Bulletin number:     SB108

Category:               Safety

Date issued:            Jan 7, 2005

Machine models:    Alliance / TEI prefeeders from P1873 (delivered in Dec 1991)
                             and delivered through Oct 2004

Subject:                 Hazardous Pinch Point

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Description of Problem

Recommended Solution

To our valued customer:

This safety bulletin is part of an ongoing effort to provide quality service and support for all Alliance Machine Systems International, LLC products. If you need assistance or more information, please call Richard Daigle, Director Customer Service, at 509-535-0356 and select Option two.

Alliance has become aware that a hazardous pinch point for operator fingers exists with the side tamper assemblies when the tamper assemblies are close to the full open position.

In response, Alliance has designed a small guard that, when installed at each side tamper assembly, effectively eliminates the point of shear created as the rapidly traveling cylinder strokes underneath the air motor mount on the ends of the tamper assembly. One guard is required for each side tamper.

Alliance has installed these guards as standard equipment on prefeeders beginning in Oct 2004 (ref ECN-1106).

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Alliance recommends that customers with affected prefeeders install these guards within 90 days of receiving this safety bulletin.

Guards may be locally fabricated according to the attached Alliance drawing 1029234 or purchased from the Alliance Parts Dept.  Two guards are required for each affected prefeeder.

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Installation Instructions

Guard installation is estimated to require 2 man-hours to accomplish this task on each prefeeder.

WARNING!  Installation of this retrofit requires access to areas of the machine that are unsafe unless the machine has been properly secured. Please follow the hazardous energy lockout procedure and safety instructions in your manual at all times during the installation of the retrofit.

The procedure below applies to both the operator side tamper and the drive side tamper.

1. Adjust the operator and drive side tamper assemblies to their most open position by running each tamper out near its air motor.  This will allow easier access to the bolts of the cylinder.

2. Move the lift assembly and extendo conveyor to their lowest positions and lock out the machine according to the hazardous energy lockout procedure in your manual. 

   NOTE: All power needs to be removed from the machine before proceeding further.

3. Remove the tamper arm and tamper arm mount from the cylinder.  The air lines going to the cylinder are not required to be removed to install the guard.

   

4. Remove the four bolts holding the side tamper cylinder in place.  The two upstream bolts are sometimes difficult to reach; this may require that the assembly be adjusted side to side in order to gain better access to the bolts.

   

5. Install the guard by placing it between the side tamper cylinder and its mounting plate, with the longer portion extending out towards the air motor.  In most cases the existing bolts should be long enough after the guard has been put in place.  There should be a minimum of 5/16” bolt length extending through the guard. It is recommended that Blue Locktite be put on all bolts attached to the cylinder.

6. Retighten the bolts through the guard into the cylinder.  Reattach the tamper arm mount and tamper arm. Make sure all bolts are tight.  

   

7. With the air shut off, the side tamper cylinder should be able to be stroked out by hand to verify no interference exists. The face of the tamper arm mount with bolts should be near flush with the new guard, but not extending past it.

   

8. Turn power on.  Adjust each tamper assembly to its outermost position.  Make sure the new guard travels underneath the air motor mount and guard.  Also check that the new guard is not rubbing against the cylinder or tamper arm mount as it strokes in normal operation.

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