Vanmark UPTIME™ June, 2004

Feed Me!

The title above is a line from an old movie called the "Little Shop of Horrors". In the movie, the creature (a talking plant) demands to be fed with a steady stream of "nourishment" and is not easily ignored. There were serious consequences if it was.

Like the movie creature, peelers in the process line also need to be fed a steady stream of product. Unfortunately, the outward equivalents of cries of "Feed Me!" are often ignored, and the consequences are quite serious in many ways - especially efficiency.

An inconsistent feed rate is, without a doubt, the most common cause of inconsistent peeler performance. Take a look at the diagram below. Inconsistent conveyor loading directly translates to inconsistent peeler chamber loading. If product entering the peeler goes from deluge to dribble, peel removal will range from under-peeled to over-peeled. Under these conditions, some portion of the product stream may come out "just right". But if our goal is to have it ALL come out just right, the only way it can happen is if the feed rate (i.e. chamber loading) is always just right. Once the feed rate is consistent, it then becomes a much simpler matter to adjust variables like roll speed and gate setting to obtain the degree of peel removal or product finish desired.
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. Click for larger view

This simple concept of consistent feeding is not easily implemented or maintained unless it is thoroughly understood. The process line must first be properly engineered to be capable of consistent product flow (see photo), then operators must be trained to know what to look for and how to correct problems when they occur. Not an easy task for sure, but when it is done right, the rewards are high yields, greater line efficiency, and consistent product in the bag. And we all know what that is worth!

We hope this article has been useful. Our experienced Vanmark representatives or our factory specialists would be pleased to help you with improving your peeler operations. Call or email your Vanmark representative or contact one of our application specialists directly at 800-523-6261 or email us at sales@vanmarkequipment.com.