Product category:
Handling and automation equipment
News Release from: Wittmann UK | Subject: Material handling manifold
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 July 2003
Material handling manifold increases
accuracy
An automated material handling manifold operates with its robots for improved material handling and increased accuracy while also eliminating the potential for cross contamination.
Wittmann UK is using the fruit of its R and D - recently shown at NPE 2003 - to underline the benefits of buying from an international group At NPE, the Wittmann group introduced "Robofold", a fully automated material handling manifold, which operates with its robots for improved material handling and increased accuracy while also eliminating the potential for cross contamination Robofold allows up to 15 different sources and 25 destinations for totally automated material handling
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 3 Sep 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Robofold provides the user with 100% repeatability and accuracy when switching lines.
It does this by using a built in hose confirmation system that prevents material contamination resulting from an incorrect connection.
All the lines are automatically purged before materials can be switched.
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Lines for materials that are not in use have built-in shut-off caps and are opened and closed automatically with the robot's end-of-arm-tooling.
A graphical representation is provided for each connection on the touch screen operator interface to simplify operation.
The robot learns and stores all hose position information in its microprocessor and will not allow operation if different from that of the operator selection through the interface.
The unit is fully assembled from standard off-the-shelf components for added reliability, simplicity and ease-of-maintenance should it be required.
Material fill tubes are available in aluminum or stainless steel depending on the resin and customer requirements.
The system if also fully integrated to support multiple pump systems.
Ed Holmes, Wittmann UK sales manager for materials handling and ancillary equipment reports that Wittmann UK's first major materials handling installation - an automotive moulder in the North East - has been adding additional drying, conveying and robotics to the original system.
Further additions have included the addition of two ML220 Granulators to the company's existing moulding machines - granulating the sprues and feeding directly back into the process via the Wittmann Proportioning valves.
A damaged loader on an existing competitors system has been replaced with a Wittmann AS18 Loader, to work in conjunction with the competitors existing system.
Wittmann UK talks and trialling also are taking place currently with a leading closure manufacturer in order to supply 25 SP5 fully automatic compressed air loaders.
'This will eliminate a Health and Safety concern - namely the need for operators to climb on machines in order to fill small feeders' says Holmes.
'Wittmann's compressed air device will also eliminate spillage and save the loss of costly masterbatch,' he adds.
The issue of loading also figured at NPE 2003 where Wittmann introduced its new Feedmax vacuum loader series.
This incorporates many standard features and is designed specifically for the global processing market.
Feedmax vacuum loaders are available for all applications of central vacuum loading for single material or proportional operation with models for low, medium and high throughput.
The modular construction allows components to be easily interchanged in order to customize the loaders for virtually any line size and loading requirement.
Loading capacities range from 0.14 to 2.83 ft3 (4 to 80 litre).
The loaders are available for both dedicated material line loading and common material proportional loading.
The use of level priority loading with solid state triple shielded capacitance style proximity switches eliminates programming of timers for faster loading, preventing material outages.
Digital controls with pre-wired receptacles and plugs allow for quick installation of single or multiple loaders.
The detachable lightweight powder coated aluminum lid is held in place with three (3) quick release toggle clamps and provides fast, easy access for cleaning, etc.
A pneumatic vacuum control valve is integral to the loader lid to minimize overall loader height and eliminate unnecessary components and hoses/connections common to other designs.
A removable stainless steel basket screen can be easily cleaned as necessary and offers improved air flow.
It also requires less space in the hopper and requires no hardware as it is secured by the loader lid.
The loader's center section is held in place with a simple band clamp, again for toolless disassembly if required.
All contact surfaces are of stainless steel to eliminate any possibility of corrosion or material contamination and for easy cleaning if necessary.
The use of advanced aerospace assembly technology eliminates hardware inside the loader and thus, any chance of it entering the material flow.
The air supply to the stainless steel material discharge valve, located inside the hopper mounting flange, is supplied by the solid aluminum mounting tube/rod assembly, eliminating unnecessary tubing and other connections for added reliability.
Wittmann also used NPE 2003 to introduce the Drymax 30 twin bed desiccant, dry air dryer to the industry.
This has been designed for lower volume moulding - applications requiring throughputs of up to 35lb/hr.
(16kg/h) and machine mounted or beside-the-press operation.
The Drymax 30 dryer features two high capacity molecular sieves to provide a constant dry air supply resulting in a low operating dew point of -40ø F (-40 øC) for optimal closed loop drying and a maximum process temperature of 320 øF (160 øC).
The oversized 1.6 kW process heater guarantees instantaneous response to higher heating requirements and allows the process to closely follow the set temperature points to within +/-1Fdeg (+/-0.6 degC).
The switchover valve between the two desiccant beds is motor driven and allows the unit to work completely independent of other supply sources.
Identical to the larger capacity Drymax dryers, the Drymax 30 includes an easy-to-use operator interface with integrated microprocessor control.
The process blower and all heaters are contained in a compact cabinet measuring only 9.5in x 27.6in x 27.6in (240mm x 700mm x 700mm).
The compact dimensions and light weight design allow it to be mounted directly on the feed throat of the plastic processing machine, with a toolless, snap-on connection to a Wittmann hopper, or for use in various beside-the-press configurations.
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