When most food manufacturers think about conveyors designed for food packaging lines, they primarily think about meeting requirements for cleanliness and sanitation. But whether to go with a wipe-down or heavy washdown conveyor system is just the beginning. Today, food manufacturers are just as concerned about the latest technology in smart automation and devices that can streamline any food packaging line into extreme efficiency.
Conveyors for food packaging can be equipped with smart, advanced roller systems, which minimize product damage by utilizing a low back-pressure accumulation system, according to Steve Beavans, Shuttleworth LLC application engineering manager. This technology provides low line-pressure throughout a continuous-motion accumulation conveyor that allows for precise product placement on the conveyor while it continues to take product flow from an upstream line for a period of time. A low-pressure accumulation buffer absorbs irregularities in the production flow and provides a smooth, even flow on the line, says Beavans.