Modern Equipment For Whangarei Dairy Factory

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1942, Page 2

Modern Equipment For Whangarei Dairy Factory

. With industries being called upon to speed up production, machinery that * served its purpose before the war is now being called upon to take heavier lnir- ; dens, and in some eases has needed replacement At the Whangarei Dairy Company’s factory a. new washing machine hasi superseded the old one. It lias been installed for approximately two weeks. A straight-through can washer, it lias a capacity of a little over 10 cans a minute. The speed of Die former circular type washer varied according to the efficiency of the worker. Two other machines of (his type have been installed liy TTokianga and Morrinsville dairy companies. The type is modern and is a considerable improvement on former models. Washer’s Capacity The washer, about SO feet overall, can lake cans up to 12 gallons in size, which is the largest size in use at the factory. It consists of a long case with a conveyor running its length. In general principle, the cans are placed on Die belt, and are taken through, being subjected to high pressure, steam. On the belt are 14 clips which automatically clamp over the rim of each can and retain ir. The high pres.-iure jets would force Die can out of position if the clips were not used. Cleansing Jets The first clip picks up the can at Die entrance to tiie machine. The belt moves spasmodically, and Die next three clips trike the cans over three deturgent jets, which cleanses them with an alkaline solution. The jets function only when a can is in place, Tn thi>v way no solution is lost. Jets above and tn the side of a can clean it on the outside also Cans taken forward by the next two clips are allowed to drain into vats, while the next two clips take the can over the rinse jets. The can is next thoroughly sterilised with steam over two jets, and is finally dried by hot air vents which function continually. The last clip releases the can dried and cleaned. The lids of the cans are treated in a similar manner, each lid being taken along the case opposite its can. Steam for the washer conies from the factory’s boiler, while hot air is blown bv 1 a fan through the jets. It is first heated ' by a radiator containing steam pipes. The washer is electrically run. '

More equipment is expected to arrive shortly for attachment to the start of the washer, and when it is in place the cans will be emptied of cream and be immediately taken through the equipment, arriving on the loading platform clean and sterile, ready for despatch to farmers.