Maybury
Designs and Installs Efficient New
Conveyor System for Friendly
 |
| Maybury
designed a dual conveyor system for Friendly. |
Friendly
Ice Cream Corporation of Wilbraham, MA, came to Maybury with
the need for a system to convey and control several types
of frozen products. The system would convey products from
two separate production locations to one of two automated
palletizers.
Friendly
gave Maybury several stipulations: first, that the system
ensure sorting according to product and flavor changes and
not-for-sale products; second, that the conveyors have sufficient
accumulation capacity to prevent any production shutdown during
operation; and third, that the system provide necessary spacing
between each case before the palletizer infeed. Maybury agreed
to provide Friendly with a highly efficient system in a timely
manner.
The system
designed by Maybury consists of two conveyor lines. The "Bulk/Specialties"
line brings products in from three manufacturing discharge
points. It merges, accumulates and counts them, then separates
them for palletizing. Not-for-sale and flavor change target
cartons are automatically detected and discharged to a hand
palletizing area.
Maybury
designed a second conveyor line, dedicated to half-gallon
cartons, to replace an existing conveyor. This line accumulates
and separates packages for proper introduction to the second
automated palletizer. It is equipped with a cross-over mechanism
to divert product to the "Bulk/Specialties" palletizer
if the "Half-gallon" palletizer goes down. A powered
pallet conveyor indexes completed pallets from both palletizers
to one point, for pick-up by fork lift trucks.
 |
| This
conveyor system handles Friendly's frozen product, working
in temperatures as low as -60°F. |
Design
and wiring of the electrical controls were handled by Maybury
and Elm Electric, utilizing many types of Allen-Bradley products.
A series of colored lights and horns are used to signal operators
of various conditions.
The extremely
limited space in which the system was installed, as well as
the manufacturing process involved, dictated that Maybury
design and fabricate several customized devices. The very
cold environment of this installation also presented Maybury
with special challenges. Protective clothing was required
for our installation crews, who often found themselves working
in temperatures as low as -60°F.
Friendly
reports that all of its requirements were met by Maybury.
The system is now in full operation, providing highly efficient
conveying of all types of frozen treats, from festive holiday
rolls to cartons of "good old vanilla."
Return to Case Studies & Satisfied Customers |
