Key Technology introduces CleanBelt, a new clean-in-place (CIP) system for ADR® 5, the popular automatic defect removal system for potato strips.
This automated CIP system reduces sanitation and maintenance labor, minimizes the cost of replacement parts, and helps maintain the optimal performance of the ADR 5 system to accurately match product quality to specifications.
“Starch buildup is a persistent problem on potato strip production lines, especially on equipment with moving parts because starch hardens over time and on inspection equipment where build-up over viewing surfaces can degrade system performance. We’re addressing that with CleanBelt – it’s the first clean-in-place system for an ADR belt,” said Marco Azzaretti, Advanced Inspection Systems Product Manager at Key Technology. “Having a consistently clean belt helps the ADR operate at peak performance. We expect CleanBelt will save processors 125 to 200 labor hours per year per ADR system.”
Key makes CleanBelt a standard feature on all new ADR 5 systems, and offers it as an in-field upgrade to processors with installed ADR 5 systems. For processors with older ADR systems, Key offers CleanBelt as a standard feature on upgrades to ADR 5 from ADR II, ADR III, and ADR 4c systems.
With a combination of passive and active cleaning systems, CleanBelt continuously removes starch from the ADR belt to prevent buildup. The consistency of this routine ensures a uniform inspection background for the ADR cameras over time, which eliminates the need to recalibrate ADR and helps maintain optimal inspection performance without degradation. Just as important, preventing starch buildup reduces the risk of belt mis-tracking, which can cause costly damage to the knives and cutting wheel.
CleanBelt eliminates the need to manually remove starch from between belt lanes and reduces the need for the ADR belt to be manually cleaned. It extends the intervals between cutter wheel rebuilds and significantly reduces knife replacements, which saves labor and parts.
Key Technology's ADR 5, now with Cleanbelt CIP system
ADR is an automatic defect removal system that inspects potato strips and automatically cuts out defects at production rates of up to 16,200 pounds (7.4 metric tons) per hour. It combines high-resolution Vis/IR cameras, a patented belt conveyor, a patented rotary cutter, and Iso-Flo® high-speed vibratory conveyors to align, singulate, inspect, and trim potato strips with unparalleled speed and precision.
For more information on Key’s ADR 5 and CleanBelt, visit www.key.net/products/adr/adr-5.
