Vacuum conveyor transports coffee capsules

To clear the storage position, the capsules must be moved 860 mm in 0.9 seconds. A straight section of the track also serves as an unloading station for random sampling using an air blast. The conveying direction must be rotated by 90° at the end of the conveying path so that the capsules can be transferred to the next customer conveyor.

An ideal solution was developed using two interlinking belt conveyors. A GUF-P 2000 belt conveyor with vacuum function is used for the loading area, which is directly connected to the filling system. The belt conveyor is at a standstill while the capsule packages are placed on the conveyor. In order to move the capsules by 860 mm in 0.9 seconds in cycle operation, a servo motor was designed with a speed of approx. 75 m/min and an acceleration of approximately 3m/s². The capsules are prevented from tilting or slipping by the constant vacuum in the conveyor frame and the rows of holes in the belt conveyor which can be adapted to the product.

After the random sample has been taken, the capsules are transferred to the second conveyor for further processing. This conveyor runs continuously without a vacuum function. A rolling knife edge on the discharge end of the vacuum conveyor ensures that the capsules are transferred smoothly. The two conveyors are also equipped with side rails that are adapted to the product geometry.