Chain cleaner & lubrication system

The operating conditions of the Tissue manufacturing plant was dust laden, so the use of the machines conventional oil drip lubrication system was ineffective as the lubricant was absorbed by the dust and consequently not allow the oil to penetrate the chain links.

The customer decided to replace the system with a brush application system, only to find that the dust collected around the brush very quickly, making this system ineffective also.

The problem was particularly prevalent on a log accumulator where large logs of wound tissue paper collect before being cut to size by high speed log cutters.

Improper lubrication led to the chains losing flexibility causing uneven wear of the chains, resulting in the chains, regularly, having to be re- tensioned and chain linkages being replaced this meant machine downtime and loss in productivity.   

Rotalube Systems improved the lubrication on the log accumulator by installing two Rotalube applicators one for each chain on the accumulator. The two applicators were fed lubricant from a pump mounted outside the machine guard. The system delivered fine accurate amounts of oil/air onto the chain link exactly where and when required irrespective of chain speed or stretch.

The applicators and system were supplied as a retro fit system, so installation could be done with ease and speed during a Planned shutdown period.
When the Rotalube System was installed, the tissue company saw immediate improvements with the chain flexibility, logs running parallel, fewer rejects and less unscheduled maintenance stops.

Rotalube has now also developed a method of cleaning the chain prior to a lubrication cycle. The tissue fibres build up on the chain and absorb the lubricant not allowing  oil to penetrate the chain links as required. With the Rotalube they now clean the chain and then lubricate.

Rotalube Systems has worked very closely with this manufacturer and has further developed new offerings one being the drive chains on the log saw machines. It was found that chain stretch was causing the logs to be cut inaccurately resulting in rejects. The solution to this problem has been solved and is currently being installed; additional solutions relating to chain lubrication are being solved for other Industries with many seeing very quick returns on the investment.