Parkinson Technologies Inc.’s Key Filters brand has refined its KCH continuous belt screen changer, with mechanical upgrades that include more robust construction, cooling enhancements and maintenance features.
To increase overall robustness, machine sensors were guarded, moved farther away from high-heat locations and upgraded to meet extreme production environments.
“As an example, the puller sensor was upgraded from a string potentiometer to an extreme-duty, non-contact inductive sensor,” said Justin Marriott, product manager of Key Filters.
Additional improvements include increased cooling through the inlets and outlets, resulting in three times the flow rate compared to the previous version. The cooling accelerates the formation of the sealing plug, so the KCH can advance the screen at an even quicker rate, according to the company.
Also, engineers separated the puller and outlet assemblies, to stop problems when the extruder screw speed is accidentally increased too quickly at startup, or when interruption in the cooling water to the screen changer can result in the loss of a sealing plug in the screen outlet. With the new design, the heated polymer will bypass the puller assembly, eliminating component damage and providing an easier cleanup if a plug loss does happen.
Parkinson Technologies is in Woonsocket, R.I.
Tel. 401-762-2100, email [email protected].