Indexing Conveyor Oven for Automotive Supplier

Davron Technologies, Inc. designed and manufactured the DTI-1175, a natural-gas-heated indexing conveyor oven designed to cure disc brake pads for a Tier 1 automotive supplier. The compact design features a heated entrance vestibule, a curing chamber and a cooling chamber in a very small footprint that saves valuable manufacturing space in the plant. Parts are conveyed through the oven in custom product baskets provided with the oven. The parts are loaded in the baskets in a vertical orientation. Each basket includes dividers to maintain part segregation and allows for maximum air circulation to each part during the curing cycle. A completed basket exits the oven every 30 minutes.

The entrance vestibule of the DTI-1175 indexing conveyor oven is heated by electric radiant panels. This vestibule provides the customer a single position for loading a basket immediately after the parts are pressed. The parts retain the heat absorbed while being pressed, reducing the natural gas required for the curing process.

The curing chamber features a single full-modulating natural gas burner and has three index positions. The curing chamber is able to operate between 250° and 446 °F and heated air is impinged on the parts in a top-down pattern. Equipped with a modulating valve, the burner automatically adjusts using the minimal amount of natural gas required to maintain the desired temperature in the curing chamber. The cooling chamber is a single index position and utilizes ambient plant air that is impinged on the product in a top-down pattern.

The usable dimensions of the entire system are 2'0" wide x 1'0" high x 11'8" long. The conveying system features a 1'0" extension on both the entrance and exit end of the oven for loading and unloading baskets. The interior of the oven is made out of 16-gauge aluminized steel backed by four inches of eight-pound density mineral wool insulation. The exterior is constructed of 16-gauge carbon steel backed by a structural steel frame and finished with high-temperature paint. The oven includes one access door located on the side of the heated chamber for cleaning and maintenance. Pneumatically operated vertical doors are featured on both the entrance and exit of the oven. The control system enables the doors to open automatically prior to the index motion and close immediately following the index motion of the conveyor.

Davron designed the DTI-1175 indexing conveyor oven based on three criteria provided by the customer: the production rate, the operating temperature and the available space in the plant for the system. Once the indexing conveyor oven was manufactured, Davron did extensive acceptance testing and training with the customer at Davron headquarters in Chattanooga, TN, prior to shipment. The oven was then prepared and packaged for international shipment.

For more information contact:

Jimmy Evans, Vice President

Davron Technologies, Inc.

4563 Pinnacle Lane

Chattanooga, TN 37415

423-870-1888 / 888-263-2673

www.davrontech.com