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Issue 32
trends in automation
Synergies
32
–
33
(A) The first of the three fully automated workstations
rotates the
workpiece carrier 180 degrees using a cylinder DRSL and fixes it in
place using a holding unit controlled by a mini slide DGSL.
(B) Twin-piston semi-rotary drive DRRD
with three-point gripper
DHDS for picking up the workpiece for machining.
(C) A semi-rotary drive DRVS
moves two drip trays below the dosing
nozzle, thus protecting the system against contamination.
(A)
(B)
(C)
housing with an integrated, shaft-mounted
control flap. The system comprises a
semi-automatic manual workstation and a
fully automated module with three
workstations. As the air intake controls
come off the conveyor, a rotary and swivel
unit first rotates the workpiece carrier 180
degrees so that the information from the
reading head can be analysed. A compact
cylinder ADN designed as a holding unit
fixes the plastic housing of the air intake
control in place. A worker then inserts the
shaft for the throttle valve, which is added
later in the process. An electric linear axis
EGC moves the workpiece carrier into the
correct position for the shaft length,
which varies depending on the type. The
pneumatic linear drive DGC moves a pilot
mandrel into the end position. The shaft is
then pushed into the component with the
pilot mandrel by pressure switching. After
the joining process, the worker manually
inserts the throttle valve into the fitting
holes of the shaft.
Precision fixing
At the first of the three fully automated
workstations, the workpiece carrier is
rotated 180 degrees using a cylinder DRSL
and then fixed in place using a holding
unit controlled by a mini slide DGSL. The
next step involves checking the presence
of the needle bearing case and needle
bearing, which enclose the throttle valve
shaft on both sides. At the same time,
they are correctly aligned and positioned
so the locating pin can then be pressed in.
To ensure that the pin can be inserted at
different points, a round cylinder DSNU
moves the complete workpiece carrier
into position.
The second automated workstation first
removes the workpiece from the conveyor
using semi-rotary drive DRRD with three-
point gripper DHDS, so that the
machining forces do not have a negative
impact on the conveyor. After being
moved to the machining position, the
ends of the locating pins are drizzled with
a synthetic resin. To reach the pin ends on
both sides of the air intake control, the
workstation swivels the workpiece 180
degrees and then back into the initial
position. Meanwhile, a semi-rotary drive
DRVS moves two drip trays below the
dosing nozzle to protect the system
against contamination.
Intelligent time savings
At the third workstation for curing the
adhesive using UV light, two workpieces
can be processed at the same time. After
one workpiece has been gripped, rotated
180 degrees and transported to the UV
station, the next one can be picked up