A Leicester based bakery needed to automate the
production of health bars for major high street brands.
CovElec have been commissioned to design and build an extrusion
line with integrated cutter. The system is PLC controlled with feedback on
pressures and distance via transducers and encoders to
fully automate the process through HMI interface.
The system comprises a variable pitch
opposing helix, twin screw auger with integrated pressure
transducer providing pressure feedback to the PLC to maintain
a setpoint on the drive screws.
The cutter is a clutch-brake device with capability of 4
cycles per second. The blade rotates at 900 rpm
triggered by the encoder feedback on the feed rate from the
conveyors.
The most challenging aspect of the design was the transfer of
the extrusion to the blade without causing blockages and the ability to
continue the transfer to the exit conveyor. After several prototype
designs, a solution was found and manufacturing is now complete.
The client is looking to integrate the feed direct to a
flow wrapper with a capability of producing 7600 bars per hour.
