VersaSpa Spray tanning booth includes a Polyclutch slip clutch in the mechanism that drives the spray nozzle head to control its downward travel speed.

Spray tanning booth controls speed with slip clutch ensuring uniform application of spray tanning and skin care products.

Polyclutch Division, A & A Manufacturing

Solon, OH—A Polyclutch slip clutch provides the control needed to ensure uniform application of spray tanning and skin care products in tanning machines made by MagicTan Corp. The slip clutch provides controlled resistance that ensures the speed of the spray nozzle mechanism.

MagicTan Corp. owns, markets, manufacturers and distributes sunless tanning machines under the brands MagicTan and VersaSpa.

The VersaSpa, distributed throughout the United States and internationally is a spray-on skin treatment system for applying tanning, moisturizers and other cosmetic skin treatments.

A vertical linear actuator that carries a T-arm containing the unit’s spray nozzles is driven to the top by a DC motor and then powered downward as the treatment is applied. Control of its speed is critical to even application; however, gravity would cause the weight of the spray unit to overpower the motor on the downward cycle, according to MagicTan CEO Scott Thomason.

Thomason decided not to use a servo drive or stepper motor in the design because of cost and complexity. He explains, “I wanted something that would provide the right amount of resistance or drag on the way down but not on the way up. When I found the slip clutch by searching the Internet, I asked Polyclutch whether they could put a one-way bearing on it so it would drag on the way down and freewheel on the way up.”

According to Thomason, the solution is working perfectly. He states, “It is small and compact, with almost perfect reliability and quality. I haven’t had to worry about it since I designed it.” The slip clutch has been used in the VersaTan (VersaSpa) machine since the fall of 2006. He estimates there are more than 1,200 units in operation worldwide.

A slip clutch consists of two assemblies: a cartridge and a housing. The cartridge is set-screwed or keyed to the input shaft. The housing may be either set screwed or keyed to the output shaft.

It also can be attached to the output gear or pulley, with a bronze bearing to allow relative motion between the input shaft and the output gear or pulley. In a mechanical slip clutch, the torque level is controlled by compressing the clutch’s springs with the adjusting nut.

A slip clutch can provide a long life in a broad range of applications, and at a definite cost advantage when compared to alternative solutions. They are available with torque ranges from oz/inches to more than 750 lb/inches.

Clutch capacity is dependent on torque, RPM and duty cycle – all of which are interdependent. A reduction in any of these factors will allow an increase in any other.

The friction plate design, when running within design limits, will generally operate for more than 30 million cycles. In most applications, the clutch will outlast the mechanism in which it is installed.

For more information visit www.polyclutch.com