Customised transport solution makes production more efficient

Task

Transport paint buckets from a welding plant to the expander and set them upright

A manufacturer of metal packaging requires an interlink between a welding plant and an expander for coated paint bucket blanks, also known as bucket jackets. The jackets, which were welded in the horizontal position, come out of the welding plant horizontally and have to be transferred to a conveyor system and turned by 90° before they enter the expander. The bucket jackets have already been coated and must be transported without damaging them.

The interlink should be designed as a complete solution including a controller so that it can be easily integrated into the overall system. In addition, it must be adapted to the structural conditions on site and be designed for two-shift operation with 20 paint cans per minute.

Solution from mk

Custom-made flat top chain conveyor with integrated turning station

After the welding process, the bucket jackets are conveyed out of the welding plant suspended in the horizontal position. At the machine outlet, they are gently transferred to a ZRF-P 2040 dual-line timing belt conveyor.

After a short transport route, the jackets enter the turning station. This consists of a cross-shaped turning star. Once a jacket is in position on the horizontal cantilever, it is detected by a sensor. The turning star then rotates by 90° and raises the jacket to the vertical position. The timing belt conveyor then transfers the upright can to a flat top chain conveyor, which transports it on to the expander. The flat top chain conveyor is designed with a steel chain due to the sharp-edged containers. A product-specific side rail prevents the cans from falling off. Finally, the expander enlarges the blank to the desired size.

In addition to the mechanical solution, mk also supplied the necessary sensor system and the electrical controller, including the control cabinet. The mechanical integration and electrical connection to the higher-level controller went quickly and smoothly. An efficient solution that offers both ease of installation and impressive performance.

Benefits for the customer

• Maximum plant availability: commissioning is quick because the system solution comes from a single source
• Hassle-free integration: customised conveying path adapted to the existing machines
• High reliability for maximum productivity: the robust design of the conveyor system ensures high operational reliability in two-shift operation

Products used

> Timing belt conveyor
> Flat top chain conveyor
> Customised turning station