Ashworth: A smooth ride for all conveying tasks

A smooth ride

Reliable product transfer between processes is essential to maintaining the rhythm in production sequences, with continuous, automated adjustements. To optimize efficiency in industrial baking, everything is riding on conveyor systems.

+As products move along the production cycle, their characteristics evolve to the next desired stage. Conveying systems need to be mindful of that, especially for the belts that operate on them. What is the correct belt for each process step? To identify the right type for each conveying job in a bakery, the first step is having a clear understanding of the product and the application, as each can greatly vary compared to its down- or upstream counterparts, from proofing and cooling to baking and packaging or general conveying. Ashworth provides a comprehensive range of conveyor belts and provides us with a ‘guided tour’ of the various types of belts that are the best match for each process in a bakery. How is the right type of belt for each conveying job in a bakery determined? What are the criteria to match the best option for belt materials and construction with the process stage? Understanding the application (general conveying, proofing, cooling, baking, packaging, etc.) and the product is the first step. There are numerous factors that play a role in this pairing endeavor, including the application temperature, the product support requirements and even cleaning protocols, for example. “Once these conditions are known, we frequently talk to users to understand any past challenges or concerns before we recommend any particular belting,” Ashworth says about the thought process. Challenges in finding the optimum choice in belts, and then working with it over time, are often product related. When handling bakery goods that are sticky, soft, oily, or sugary, products can easily get damaged or be left with unwanted markings as they advance along conveyor belts. These products can also be challenging to remove as they are transferred along the line. Here, experience is an invaluable asset in making an informed selection of the best belting solution for each segment of the processing line. Ashworth illustrates: “For baking, a close or tight mesh may be best. However, after baking, a more open mesh may be necessary to facilitate cooling prior to packing. For applications requiring short transfers, a sprocketdriven belt is a better choice than a friction drive because the sprockets aid in tracking these short belts.”

From dough to package

In bakeries, products start off as pliable pieces of dough that require more support at this stage, compared to their characteristics after baking, then through the cooling and packaging segments of the process. Ashworth can offer different belts to best accommodate the product as it travels through each processing step, among them plastic and metal spirals, high-density mesh, and woven belts, flat wire belts, and belt and sprocket systems. “Material choices can also be evaluated to offer the best options for the process such as salting, freezing, or baking,” Ashworth explains. Beyond material selection, there are several customization options to meet the processing conditions in each case. Ashworth can provide flights or lifts for inclining systems, side guards for product retention, or belts with added chains for precise timing, for example. Once the best choice of belts for the process is found, optimizing that process can begin. Ashworth offers installation support in this regard, through

its Factory Services. “We believe our precision, custommanufactured belts will perform and last longest when installed and tracked properly. Should an issue arise, our Factory Service Technicians will assist the user with troubleshooting and training,” the company shares.

Correct operation, day after day

Processing conditions are constantly changing in any system, which is why frequent inspections for proper belt operation are critical to belt operation. Ashworth: “We are releasing our SmartOven™ system, which monitors key operating parameters of the oven. This data is relayed to your smart device, offering real-time monitoring.” Through this app, alarms can be set to send notifications to smart devices about deviations from standard or baseline operating conditions. As different as the belts throughout processing stages may be (and should be), monitoring does not need to share this variety. On the contrary, there are advantages to align not just belts, but all types of equipment to a standardized ‘language’. For belts, monitoring is made even easier to achieve as they operate essentially the same, regardless of their construction differences. “Consideration is necessary when choosing a specific sensor that is dependent on belting material, open area, or edge construction,” Ashworth recommends.

Smart tools

Ashworth launched the SmartOven™ Monitoring System at IBIE this year, joining the SmartSpiral™ in this range. It monitors critical oven operating parameters and provides real-time feedback to Maintenance, Engineering and Plant management, compiling graphical representations of the collected data, to show past and current operating trends that can be analyzed to anticipate the system’s future performance, including potential failures before they happen. Maintenance work can be planned when convenient and prevents failures – and the downtimes they would bring – from occurring altogether. The SmartSpiral™ Monitoring System provides real-time monitoring of multiple spirals, even over different facilities, and manages maintenance as well. “Our SmartSpiral™ and now our SmartOven™ technology notifies the user of trending data from the system. By monitoring collected trend data, they can observe changes in the system. This can indicate potential belt or component failure. Being able to ‘fix’ problems before they become catastrophic means the belt and system remain in operation. Predictive maintenance can be performed during off hours or down time instead of during a crash mid-production run,” the company highlights. Opportunities to have belts throughout the processing plant that work smarter, not harder, are here. The key is in the choice and operation setup. +++

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