The production of potato chips illustrates food handling where the gears concerned are so located that little contamination from the lubricant is possible. Numerous conveyors will be found for the potatoes, the slices, or the packages. Most of the gear reducers for conveyors will be subjected to only moderate temperatures and not too much stress. Hence, either straight mineral oil or MP lubricant of SAE 80 grade can be used for the gears.
If a batch
peeler is used, this may consist of a vertical cylinder
with a rotating abrasive disc in the bottom
which will be driven by gears. Also, in washing
potato slices, a gear driven drum will probably be used. The gear oil mentioned
above will also serve these latter applications.
