New drive solved washing machine problem

The manufacturer of a bearing maker's parts washing machine drive was unable to repair it and unwilling to offer assistance, but two engineers from another company installed a new drive.

The UK factory of a large Japanese bearings manufacturer benefited from Yaskawa's engineering expertise by chance recently when two EEU engineers stepped in to assist with a malfunctioning bearings washing machine.

The engineers were at the Sheffield site of bearings maker Koyo installing some new re-engineered Servopack drives on a grinding machine that was being upgraded.

One of Koyo's maintenance engineers asked them if they could take a look at the washing machine whose aging drive was now faulty.

It transpired that the manufacturer of the drive was unable to repair it and unwilling to offer assistance.

The cleaning process involves the bearings entering the washer by sliding down a ramp.

They are then dipped in an oil to remove any swarf.

The bearings then slide down into a slot in a holder, which then spins to remove the oil from the bearings.

The clean bearings are then pushed back up top eject them after which they roll away for the next manufacturing process.

The faulty drive controlled the rotation of the bearing holder within the machine.

After spending some time considering the problem and thoroughly checking the application, EEU's engineers offered to develop a solution.

The resultant drive arrangement took some time and expertise to develop, but the new design using a Yaskawa Sigma II drive and motor system has proved successful.

There is also an MP940 machine controller in the new system to interface between the PLC and the drive.

The machine has been running for some time now with no problems.

Koyo Bearings are so satisfied with the new drive and control system that the company's engineers wanted to upgrade eight further washing machines with Yaskawa technology of which four have already been installed and running smoothly.

Koyo Bearings lays claim to being the third largest bearings manufacturer in the world.

The company makes ranges of rolling element bearings and accessories, as well as specialised units for the automotive industry.

EEU's UK branch manager, Paul Unger, while having now become something of a washing machine expert has asked E-Serve readers not to contact him if their domestic machines go wrong, but to call their local domestic service engineer.

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