Packaging

Innovative Basket Clamping System for Agitating Retorts Wins Patent for Allpax Products

Tuesday 28. October 2008 - Allpax Products, a division of Pro Mach and the market leader in retort technology and retort room automation, has a new patented system for improving automated basket clamping during retort agitation. The patented system reduces wear on retort equipment, decreases maintenance time and cost, and improves overall throughput.

In most automated clamping systems, an air actuated plate pushes baskets down against transfer rollers. The pressure causes wear to basket tops, rollers, and rotors and can also lead to compound cut through and breakage of glass containers. Top-down pressure is not always sufficient to stop side-to-side movement during agitation. Side-to-side shifting causes damage to packaging, especially glass, and additional wear on retort components.
Allpax’s patented clamping system utilizes inflatable energy tubes at the sides and underneath baskets to solve these problems. When inflated, the bottom energy tubes raise the basket against a fixed top plate, holding baskets securely top to bottom. Additional energy tubes are inflated on the sides of the baskets to eliminate side-to-side shifting.
This system protects the product, packaging, rollers, and rotors. Force across the top of the basket is evenly distributed. This enables very low clamping pressure and, in turn, eliminates compound cut through and glass breakage. As pressure in the retort changes, pressure in the energy tubes adjusts automatically for precise clamping control during the agitation process.