Other parts handling equip.: product lines reviewed.

OTHER PARTS HANDLING EQUIP. PRODUCT LINES REVIEWED

AJAX ELECTRIC CO.

Offers field-proven, automated product-handling systems designed, engineered, and manufactured from concept through installation.

Where fixture-loaded work has to be carried through a series of repeated steps, company custom automates lines using programmable systems, which include its Uni-Hoist monorail design; single- or dual-column overhead design; side-mounted cantilever style; its Jack Rabbit, indexing elevator, push-pull or screw conveyor mechanisms, and crank-arm transfer or submerged chain conveyors. Loading can be as small as 500 lb or less and up to several thousand pounds with transfer-time capabilities of less than 10 seconds.

Justification is feasible with benefits of loading and unloading at a common station by a single operator, production rates that are totally controlled, guarantee of product uniformity under repetitive conditions with no error, and full flexibility of step elimination or selection, transfer and lift/lower speed rates, and complete or selective immersion.

APPLICATION AUTOMATION DIV. AEC, INC.

Provides turnkey automation systems for plastic injection molders and offers complex conveying and parts-cooling systems, part-orienting devices, stacking and packing, as well as light assembly equipment in conjunction with its part-and runner-removal robots.

Parts handling systems are custom-designed for specific applications and can be integrated with existing materials handling systems when feasible. Wherever possible, systems are controlled by the microprocessor controller of the part-removal robot.

ASHLAND TAYLOR INC.

Manufactures automatic packaging systems for sleeving polybags, featuring indexing conveyors, pick-and-place robotics and heat sealers. Systems are offered for the production of coreless rolls of tear-off bags or individually folded and stacked bags integrating box-packaging machines, stackers and case packers.

AUTOMATION MACHINERY & DEVELOPMENT LTD. PARTNERSHIP

Offers custom automation systems for a wide range of plastics handling, bottle handling, palletizing, and packaging. Company develops and installs custom-designed-and-built machinery to fit customer's particular application.

Also markets cost-reduction studies and provides quantitive and quality analyses for automating. Offers engineering services that include full CAD design capabilities, controls hardware and software engineering, systems integration and testing, prototype machining and assembly, control panel fabrication and system wiring.

BALL & JEWELL DIV.

See Sterling, Inc.

CINCINNATI MILACRON U.S. PLASTICS MACHINERY DIV.

Supplies under-press conveyors featuring 1/3-hp, 110/1/60 drive with hardened sprockets and chain drive with 20 fpm standard. Units also include a true-tracking belt guidance system, soft-drop zone to cushion parts, 4-in.-high adjustable/removable side rails, and a 7/64-in. white PVC belt.

EMI PLASTICS EQUIP. CORP.

Manufactures a complete line of conveyors and conveying systems for handling everything from blow molded parts to parts/runner separators. Conveyors include the Kurv-King, Mini Kurv-King, Trimline, 5CLR, RC, and MCSR. Company custom designs conveyor systems for the plastics processor.

A.C. HAMILTON, INC.

Offers nearly 30 standard belt conveyor models and specializes in customized designs and systems for plastics processors. Basic models are offered in 6- to 16-ft lengths. Omni line of models are designed for under-machine or low, pass-along installations; HR models are recommended for use with pick-and-place robots. All standard models adjust without tools, are powered by single-phase motor/gear-box drives, and many include casters.

Specialized units include the Water Bath Conveyor for large part cooling and conveying, the Box Boy indexing conveyor for packaging systems, and the Carousel turntable conveyor, which automatically counts parts as they are dropped into bags.

End-of-belt and stand-alone parts separators are offered, and special diamond back" belting, which allows steep-incline, cleatless conveying up to 45 degrees or greater, can be provided.

A count-by-weight system allows direct transfer from the mold to shipping cartons through an electronic scale and arrangement of conveying devices.

HOPPMANN CORP.

Manufactures parts for centrifugal feeding/unscrambling/orientation as well as multiple-part, continuous-motion assembly equipment. A wide range of models in sizes from 8- through 60-in.-diam. feeder bowls are available with feeding rates from 20/min through 2200/min for common, as well as unusual shapes/sizes. Stacking systems are available for multiple products.

Continuous-motion assembly of multiple plastic parts, such as stick deodorant containers, threaded rod and elevator, are achieved at low rpm rates with speeds of 100-500/min.

All equipment designs reportedly incorporate quick-change tooling capability, low maintenance, high reliability, and gentle handling of parts. No vibratory components are used.

Turnkey system installation and preventative maintenance responsibility is also offered.

IMS CO.

Five-ft-long "Extendo-Veyors" are made to be lengthened as needed to 6, 7, 8, or 9 ft. Models are available in 12, 18-, and 24-in. widths with variable speeds of 0-50 fpm.

Also available is a low-cost, stainless-steel, chute-type, separator, which the company says is maintenance-free and economical. A new finger-type separator, featuring a positive-tracking, injection-molded, link-type belt and easily adjusted nylon lift-fingers, is also available.

JETSTREAM SYSTEMS CO.

Engineers and manufactures air conveyor systems. Systems use low-pressure centrifugal fans and operate at approximately 1/8 psi and are custom-designed for handling bottles, closures, plastic parts and scrap. Bottles, parts and closures can be conveyed and accumulated on-line or can be transported in bulk. Plastic scrap or product can be removed from the production area. Air-conveyor systems have virtually no moving parts other than the centrifugal fans powering the system, resulting in operator safety as well as minimizing maintenance. Air-conveyor systems also allow for flexible layouts, rounding turns or overhead with no transfer points to fit in with the the constraints of the plant, while maximizing usable floor space.

