Typical product from spiral freezers or coolers discharges in no particular order, but the innovative Laner system can straighten out the mess and organize the pile into separate lanes. The lanes of product can then be sent on down the line for final packaging, or in different directions for subsequent processing. Either way, the system not only accelerates the product into lanes automatically, but also virtually eliminates product jamming. The Laner is designed to work best with round, thin products.

Description and Operation

Traditional methods of organizing product flow involved the use of guide rails or sheet metal dividers. The problem with these approaches is that the guides or dividers themselves will become contaminated with product residue, causing drag and slowing down product movement. Products come together, and jamming is usually the result. The Laner eliminates these problems, using multiple rows of specially designed wheels to accelerate product flow.

Here's how the Laner works: Random product flow comes into contact with the first set of wheels, each having a high-friction surface along its edge. The edge speed of the wheels is higher than the conveyor speed, so the product is lifted upward and forward. As it is lifted, the product will tend to go to one side of the wheel or the other, with the wheel's tapered sides helping it to move in that direction.

Some product will clear the first set of wheels without being totally diverted to the conveyor lanes. The "misses" from the first set of wheels will be guided by the second, third, and fourth sets of wheels, acting in succession, until all of the product is flowing in lanes. The Laner can typically achieve flow rates in the range of 700-to-800 products per minute. The system is extremely reliable and uses only mechanical means to move the product; no sensors are used.

The Laner is USDA approved and BISSC certified.