Rubber vs Spring Mounted Sifters
Over the years a nu
mber of vibro screens have been developed and whilst they all grade materials into sections there are a few different designs. One design involves the use of a vibratory motor which has integral bearings and out of balance weights, both of which are mounted in the base of the machine. These parts sit on a spring suspension which transmits vibration to the screen mesh. The Russell Eco Separator® is a good example of this design. As this design is simple to manufacture it is one of the most common vibro sifters on the market.
Another, alternative design is to incorporate a non-vibratory, standard drive motor within a separate vibrator housing which is then mounted on a rubber suspension. The Finex Ultima™ and Finex 22™ from Russell Finex are examples of this design. The advantages of rubber suspension screens are that operating speeds are significantly increased. By separating the motor from the drive bearings and incorporating an out of balance weight system, this design can achieve speeds of up to 2800 rpm, significantly more than the 1400 rpm achieved from the traditional spring mounted design.
Rubber suspension achieves:
• Higher capacity
• Greater sieving accuracy
• Lower noise
This design has enabled companies to use smaller diameter machines without affecting performance or throughput. For example, a 22” diameter machine operating at 2800 rpm can significantly out-perform a 48” diameter machine operating at 1400 rpm on materials which are traditionally difficult to screen. Many industries have seized upon this but one very common application which has been affected greatly by this development is the screening of high viscous liquid paints.
As well as offering increased efficiency and performance, the rubber suspension sifter also offers quieter operation compared to spring mounted systems. Whilst the rubber within the vibratory suspension system contributes to a low noise level, fitting rubber feet on the base also contributes, as the metal is not in direct contact with the floor which may set up adverse vibrations.
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