LAROS EQUIPMENT CO., INC.

Offers a complete line of post-molding parts handling equipment, including horizontal and incline belt conveyors, separators, automatic box-indexing conveyors, water conveyors, and air conveyors. Other handling devices include a regrind fines separator and vibratory sorting equipment. Company specializes in custom tailoring to customer's specific requirements, including, but not limited to, custom painting.

Company is the exclusive North American distributor for the Tenso line of sprue pickers and traverse-oscillating robots.

MOLDING AUTOMATION CONCEPTS

Manufactures a complete line of part-containment and handling systems for molders. Mold-side curtains and guide-skirts prevent product loss and contamination by containing the shot and funneling it into a conveyor or box.

Conveyor and box-filling systems have been designed specially for problems faced by molders. Conditioning conveyors provide product cooling, static elimination, and hepa-filtered environments. Special devices allow automatic bad-shot diversion, Q.C. sampling, and part and runner separation. Box-fill systems fill boxes and/or totes by weight or count. Systems can be customized and are designed to be space-efficient, flexible dependable and user-friendly.

NELMOR CO., INC. AN AEC COMPANY

Manufactures a line of sorter granulators for accepting subgated parts and runners dropped from the mold onto a belt conveyor with sorting device. Parts drop before the sorter into a collection box or venturi air system to be pneumatically conveyed to a central collection point. Runners are carried over the sorting device and by gravity fall directly into the granulator's cutting chamber for size reduction. Granulator's rotor powers the conveyor and sorting device via pulleys and V-belts. Three standard models are offered and various custom designs can be adapted depending on customer's requirements.

OMNIFLOW DIV. KALAMAZOO TECHNOLOGIES

Offers a new line of belt-conveying equipment for plastics processors. Incorporating field-proven designs and field-driven innovation, units are reportedly state-of-the-art. All units incorporate a light-weight aluminum frame with stainless-steel side rails. White, food-grade belting is standard with molded cleats supplied on elevating units. The units are driven by a motorized drive pulley which eliminates V-belts, roller chains and their respective guards. Take-up adjusters are located on both ends of the units so that tracking problems can be more easily and effectively solved. Widths range from 12 to 36 in. and lengths from 3 to 40 ft. Adjustable, telescoping legs are standard.

PACLINE CONVEYOR CORP.

Offers overhead modular-designed conveyor systems. Features include:

* Enclosed track that prevents contamination from reaching chain or bearing surfaces.

* Drive that can be positioned in the optimum location rather than being confined to a horizontal turn.

* Capability to handle parts through processes such as spray painting, dipping, washing, drying and ovens.

* Resistance to corrosive environments.

* Low-friction chain that enables heavy loads to be carried over long distances.

Company will analyze, design, and prepare layout to meet customer's needs.

PLASTIC PROCESS EQUIPMENT INC.

Offers a complete line of finger-type parts and runner separators. Free-standing separators are available in widths of 12, 18 and 24 in. and lengths of 26 and 38 in. They can be used beside a conveyor on the floor base stand provided, or an optional adaptor kit is available that will provide all the necessary hardware to attach them to any existing PPE conveyor.

Also offered is a line of conveyor/separator combinations where the separator is built in at the drop-off end of the conveyor. Available in 12- and 18-in. widths and any length required. Features include stainless-steel side rails and discharge tray; tiltable, adjustable-height stand; and rugged 5-in. aluminum channel frame. A 0-50 fpm variable-speed control is available as an option. (See ad this page.)

POLYMER MACHINERY CORP.

Offers parts/runner sorting and conveying systems in combination with its line of auger-feed and beside-the-press granulators. Systems are available with pneumatic granulate evacuation and closed-loop loading/blending equipment for semi- or fully automated operations

STERLING, INC. BALL & JEWELL DIV.

Offers a line of parts separators that automatically separate finished parts from runners, transferring each to the next station. These systems reportedly boost production rates by eliminating tedious runner-part hand sorting and are said to be ideal for 2-plate, subgated mold applications: Parts and runners drop on the conveyor, the parts drop down through gap of the conveyor and the vertical pin belt. Runners are picked up by the pins and pass the runners to an auger-feed granulator or other regrind handling system. Finished product parts that have been separated at the horizontal and vertical belt gap can be conveyed to a distribution, packaging or assembly point.

THRIFT PRODUCTS

Offers a complete line of lightweight, easy-to-move, low-cost, adjustable-angle conveyors and separators for use under- and beside-the-press. Made expressly for handling injection molded plastics, units' belts are made of flat links with rigid-lacing rods. Other features include: pivoting base that enables conveyor to be adjusted to any angle up to 40 degrees, direct-drive positive tracking with a "slipping" drive sprocket that prevents jam-up motor damage, an adjustable-angle tailpiece that allows reaching under the mold, and automatic belt tensioning. An adjustable add-on separator with quick-set nylon fingers is optional.

Aluminum frames and a nylon plastic belt make units light and easy to handle. Units come in variable speeds and numerous lengths and widths.

YUSHIN AMERICA, INC.

Designs, assembles, and installs special automation equipment to support its line of robots for injection molding machines. Applications supported are part-decorating, assembly, and packaging of machines.