As many of you know, my company (Keith Machinery, or KMC) has been selling and servicing three roll mills (TRMS) for well over 50 years. When I was approached by Ink World to write a monthly column concerning all things to do with TRMS, I felt that I should first discuss the soon approaching deadline for getting production size TRMS into full ANSI compliance.

However, before I begin my first column, I would like to offer this invitation and this promise. If you have a question regarding TRMS, please email that question to me (jon.hatz@keithmachinery.com), and I promise to answer it. It is my intention to have your questions drive the content of future columns. And now, here I go with my first column.

The ANSI safety regulations (ANSI B65 / NAPIM 177.1-2017) for three roll mills were extensively revised in 2007, and then reissued with some minor changes in 2017. KMC refers to these regulations as ANSI 2017, and they require that all TRMs purchased for use in the USA (after January 1, 2008) be fully ANSI 2017 compliant.

To be fully ANSI 2017 compliant, the TRM must have a WASHUP MODE (A very slow speed used when cleaning the rolls), EMERGENCY BRAKING, NGSIS (Nip Guard Safety Interlock System that monitors mill functions to insure that when the rolls are being cleaned, the WASHUP STICK (in-running nip point guard) is in the feed nip, and the mill is in WASHUP MODE), and a feed roll safety cable assembly (required for production size TRMs with roll length greater than 14”).

The NGSIS senses the position of the feed nip and the apron nip (whether they are open or closed), the position of the endplates (Whether they are down for running, or up for cleaning), the position of the WASHUP STICK (whether it is in its home position, or in the feed nip), and the position of the WASHUP MODE SELECTOR SWITCH (whether it is set for normal running, or it is set for the very slow roll speed used when cleaning the rolls). In addition, ANSI 2017 also provides a detailed procedure for the cleaning of any TRM.

ANSI 2017 grants GRANDFATHER STATUS to TRMs that were in operation prior to January 1, 2008. Basically, these grandfathered three roll mills are legal to run, so long as they are fully ANSI 1997 compliant, with the addition of a feed roll safety cable for production size TRMs. Grandfathered Production Size TRMs must be brought into full ANSI 2017 compliance prior to January 1, 2020. Grandfathered Lab and pilot size TRMs (roll length of 12” or less) continue to be grandfathered, with expected full compliance required at some point in the future.

Of course, all of the TRMs that KMC supplies, whether new ANTHONY TRMs, or used (remanufactured) TRMs,  are fully ANSI 2017 compliant. The following photos show the KMC standard fully ANSI 2017 compliant electrical package installed on a new ANTHONY MKII 6”x8” TRM, installed on used (remanufactured) KENT 6”x14” TRM, installed on a used (remanufactured) DAY 14”x30” TRM, and installed on a used (remanufactured) LEHMANN 16”X40” TRM. As can been seen in these photos, KMC typically attaches the main electrical box to the mill frame (motor side), with everything pre-wired from there. Electrical hook up is then just a matter of bringing power to the main electrical box.

Jon Hatz is president of Keith Machinery Corp./Anthony Manufacturing. He can be reached at jon.hatz@keithmachinery.com

ANTHONY MKII 6”x8” Three Roll Mill. (Source: Keith Machinery)

KENT 6”x14” Three Roll Mill. (Source: Keith Machinery)

DAY 14”x30” Three Roll Mill. (Source: Keith Machinery)

LEHMANN 16”x40” Three Roll Mill. (Source: Keith Machinery)