PRODUCTS MACHINE BUILDING, FRAMEWORKS & SAFETY SSRS FOR INDUSTRY 4.0
New from Carlo Gavazzi is the NRG series of solid-state relays which is said to meet all the needs of machine builders as well as Industry 4.0. The NRG series
consists of one, or up to 247, BUS chains providing real-time data monitoring, prevention of machine breakdown and accurate troubleshooting. Its communication interface allows read out of variables such as voltage, current, frequency, energy consumption, power and running hours of the SSR RG..N in real time. Diagnostic data such as mains loss, load loss, SSR short circuit, over temperature, and SSR out of (set) limits are accessible through Modbus RTU over an RS485 interface. The NRG controller also has a configurable NO/NC auxiliary output. The SSRs in the NRG series are available either with
heatsink (RGC..N) or without (RGS..N) for ratings up to 660V, 65AAC and 90AAC respectively. Significant time savings are achieved since there is no need to physically set the ID of each individual RG..N in the system. The NRG series is said to suit any heating
application where reliable and precise maintenance of temperatures is crucial to the quality of the end product. Typical applications include plastic machinery such as injection machines, extrusion machines and PET blow moulding machines, packaging/wrapping machinery, sterilisation machinery, etc.
Carlo Gavazzi
www.carlogavazzi.co.uk AUTOMATING TYRE PRODUCTION
For over thirty years, Tyre-Line has been producing wheel and tyre assemblies for almost all applications, from garden tractors to high performance sports cars, with the bulk of the company’s business being the supply of wheels for trailers and caravans. Its assembly process was largely semi-automated, which was relatively slow and inflexible, so with demand for its products growing the company turned to Autarky Automation for a new solution. The Hofmann tyre inflation machine forms the heart of the new system. Capable of inflating each tyre in just seven seconds, the machine has infeed and outfeed conveyors, with the latter comprising two separate spurs: one for automotive wheels that need balancing and one for all other wheels. Wheel rims and tyres are assembled and
labelled with a unique bar code at the start of the infeed conveyor, with an extended track and additional loading and queuing zones leading up an inclined track to match the height of the tyre inflation machine. Prior to the inflation machine is a station
comprising an array of three camera units, with integrated lighting, positioned so that they can read barcode labels placed at any angle or position on the wheel rims. The information from each bar code is automatically transferred to the tyre inflation machine to control the inflation pressure and to allow a dimensional check to be carried out,
22 APRIL 2019 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
confirming that the correct combination of tyre and wheel rim has been fitted. The system has been designed to minimise
the risk of damage to each assembly. For example, transfer units automatically align each assembly on the centre line of the conveyor to prevent contact with side rollers, with all rollers being fitted with soft PVC sleeves. The downward sloping outfeed unit features inertia braking to control the speed with which the finished assembly is presented to the operator, while loading points use specially developed plastic raise/lower beds to make it easier for operators to load and unload wheel assemblies. Autarky Automation’s solution uses 24V DC
motorised drive rollers throughout, with a Siemens PLC and HMI to control the conveyors, transfer units and barcode readers. Data is communicated to the Hofmann controller via a standard Profinet industrial network. Not only is the
system said to have revolutionised the business, but it provides traceability of every assembly, enabling quality control to be improved further still.
Autarky Automation
www.autarky.com/Home
‘LIGHT CHAIN’ LIGHT GRID INTRODUCED
A new way of configuring light grids that offers freedom for automated plant and machinery applications has been introduced by SICK. With FlexChain, up to 60 sensors can be daisy-chained in a single line topology and connected to a FlexChain host, allowing engineers to build their own light grids via a web selection tool and to individually space through-beam, reflex and proximity sensors as needed, with minimal cabling. More sensors can be added later. Push-button commissioning is
quick and easy via the FlexChain host and using individual sensors enables a high level of diagnostic information to be available at all times. The SICK FlexChain system offers the benefits of lightgrid detection with sequential triggering of every beam but, unlike a conventional lightgrid, positioning the sensors individually makes it possible to vary the beam separation to suit the application.
SICK
www.sick.co.uk
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