MATERIALS HANDLING | MATERIALS
Measured approach: materials handling
Materials handling machinery prepares, transports and measures polymer into the extruder. We look at some of the advances in this vital part of the plastics extrusion process
Machinery as diverse as drying, conveying and dosing equipment helps processors to control the input of raw polymer into their process. It is a vital filter in ensuring that material is correctly prepared and fed to the extruder in the right amounts. The latest ResinWorks central drying and pre-conditioning system from Conair allows users to equip each drying hopper with a 4in colour touchscreen HMI – enabling independent operation, data monitoring and other advanced control features. “It allows users of new ResinWorks systems to implement advanced control features on a per-hopper basis, even if they are using an older Conair dryer – or certain competitive dryers,” said AJ Zambanini, drying product manager at Conair. The new HMIs, which are part of a control system
upgrade that reaches across Conair’s dryer line, offer simpler, plain-text interaction with hopper features, settings, and help information, he said. Users have instant access to a range of features and control settings, including: auto-start; tempera- ture control; drying monitor; temperature setback; and energy consumption and trending. Auto-start allows users to program automatic
start-up for individual hoppers so that pre-drying begins at a set day and time, and under specified drying conditions. The drying monitor checks temperature profile at multiple points in each hopper – and prevents material being conveyed further until the control verifies it has been properly dried.
Users who pair the latest ResinWorks equipment with one of Conair’s new Carousel Plus dryers have
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the added option of controlling all hoppers central- ly using the dryer control, or locally with the optional HMIs.
Feeder premiere At K2019 last year, Coperion K-Tron exhibited a variety of its materials handling technologies. The show was the European premiere for the compa- ny’s redesigned K3 vibratory feeder line – and its V200 model was also shown as part of a running system. The K3-ML-D5-V200 vibratory feeder was seen in action as part of a recirculating system – with automatic refill provided by a P-series vacuum receiver and a compact vacuum pump. Vibratory feeders are ideal for feeding recycled material or flakes as well as for the addition of glass fibre in compounding processes. They are nearly mainte- nance-free, as there is no wear on the mechanical parts. P-series vacuum receivers can be used to convey a wide range of bulk materials – in convey- ing only applications such as hopper loading, as well as loss-in-weigh feeder refill applications. The
Main image: A colour touchscreen HMI gives Conair’s ResinWorks a host of advanced control features
May 2020 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 21
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