that microbes and bacteria do not adhere to the smooth surface of stainless steel as readily as plastic or other belt materials. It is highly resistant to corrosion and other forms of damage, minimizing the risk of particulates or other contaminants affecting product quality. This makes them ideal for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Because they demonstrate near-zero backlash and are non-stretchable, stainless steel conveyor belts are also highly accurate.

Automated Conveyor Solutions for Medical and Clean Room Applications

Our engineers worked directly with this customer to create a stainless steel conveyor belt that met all the needs of their application. We used 17-7 CH 900 stainless steel for its superior strength, which would prevent cupping and maximize the lifespan of the belt. We also designed and implemented a custom perforation pattern with a tight dimensional tolerance of +/0.05 mm to precisely hold the delicate gel capsules. To ensure the capsules would move through the imaging system with maximum precision, we added forced V-guide tracking. The belt was also given a dark coating to make it easier for the imaging equipment to take accurate measurements of each gel capsule.

The customer has installed the new conveyor belts and is more than satisfied with the performance results. We are developing a new set of belts for other production lines in the same company; these will be built to transport capsules of varying sizes.
For custom conveyor solutions for your medical or pharmaceutical application, contact the experts at Belt Technologies today.