Material handling does not add value. Nevertheless, parts and assemblies still must be moved around so that value can be added or that the customer can receive them.

For manufacturers, the imperative then is to make the material handling process as safe and efficient as possible. Here’s a look at some of the newest products for material handling.

 

Back-lit Conveyors Facilitate Inspection

Back-lit conveyors are used to provide a greater contrast between the product and the conveyor belt. These are typically used in vision inspection and robot guidance applications. A light panel is mounted into the frame of the GUF-P 2000 series conveyor and emits light through a translucent belt.

Back-lit conveyors feature a 5,400 Kelvin color collected illumination source. Natural daylight is at 6,000 Kelvin. Practical experience and controlled experimentation has suggested that a light source with a correlated color temperature of 5,000 Kelvin (or better) would maintain the necessary white appearance of the illuminated surface under the broadest possible range of conditions.

The conveyors are compatible with the company’s standard side rails, stands and other accessories. The conveyor comes in standard widths of 200, 250, 300, 400 and 500 millimeters. Lengths start at 550 millimeters. The light box has a static-dissapative polycarbonate cover. LED and fluorescent light sources are available. The entire light box can be removed from the frame for maintenance or replacement.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show South April 16-17 in Nashville, TN.

mk North America Inc.
www.mknorthamerica.com

 

Portable Conveyors Help With Loading, Unloading Boxes

Portable ergonomic conveyor systems improve productivity and reduce costs for facilities that need to load and unload boxes on a daily basis.

The Restuff-it is a bi-directional unit designed to aid workers who load and unload floor-stacked product from trailers and containers. It is an asset to both inbound receiving docks and outbound shipping docks. The Restuff-it has a modular belt that can travel in forward and reverse directions.

The Destuff-it is designed to aid workers who unload floor-stacked product from trailers and containers. These machines can be integrated with a variety of conveyor types, including flexible roller conveyors and telescopic belt conveyors.

Workers can achieve greater throughput with less fatigue and muscle strain because of optimal positioning to the box wall. Workers stand on a platform and are able to access controls, drive and steer. With use of hydraulic power, an operator controls the vertical height of the platform (up to 26 inches from the floor) to safely be positioned to the product being unloaded. While standing on the platform, a worker grasps the rotary handle, which allows the pivoting conveyor to be easily guided left and right. The pivoting conveyor can be positioned from 6 to 68 inches from the floor. This maneuverability enables the operator to position the conveyor near the product, significantly reducing the risk of injury from repetitive lifting, twisting, carrying and overhead reaching.

These conveyors reduce unloading time, and reduce or eliminate demurrage charges, standby charges and drop trailer charges. They can also reduce the number of doors needed for the unloading operation with more trailer turns per door.

In loading mode, the ergonomic benefits of the Restuff-it are realized by using the operator platform to lift the worker to the proper position relative to the box wall. In addition to this ergonomic benefit, by increasing the accessibility to the top of the container, many users also realize an increase in cube utilization.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show South April 16-17 in Nashville, TN.

Gorbel Inc.
www.gorbel.com

 

Lift-Assist Device

This dual parallel arm lift-assist device is available in 24-, 30- or 36-inch configurations. It can handle loads of up to 6,000 pounds. It can be configured to travel on X-Y rail systems from most manufacturers, and it can be integrated with electric or pneumatic tractor drives. Optional features include infinitely adjustable hard stops; up to 300 degrees of rotation; a rotation brake; adjustable zone limit switches; festooning brackets; and a cam latch for fixed rotational positions. The device helps assemblers to lift and position heavy loads and protects against force and torque reactions.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show South April 16-17 in Nashville, TN.

PowerBuilt Material Handling Solutions
www.powerbuilt.net

 

AGV Moves Front-End Modules

This compact AGV includes a custom-built cart to transport automotive front-end modules during assembly.

The BST AGV, Model CA-250060-NSI-K9, works as an automated tugger, traveling along a magnetic tape guide path, slipping under the stationary cart, extending a tow pin into the cart’s frame, and then conveying it to a designated workstation or unload point.

This unit has the functionality of Creform’s larger BST-NSI, but in a compact package for enhanced maneuverability. The AGV has a sophisticated programmable control system and can store 50 courses with up to 128 commands for each. Course programming can be accomplished with a PC or HMI touch screen. Programs can be downloaded via USB memory, ethernet cable or RF.

