Many manufacturers sell knife edge conveyors with the basics and charge a premium for anything more. Some don’t offer key features at all. At D&R Packaging, we pack those features into our knife edge conveyors, and that is why knife edge conveyors are popular with our customers.
We also build each conveyor to fit your specific product and application. Here is a closer look at what sets our conveyors apart.
Why Knife Edge Conveyors are Popular: The Features We Build In
Two features form the foundation of every build: the knife edge and the belt tracking. We match the edge to your product and keep the belt on track automatically.
Static Nose Bar or Live Roller Knife Edges
Our knife edge conveyors come with one of two edge styles:
- Static nose bar: 3/8 inch diameter
- Live knife edge: 7/16 inch diameter with roller bearings
We choose the edge based on four factors: product size, product weight, belt speed, and the overall length of the conveyor.
Automatic Belt Tracking in Either Direction
Every D&R Packaging knife edge conveyor includes automatic belt tracking. Photo detectors or pneumatic guidance switches actuate the tracking system.
The system tracks the belt automatically in a single-direction application or, if your belt runs both ways, in a reversing application.
Pro Tip: Have your product size, product weight, belt speed, and conveyor length ready when you contact us. These four details tell us which knife edge fits your line.
Designed for Cleaner Belts and Easier Sanitation
Several design choices on our conveyors focus on sanitation, starting with the carryway. We build it as either a solid slider bed or a wash-through grid, and we evaluate each application thoroughly to choose the right style.
Wing Rollers that Limit Belt Contact
We use wing rollers wherever possible to minimize roller contact with the face of the belt. Less contact means less product buildup on the belt face and on the face of the pulley.
Toolless Scrapers and Pneumatic Tensioning
Our spring-loaded belt scrapers can be removed without tools for cleaning. We also offer pneumatic tensioning, which is a big help for clean-in-place sanitation. Its long tension stroke gives your crew easy access to the belt carryway and the underside of the belt.
Key Takeaway: If clean-in-place sanitation is part of your routine, ask us about pneumatic tensioning.
Need expert help with a knife edge conveyor? Contact D&R Packaging for a free consultation.
Retracting Nose Conveyors for Precise Transfers
We can also build our knife edge conveyors as retracting nose conveyors. A retracting nose conveyor keeps your product oriented and spaced while gently transferring it to another conveyor or loading it onto another handling device.
Where Retracting Nose Conveyors Fit Best
Retracting nose conveyors work well for:
- Product transfers
- Tray loading
- Oven loading
- Product orientation changes
- Primary packaging loading
Pneumatic or Servo Actuation
We actuate the retracting nose bar pneumatically or with a servo, depending on the application. Stroke lengths go up to 48 inches, and the conveyor can be up to 1 meter wide.
Pro Tip: A retracting nose transfer can take product arriving in a continuous flow and place it onto trays that fill intermittently. If your line works this way, it’s worth asking us about.
How We Match Each Conveyor to Your Application
We work directly with you to decide which features and options fit your application best. Here are the main choices we make together:
| Option | Choices | What decides it |
| Knife edge | 3/8 in. static nose bar or 7/16 in. roller bearing live edge | Product size, product weight, belt speed, and conveyor length |
| Belt tracking | Single direction or reversing | Whether your belt runs one way or both ways |
| Carryway | Solid slider bed or wash-through grid | A thorough evaluation of your application |
| Retracting nose actuation | Pneumatic or servo | The needs of your application |
A Small Shop with Real Flexibility
Because we’re a small shop, we have the flexibility to build the best conveyor for your application. We don’t have to force one of our predesigned conveyors to work on your line.
Why Our Knife Edge Conveyors are So Popular
Other manufacturers either skip the features covered above or charge a premium for them. We offer them and design each conveyor around your product.
From automatic belt tracking to toolless scrapers, pneumatic tensioning, and retracting nose transfers, each feature is selected to fit your process. Ready to talk about your line? Contact D&R Packaging today to request a quote and see firsthand why knife edge conveyors are popular on lines like yours.
