Lubecon® Pin Chain Lubricator Information*

Pin chains are used to transfer the deep drawn parts of two-piece aluminum beverage cans through a coating, printing, and drying process. Pin chains require lubrication to prevent oxidation, minimize vibration, and reduce wear. LubeCon lubricators are common, but users voice one frequent complaint. "Our LubeCon pin chain oiler squirts too much oil". Many users claim that excess lubricant slings off and covers every thing near the chain. Excess lubricant also causes higher milliAmperes (mA) resulting in reject cans. You can easily find out how much lubricant is being dispensed by placing a measuring cup under a LubeCon nozzle as lubricant is being dispensed. Hold the cup in position for 15 seconds and multiply the measured quantity by four to obtain the amount per minute. Compare the results to the 40 SUS (Blue Line) on the MICRO-500 chart below.

The MICRO-500 conversion kit for existing LubeCon pin chain oilers is capable of squirting as little as 8 cc per minute per nozzle. The kit is manufactured by G. P. Reeves Inc. and consists of a small NEMA 12 electrical enclosure, lubricant filter, lubricant pressure regulator, solenoid injector, adjustable flow sensor, two 24" long lube nozzles with .009" dia. ruby orifice, two air pressure regulators with gauge, two solenoid valves, two compressed air cleaning nozzles, two compressed air forcing nozzles, and six nylon tube clamps. All of the above is assembled and plumbed on a 1/4" thick X 12" X 16" steel plate and includes schematic diagrams and installation and operating instructions. The flow sensor has a 20 to 250 V AC/DC input to the decorator PLC. The decorator PLC will require separate 24 VDC outputs to the three solenoids. The conversion kit requires lubricant pressure from the Lubecon pump and a connection to filtered "shop" compressed air.

One key element in the G. P. Reeves MICRO-500 reliably squirting substantially less lubricant is its .009" diameter ruby orifice nozzle tip. The small (.009") inside diameter of the nozzle is extremely important, but the finish and dimensional tolerance to that diameter are critical. The surface of the ruby orifice has a 2 Micro inch finish and its dimensional tolerance is +.0002/-.0000". A typical tube or drilled orifice has a surface finish between 16 and 32 Micro inch and an inside diameter tolerance of + .001". The rough surface finish of a normal copper tube or a drilled hole traps particles that would easily flow through a ruby orifice. the + .001" tolerance of a .008 diameter drilled hole or tube could result in a hole diameter of .009" that has a 23% larger flow area.

Another key element in the success of the G. P. Reeves MICRO-500 lubricator is its precision flow sensor. The patented (US patent number 4,858,645) flow sensor is included because the minute flow of lubricant through the small orifices is not easily visible. The flow sensor confirms lubricant flow by outputting to the decorator PLC.

The MICRO-500 lubricator also includes cleaning and forcing nozzles. The cleaning nozzles use high velocity compressed air to remove contaminates from the chain links in preparation for lubrication. The forcing nozzles use high velocity compressed air to drive fresh lubricant into the chain.