The problem of material residue around discharge outlets has been tackled by Guttridge Services Ltd, whose Troughform outlet is an available option across their range of screw conveyors and Superflow (curved trough) chain conveyors.

“We know that the build-up of material around traditional slide outlets in curved trough conveyors can be a problem,” says managing director Peter Guttridge. “So following our acquisition of Carier, we now offer the patented Troughform outlet system. It practically eliminates product residue and the resulting cross contamination that causes so many problems for users in the pet food industry.”

With a Troughform outlet, closure plates maintain a continuous curved trough when closed, eliminating the dead pocket of material that occurs with a conventional flat shutter conveyor outlet. The closure plates are usually controlled electro-pneumatically, with limit switches for status indication and a solenoid valve for actuation. Automatic closure in the event of power failure is a standard feature.

Above right: The patented Troughform outlet is designed to work with any curved trough conveyor – screw or chain type

Left: This diagram shows the electro-pneumatic operation of curved plates in the Troughform conveyor discharge outlet

The UK’s two leading dry pet food manufacturers have had many Guttridge Troughform outlets in use for some time. These are installed on screw and chain conveyors and are in continuous operation on finished pet food and packing lines.

Other recent projects have included the provision of many conveyors, elevators and ancillaries to a number of other well-known manufacturers in the pet food industry, in the UK and across Europe.

Guttridge supply a wide range of screw and chain conveyors, feeders, dischargers, elevators and ancillaries for efficient handling of finished and ingredient products in a wide range of industry sectors.