2009-10-14
Tsubakimoto Chain announces the new release of the Tsubaki Zip Lator, a high-speed vertical conveyor
Joint development with Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd.
High-speed, space-saving, and sanitary design
Product Release
Tsubakimoto Chain (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan. President: Isamu Osa) has developed a high-speed vertical conveyor that utilizes an integrated zip chain lifting mechanism in collaboration with Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokushima, Japan. President: Shigeru Ueda). Sales of the new product will commence on October 15 under the names Tsubaki Zip Lator (Tsubakimoto Chain) and SKY ZiP (Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd.)
The first Tsubaki Zip Lator has been installed on a milk beverage filling and packaging line
The Tsubaki Zip Lator is a vertical lifting device with built-in conveyor that seamlessly integrates with existing continuous production lines to transfer products and parts to overhead conveyor lines and create aisles (work flow lines). (See "Applications")
The majority of vertical conveyors used to lift cases, containers, crates, and other light- to medium-weight items employ endless chain systems to raise and lower a load-bearing platform. Size can be a problem for such conveyors, which also leave a lot to be desired in terms of repeated stopping accuracy, multi-point stopping capability, and ease-of-maintenance.
Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd., focused on Tsubakimoto Chain's zip chain lifter mechanism, which directly raises and lowers the load-bearing platform with zip chain, as a replacement for conventional endless chain systems. The Tsubaki Zip Lator provides fast operation, space-saving size, improved ease-of-maintenance, and sanitary design by combining the high-speed vertical conveyor technology of Tsubakimoto Chain's very own zip chain unit with automatic food industry machinery technology produced by Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd. The first model of the production line has been installed in a filling and packaging line for milk beverages (pictured) where it transfers products to an overhead conveyor line, making effective use of factory space by creating an aisle.
Tsubakimoto Chain and Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd., will begin sales of the new product through their own sales channels. The companies are also planning to develop a high-lift, 3,000 mm model capable of transferring products from the first floor to the second floor.
Features
- Compact size
Saves anywhere from one- to two-thirds the space of similar models
The Zip Lator's purpose-designed drive unit employs a compact design that makes the most of the zip chain's characteristics. It requires no auxiliary equipment and can therefore be installed in small spaces. (See reference material) - High-speed lifting and high-precision operation
Maximum lifting speed of 100 m/min
The use of a zip chain to push up the load-bearing platform directly, enables reliable high-speed lifting and high-precision operation (high repeated positioning accuracy). - Reduced man-hours required for maintenance
System design minimizes chain exposure for significantly-improved ease-of-maintenance. Case interior is also easier to clean. - Sanitary design
Frame and other parts employ aluminum and stainless steel. As the zip chain unit is built into the underside of the main unit and the chain exposure is kept to a minimum, the inside of the case is clean. (See reference material) - Flexible
High stop positioning accuracy of the load-bearing platform enables smooth integration between previous and later processes. Moreover, the platform can be stopped mid-stroke to provide a range of diverse layout options to suit line design. (See "Conveyor Types" below.)
Applications
Vertical conveyance of light- to medium-weight items (up to 50 kg)
EXAMPLES
Product transfer to overhead conveyor line
Creating aisle space
Models
- Size of conveyed items: Available in eight sizes to handle items of from 300 x 300 x 400 mm to 700 x 700 x 400 mm
- Lift (lifting stroke): Up to 2,000 mm
- Weight of conveyed items: Light- to medium-weight items of up to 50 kg
Conveyor Types
Z-type, C-type, SZ-type, and a variety of other conveyor types are available including models that can transfer from high lines to lower lines and allow stop positions to be set.
Price
Standard Z-type model: 4 million yen (incl. tax)
*For items with maximum dimensions of 500 x 500 x 400 mm. Includes introduction conveyors.
Sales Forecast
First year (FY 2009) 10 units (40 million yen)
Three years time (FY 2012) 50 units (200 million yen)
Reference Material
- Zip chain lifting mechanism
What is a zip chain?
A zip chain consists of two chains that interlock to form a single, strong column capable of pushing and pulling in a straight line. They are so called because the chains knit together in zip-like fashion. The chains are wound up inside the unit in a spiral, enabling machinery to be made more compact.
Features
- High-speed operation
- Efficient transmission of motive force for long product life and energy efficiency
- Easy control of positioning and speed
- Compact drive unit
- Comparison to conventional equipment
- Design of case interior
Case interior is uncluttered and easy to clean
- Installation area: Saves anywhere from one- to two-thirds the
space of similar models
- Overview of Shikoku Kakoki, Co., Ltd. http://shikoku-kakoki.co.jp/english/
| Business | Manufacture and sale of food machinery used for filling/packaging, packaging materials, and processed soy food products | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Office | 10-1 Nishinokawa, Tarohachizu, Kitajima-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima-ken, 771-0202 Japan | |||
| Established | 1961 | Capital | 145 million yen | |
| Net sales | 37.4 billion yen (FY2008) | No. of employees | Approximately 700 | |