The AGV is powered by a 24-volt system with two 12-volt AGM batteries. With an optional opportunity charging system that extends off the back as an add-on module, the system provides for an optical communication between the AGV and battery charging station. The vehicle pulls into charging position, signals its presence, lowers the charging probe to contact the conductor plates embedded in the floor, and turns on the charger for a quick battery boost. With each circuit of the guide path, batteries are automatically charged by just pulling into the charging station positioned along the route. No human intervention is necessary.

The unit features a removable cover for access to system components, and the whole assembly tilts up for access to the battery compartment. With the opportunity charging system, the need to access batteries should be infrequent.

The Category 2 safety features include: audible warning and flashing light, obstacle sensor, noncontact laser bumper, and emergency stop. Options to the system include remote start via data transmitter at home station, radio communications to integrate with a Creform traffic control system, and a preventative maintenance program to ensure reliable operations.

In this application, the custom-built cart holds automotive front end module assemblies. The cart stays with AGV in normal operation and makes up the assembly line as well as delivery AGV. Since they stay connected, the cart features a top-side control panel that plugs into the AGV. This provides the operator a convenient way to control the AGV without having to access the lower front control panel on the AGV itself. The cart is 3 feet wide, 4 feet long, and 42 inches tall. It can carry 500 pounds.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show South April 16-17 in Nashville, TN.

Creform Corp.
https://creform.com

 

Toe Guards Protect Workers’ Feet

Field-installable toe guards for casters protect workers’ feet from injury. The guards are available with two brake styles—heavy-duty contact brakes and ergonomic brakes. Heavy-duty contact brakes ensure steady support for larger loads, while ergonomic brakes minimize operator strain and fatigue. Optional floor brushes sweep away foreign objects and debris during operation, protecting casters from damage and keeping pathways clear. These features enhance operational efficiency and contribute to a safer work environment.

Constructed from robust 3/16-inch steel and finished in a sleek platinum gray, this toe guard ensures long-lasting durability and protection. With an industry-standard 1/2-inch clearance from the floor, the toe guard integrates seamlessly with existing casters, eliminating the need for drilling or modifications. Customers can opt to have the toe guard assembled onto a new caster or order it separately for easy installation on existing casters. The toe guard is available for wheel diameters 4 to 12 inches.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show South April 16-17 in Nashville, TN.

Hamilton Caster & Manufacturing Co.
www.hamiltoncaster.com

 

Automated Palletizing System Features Cobot

The RC12 collaborative palletizers increases efficiency and ensures operator safety. The system combines the reliability of a standardized product with the flexibility to adapt to specific production needs. Advanced safety mechanisms protect operators while maintaining high OEE. Intuitive software and a user-friendly interface make it easy to operate. This compact palletizer requires 50 percent less space than conventional systems. 

It is equipped with Omron’s TM12-S cobot. It handles payloads of up to 10 kilograms at a rate of up to 14 boxes per minute with a double-pick gripper. There’s no need for a surrounding fence or cage. The system complies with ISO/TS 15066 standards, and the gripper is padded for worker safety.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show Oct. 21-23 in Rosemont, IL.

Flexlink
www.flexlink.com

 

Suspended Conveyor System

The Suspended Conveyor System is ideal for use in production systems when engineers need to supply materials that would take up a lot of space in a small load carrier or would easily become entangled. The goods to be moved are hung on a carriage that travels to the removal point by running along a conveyor rail profile that has a slight gradient. The conveyor is integrated with transport trolleys or racks built using Item’s D30 profile tube system.

Since it uses gravity for transport, the conveyor is especially efficient for supplying products that are hung up for transportation due to their irregular shape. The conveyor rail is integrated at a 3-degree incline into frames or trolleys. Carriages carrying goods are suspended from the conveyor rail and automatically travel to the removal point through gravity alone; no additional drive is needed. All the system components feature rounded contours that have been coordinated with each other. This ensures ergonomic and safe working conditions.

The conveyor rail profile can be ordered in lengths up to 6,000 millimeter.

See this company at The ASSEMBLY Show Oct. 21-23 in Rosemont, IL.

Item America LLC
https://us.item24.com