Harvester chains and missing links are almost two synonymous terms. An extra link at 1.5 times the pitch somewhere on the chain creates an extra operation for grinding machines that do not have automatic handling for this.
In the world of professional chain sharpening, the handling of missing-tooth links — the extra-long links that appear at intervals in harvester chains — has long been a challenge. Machines without this capability require the operator to intervene manually every time such a link appears, which both interrupts the process and reduces efficiency.
ANAB was first in its market segment to solve this problem with patented missing-tooth automation. The machine detects the extra-long link automatically and adjusts the grinding process without interruption. The chain continues through the machine without any manual intervention.
This is not just a matter of convenience. For operations that process large volumes of chains, uninterrupted grinding means significantly higher productivity. And the precision of automated handling is higher than manual intervention, which also improves quality.
Missing-tooth automation is an important step on the path towards fully automated chain sharpening. When the machine can handle all variants in a chain — including the irregular links — without human intervention, the prerequisites exist for complete automation of the process.
— All our machines are already built from the most durable components, which means they could handle round-the-clock work. The next step is to automate the remaining manual moments in the process.
With ANAB's missing-tooth automation already in place, the foundation is in place for the fully robotic chain sharpening operations of the future.
