subject: The Multiple Applications Of Air Knives [print this page] Air knives are perhaps the most popular options today in almost all industry sectors. And the reasons are not hard to find, they are economic, cost effective and at the same time do not compromise on performance. Here are a few areas where an air knife is used extensively:
Air knives and conveying systems
Air knives are used extensively on conveyor systems to clean incessant production of parts in it. They have amazing capabilities when used in these systems. There are instances, when they have removed machining chips from aluminum extrusions before anodizing or painting. Air knives can also be used to clean open web conveyor belts, in the event of debris clogging at the openings. While a scrapper knife cleans the stickiness from these belts, an air knife blows these scraps into a bin.
Air knives in parts washing and process dip tanks
Air knives are also used in to clear water from a washing or plating bath. As, cleaning or plating solution adheres to the parts after the washing process, there are chances that this may result in contamination of downstream processes or rinse tanks. Here, an air knife is of great value as, it has the capacity to blow solution from the parts back into the process tank. This is done when they are lifted from the tank. This also reduces the need for rinsing further downstream. Additionally, it reduces downstream process pollution. Air knives reduce drag out by 50 percent, which also reduces the expenses associated with downstream rinsing.
Air knives in paper and steel industry
Air Knives are also used in the paper or steel manufacturing industry. The air from these is blown in between paper and steel sheets to reduce friction. An air knife is also known to act as a barrier between two areas to prevent mixing of air. The use of these in a fork truck entrance to prevent hot or cold outside air from mixing with conditioned air is a classic example of the special use of the air knife.
There are also other uses of the air knives, just like the vortex tube, which is only growing by the day.
