Innovative Basket Clamping System for Agitating Retorts Wins Patent for Allpax Products
Sep 09, 2008Covington, LA - Allpax Products, a division of ProMach and the market leader in retort technology and retort room automation, has a new patented system for improving automated basket clamping during retort agitation. The patented system reduces wear on retort equipment, decreases maintenance time and cost, and improves overall throughput.
In most automated clamping systems, an air actuated plate pushes baskets down against transfer rollers. The pressure causes wear to basket tops, rollers, and rotors and can also lead to compound cut through and breakage of glass containers. Top-down pressure is not always sufficient to stop side-to-side movement during agitation. Side-to-side shifting causes damage to packaging, especially glass, and additional wear on retort components.
Allpax's patented clamping system utilizes inflatable energy tubes at the sides and underneath baskets to solve these problems. When inflated, the bottom energy tubes raise the basket against a fixed top plate, holding baskets securely top to bottom. Additional energy tubes are inflated on the sides of the baskets to eliminate side-to-side shifting.
This system protects the product, packaging, rollers, and rotors. Force across the top of the basket is evenly distributed. This enables very low clamping pressure and, in turn, eliminates compound cut through and glass breakage. As pressure in the retort changes, pressure in the energy tubes adjusts automatically for precise clamping control during the agitation process.
For more information on the patented automated basket clamping system and other Allpax retort technology and retort room automation, call 985-893-9277 or visit www.allpax.com. A recently completed white paper on retort room automation is available for download from the company's website.
About Allpax
Supporting the highest levels of product safety and regulatory compliance, Allpax manufactures processing and sterilization solutions for the food, beverage, pet food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries, including autoclaves, retort room components, fully automated retort rooms, and product handling equipment that supports retort room automation. Allpax is a product brand of ProMach, a global leader in packaging line solutions. As part of the ProMach Product Handling business line, Allpax helps our packaging customers protect and grow the reputation and trust of their consumers. ProMach is performance, and the proof is in every package. Learn more about Allpax at www.Allpax.com and more about ProMach at ProMachBuilt.com.
Media Contact
David Starck | David.Starck@promachbuilt.com← Back to Press Releases