Variable height drive rib

At the iba trade fair last September, Ashworth Bros. Inc. unveiled a new, patented solution for spiral conveyor systems called PosiDrive Spiral ™ .

+Ashworth Bros., Inc., Winchester, VA, USA, specialists in conveyor belting, featured their new patented PosiDrive Spiral™ system for use in cooling, proofing and freezing plants at the IBA trade fair in Munich in 2018. Explaining the North American company’s strategy, Kenneth King, Ashworth Commercial Support Manager, said “There are already applications in the European food industry, and we want to further expand the new system’s establishment in the baking and frozen food sectors.” The PosiDrive Spiral ™ system’s advantage is that various products such as rolls, or loaves of bread do not slip out of position. The system also reduces tension on the conveyor belt, and production capacity can be increased. In an interview with baking+biscuit international, Kenneth King explained how the system functions.

++ Kenneth King

system with UHMW cage bar caps will operate in freezers, coolers, and proofers.

+ bbi: With which belts does the system work?

+ King: Our PosiDrive Spiral ™ system belting is available in 27.4mm, small radius 27.4mm, and 38.1mm pitch belts. These belt designs are based on our proven Omni-Grid 360 Weld belt.

+ bbi: Where are the belt drive motors positioned?

+ King: Our system typically uses a tension drive motor at the outfeed similar to a normal Lotension system. However, we use constant torque motors instead of constant speed motors to provide consistent belt tension and eliminate any issues with speed synchronization between the drum drive and tension drive. This also prevents belt flip-up in the top tier. In some cases, a second drive motor may be used at the infeed to further reduce belt tension.

+ bbi: Mr. King, what exactly is new about the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system, and what kind of method was patented?

+ King: What sets us apart from our competition is the patented variable height drive rib which simplifies system design and installation.

+ bbi: How precisely is belt tension reduced?

+ King: Tension is lowered by reducing the height of the drive rib as the belt enters the spiral. This creates a smaller cage diameter in the upper tiers where the belt has lower tension.

+ bbi: What kinds of products can be conveyed, and what are the plant’s operating temperature ranges?

+ King: All type of products can be conveyed. However, the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system excels at carrying oily products because oils do not affect the ability of the drum to drive the belt. It is also ideal for delicate products or products that require more precise orientation, because the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system minimizes product movement. The current

+ bbi: In which sizes and for which capacities do you offer the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system?

+ King: We can use the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system virtually anywhere Lotension spirals can be used as well as some applications where Lotension would not work.

+ bbi: Do baking sector customers already use the Posi Drive Spiral ™ system?

+ King: Yes, we have many baking customers using our PosiDrive ™ Spiral System with great results.

+ bbi: Can the PosiDrive Spiral ™ system be retrofitted to existing plants?

+ King: Yes. Our PosiDrive Spiral system has been specifically designed to easily retrofit existing spiral systems and is already proven in Europe.

Ashworth supplies belts and components for the Ashworth PosiDrive Spiral ™ system to spiral builders worldwide.