Customer Background
The customer is a global manufacturer and distributor of fire protection products, including fire sprinkler systems.
Challenge
The customer needed a system to clean water-soluble solder flux from various sizes of concealment covers used for an automatic fire sprinkler system. These covers are metal with a coated outer surface designed to conceal a fire sprinkler in a ceiling or wall. The covers are heat-sensitive by design, allowing the cap to separate from the base in the event of a fire. Therefore, the cleaning system could not exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit while still washing and drying the parts.
Solution
Two Alliance conveyorized belt cleaning systems were engineered to meet the high production rate of the sprinkler concealment covers. The CB-2400E has four lanes, and the CB-1200E has two lanes. The parts are separated by lane guides and are designed to increase the capacity of the cleaning system. Inside the machines, hold-down devices keep the lightweight parts on the belt surface and contained within their respective conveyor lane. The hold-downs can be adjusted to accommodate varying part heights, and a UHMW strip prevents scratching of the part surface. These machines utilize special stainless steel rod-style belts for increased spraying and drying coverage. Three mist collectors on the four-lane system and two mist collectors on the two-lane system are included for removing steam from the washers. Both machines also include micro-filtration chambers and belt-type oil skimmers to prolong the life of the cleaning solution.
