Comments on A blog for the potato processing community: ADR Valves: Old vs. New

Water and oil are known valve-killers, at least as...

2008-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

Water and oil are known valve-killers, at least as long as I have known. Yes, we do put coalescing filters on our systems, but also require that the compressed air be delivered as instrument-quality, oil removed and dry. Almost all valve failures result from water and/or oil in the air line.

It's our experience that the valves are blocking w...

2008-09-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

It's our experience that the valves are blocking with an emulsion of oil and water, this block's the valve inlet and the valve no longer works, the similar valve on the Optisort does not suffer from similar problems. However, when this machine was delivered, it had a system on the air line to clean the air before it hit the valves.
Leaving the company that the machine is delivered to fit a system to do the job, is far from ideal, because they will only blame the machine, and therefore Key.
When in truth, it’s the cost cutting during commission that causes problems

Super comments, Updater. Yes, the valve reliabilit...

2008-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Super comments, Updater. Yes, the valve reliability show always be improved. Perhaps more importantly, we should look at quicker detaction of failed valves, and perhaps also provide some notification when valve failure is imminent, perhaps something as simple as cycle counts, perhaps some sort of back EMF or temperature measurement.

If you wish, drop me a note at treardon@key.net.

heheDouble postingsSo good you had to repeat it al...

2008-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

hehe

Double postings
So good you had to repeat it all twice

Maybe someone will resolve the problem

Thanks for noticing that I'm not key personnel
However, as I have worked with your equipment for a very long time & I don't know just how the firm that I work for will take this interaction, I am trying to be careful with my postings

There are a number of issues with your new generation of Adr's (4c & 5's), updating your machines has taken away many of the good points of the Mark 2's and created difficulties

But covering these could give too much away about myself

Being a person who has improved your machines over the years, so much so that my updates are now on your new generation of machines, even though some ideas have been claimed by some members of management

Single bar alignment fingers (one of the team)
Internal cube removal (one of a team) claimed by someone else)
Splash guards between cutterwheel and lamps to stop thrown cubes being recounted by the cameras
Side adjusters for the power rollers (one of the team)
And many more over the years

updater

While the air valves are far better than the old w...

2008-08-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

While the air valves are far better than the old water valves problems/life expectancy is not as good as it could be.
With the size of the valves and the possibility of moisture in the air lines, this causes move servicing than you recommend, this then requires move removals of the manifold from within the cutter wheel, causing problems with cables coming out of the plug.
While the improvements in performance of the machines is a very welcome, the increased servicing that comes with it can be a down side, not every firm has the down time to make the time available for the increased servicing required and specialised servicing at that.

While the air valves are far better than the old w...

2008-08-16T00:24:00.000-07:00