The Patent at the Core of ME Food Solutions' Machines
The DLSNS food conveyor belt, patented by ME Food Solutions (BO2013A000650), is the result of extensive research aimed at designing safe, high-performance food machinery that meets the highest hygiene standards and is easy to maintain.
The DLSNS belt consists of two parallel AISI 304 stainless steel chains with a round cross-section, approximately 6 mm in diameter (fig. A), connected by spacer bars made of the same material, which are spot-welded at two points to the links. For the DLS Spiral, the belt is equipped on one or both sides (depending on the configuration) with engagement teeth, known as “EVO,” which are spot-welded at four points to the chain (fig. B).
Attached to the spacer bars near the chain, the sliding fins made of POM engineering polymer—available in a high (fig. C1) or low (fig. C2) configuration—not only contain the product but also ensure the conveyor belt glides perfectly along its designated channel, which is equipped with a PBT plastic profile with an almost negligible friction coefficient (fig. D).
Conveyor Belt Options
The DLSNS belt comes in a variety of configurations, allowing it to process any type of product, with three different support surfaces:
- The base option, with exposed spacer profiles
- A variant with a POM mesh (also available in a non-slip version)
- A metal mesh made of AISI 304 stainless steel
Designed and patented specifically to meet all food processing needs—including transport, cooling, freezing, leavening, and pasteurization—the DLSNS food conveyor belt delivers high performance while fully complying with hygiene regulations.
External Drive, No Lubrication, and Smooth Movement
A conveyor belt used in food processing plants must provide customers with multiple key qualities at once:
- Durability
- Flexibility
- Innovation
- Customization
- Cost-effectiveness
- Hygiene
ME Food Solutions’ conveyor chains, which can be adapted to an almost infinite range of solutions, reflect the company’s hygiene philosophy while also ensuring high durability and productivity.
No internal drum: every ME Food Solutions conveyor belt operates through external mechanisms. In the case of the DLS Spiral, an external vertical drive mechanism features custom-made POM toothed wheels that engage the “EVO” teeth at regular intervals, ensuring the machine’s motion.
The external drive and sliding system, using fins on a PBT profile, allow ME Food Solutions to offer customers fully integrated systems—even complex ones—without requiring lubrication. Eliminating lubricants, which pose a contamination risk in food processing environments, enhances food safety.
(Go to the article “Hygiene Philosophy”).
The precision of the motion transmission mechanisms ensures smooth, shake-free movement for all ME Food Solutions machines. This feature is crucial for handling soft products, preventing deformation during processing and transport.
The DLSNS Belt: Materials
The materials used in ME Food Solutions’ DLSNS food conveyor belt have been extensively studied and rigorously tested. These include AISI 304 stainless steel and two FDA-certified engineering polymers: POM and PBT.
AISI 304 Stainless Steel
An austenitic stainless steel with low notch sensitivity, AISI 304 represents the highest standard among metals for food processing machinery.
Chemical Composition:
304 | Chemical Composition – Maximum Value | |||||||
C | Mn | Si | Cr | Ni | P | S | Other | |
0.08 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.0-18.0 | 8.0-10.5 | 0.04 | 0.03 | ||
Typical Values | ||||||||
0.04 | 0 | 0 | 18.1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Physical Properties:
Elastic Modulus: 200,000 [N/mm²]
Thermal Conductivity: 15 [W/mK]
Specific Heat: 500 [J/KgK]
Mechanical Properties at Room Temperature:
Yield Strength: RP0.2 ≥ 190 [N/mm²]
Tensile Strength: Rm 500÷700 [N/mm²]
Elongation: A5% ≥ 45
Brinell Hardness: HB ≥ 215
FDA-Certified Engineering Polymers: POM and PBT
- POM (Polyoxymethylene)
POM is produced from trioxane and small amounts of co-monomers, featuring a highly crystalline, linear structure that provides exceptional performance for demanding applications.
Key Properties of POM:
High toughness down to -40°C
Excellent abrasion resistance
Low friction coefficient
High stiffness and resilience across a broad temperature range
Continuous impact resistance
Outstanding thermal resistance
Excellent dimensional stability
Long-term deformation resistance
High flexural resilience
Superior resistance to moisture, chemicals, and fuels
Easy to process via molding or extrusion
- PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate)
PBT is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polyester produced by polymerizing butadiene and terephthalic acid.
Key Features of PBT:
Excellent chemical resistance
High mechanical rigidity
Exceptional electrical properties
High heat resistance, maintaining stability under various environmental conditions
PBT Properties:
Standard Density: 1.24 – 1.34 g/cm³ (ISO 1183)
Melting Temperature (Tm): 220°C
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): 22 – 43°C