Patent-Pending Vertical Conveyor Oven for Curing Adhesives
LEWCO recently unleashed its engineering prowess, manufacturing a revolutionary custom vertical conveyor oven system for a Tier One automotive supplier. Picture this: an engineering masterpiece at play in a fully automatic system that cures adhesive on large composite panels at 300°C (575°F). Each composite panel rides in a 6’x8′ tray which LEWCO and the customer worked together to design to achieve minimal contact with the parts. In total, the oven holds 24 trays.
Why a Vertical Conveyor Oven?
Now, here’s where it gets challenging: due to floor space constraints the oven needed to have a relatively small footprint, while also meeting the explosion relief requirements of NFPA 86 Class A ovens. LEWCO engineers got to work to design an innovative vertical conveyor oven. Adequate explosion relief area was achieved through the doors and roof.
Perfectly Even Temperature
With a temperature uniformity requirement of just +/- 5°C., LEWCO’s thermodynamic gurus ensured every nook and cranny of the workspace was bathed in perfectly even heat.
Patent-Pending Transfer
The entire system is a ballet of automation. Robots dance with trays, seamlessly loading and unloading with the precision of a virtuoso. As trays index through the oven’s tower chamber, LEWCO’s patent-pending transfer effortlessly moves trays from the vertical up conveyor to the vertical down conveyor.
Safety First
But safety first, always… and spare no expense. As an added layer of protection, a Lower Explosive Limit (L.E.L.) monitor was installed and integrated with the oven controls to ensure the oven atmosphere never exceeds 25% L.E.L. If the oven’s atmosphere dares to flirt with danger, the system will automatically disable the heat if an unsafe condition is detected.
Pushing Engineering Boundaries
LEWCO isn’t just in the business of industrial ovens and conveyors —it’s in the business of pushing engineering boundaries to deliver automated systems that redefine the industry. Contact us today to see first hand what LEWCO engineering can do for you!
