Conveyance and Roller Design Consulting

An Re:Build Optimation web handling consultant visited the client site to review equipment layout, observe process performance and defect issues, and work with the client to define the project scope, requirements and immediate action plans. The proposed process solution was to design a fluid bar conveyance system, which would replace the client’s submerged roller conveyance system. The new design would convey the sensitive web through the submerged web-path using fluid bars in place of rollers to avoid any web-to-rollers contact, which was creating subtle product defects. The fluid bar system design criteria was that the web floats evenly, within design clearance requirements, with no web to fluid bar contact, while maintaining lateral stability. Once the solution and proposed web path were determined, fluid bar models were used, taking into consideration existing pump pressure and flow rate specifications, to determine fluid bar diameter, hole size, and hole pattern for each fluid bar to meet the fly height objectives, while maximizing the no contact safety factor.