In the fast-paced world of coffee production, maximizing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is the key to optimizing the performance of your packaging line. In this blog, I explore four features of Spee-Dee's auger fillers for coffee that significantly improve the changeover process: split hoppers, hopper port windows, sliding key tooling locks and BFM® hopper inlet fittings.
Eliminate Complexity with a Sliding Key Tooling Lock
Many auger manufacturers use a bayonet connector that utilizes a spring to hold the auger pins in place. There are two common problems with this approach:
1. Back pressure on the auger can compress the spring and dislodge the tooling.2. The spring can easily fall out during changeovers, causing delays and/or product contamination.
Before switching to Spee-Dee, our customers often use a split collar to clamp the tooling in place to prevent these issues. However, the split collars are held on with small socket head screws which are very difficult to remove, especially when the screws are packed with oily, fine coffee grounds that become hard and compacted over time. Our sliding key tooling lock design eliminates the need for the spring and the split collar. It also traps the pins in place should there be a problem with the auger pins.
Cut Changeover Time in Half with a Split Hopper
Some plants are required to clean all of their machine’s product contact parts if they're changing from regular to decaf or from flavored to non-flavored coffee. With a standard hopper, cleaning it and re-installing it takes about 20-30 minutes depending on the machine configuration (whether it is a stand alone filler at floor level vs. mounted on top of a bagger or pouch machine). With our optional split hopper, opening the hopper and wiping down the product contact parts takes approximately 10 minutes, effectively cutting changeover time in half–or more. Additionally, there’s an added safety benefit to using a split hopper. Cleaning the split hopper in place is safer than removing and re-installing a standard hopper, protecting the workers in your production facility and reducing Worker's Compensation claims.
Achieve Easy and Safe Access with a Hopper Port Window
If you don’t have a split hopper on your auger filler, a hopper port window is the next best thing. It allows operators to easily and safely reach the sliding key which is required to remove the auger tooling. Some limited cleaning can also be done through the port window.
Ensure a Dust-Free Connection Without Tools or Clamps
An optional BFM fitting on the hopper inlet of your auger filler for coffee can also contribute to a faster changeover. This fitting uses a unique snap-in “flexible connector that sits between two specially formed steel spigots welded to an inlet and outlet. Together, the system eliminates the problems associated with old-fashioned clamp-style flexible connectors” and ensures a dust-free connection to the feed system without tools or clamps, further simplifying changeover. (Source: BFM)
So, whether you stick with our standard sliding key tooling lock or choose to further enhance your coffee auger filler with a spilt hopper, hopper port window or BFM fitting, changeover is greatly improved when you invest in one of our coffee packaging machines.