Sorting in filling systems: minimised friction in the discharge chute

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• What was needed: Tribo-tape liner made of iglidur W160
• Requirements: A solution was sought to minimise the frictional resistance of the bottles during transport through the discharge chute and to prevent the containers from tipping over.
• Industry: Beverage technology, bottling plants, inspection technology
• Success for the customer: By using tribo-tape liner, it was possible to minimise frictional resistance so that the bottles always reach their final position upright. As the bottles start to slip at an inclination of just 7°, the energy required by the pneumatic cylinder has been reduced. In addition, less noise is generated during ejection.

On this bottling line, the containers are separated after filling on a conveyor belt before passing one after the other through a sensor system that scans the bottles and ejects reject products. The ejection mechanism consists of pneumatic cylinders that guide the containers into an ejection chute that leads to a collection table.
In the past, this sorting process often led to problems. As the bins have a high centre of gravity, they often fell over in the past, causing them to pile up in the ejection chute.
To solve the problem, the manufacturer initially decided in favour of an embossed plate to reduce the frictional resistance. However, the still excessive frictional resistance and the sudden change of direction at right angles to the direction of transport continued to cause the bottle to fall.

In the meantime, the tribo-tape liner made of iglidur W160 has been applied to the discharge chute and the collection containers. Thanks to the now very low frictional resistance, the bottles can dissipate excess energy without tipping over. Although the bottles wobble a little when sliding, they are hardly slowed down at all and always reach their final position standing upright. In addition, the bottles slide along the ejection table like billiards and fill the surface evenly without the need for additional aids. As the bottles start to slide at an inclination of just 7°, the energy required by the pneumatic cylinder has been reduced. Overall, less energy is used for the cylinder, less noise is generated during ejection and the contact energy of the bottles on the ejection table and therefore the risk of breakage is reduced.