New globoidal indexers selected for special purpose assembly machines

Citation

(2000), "New globoidal indexers selected for special purpose assembly machines", Assembly Automation, Vol. 20 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2000.03320caf.008

New globoidal indexers selected for special purpose assembly machines

New globoidal indexers selected for special purpose assembly machines

Keywords: Assembly, High speed, Expert systems

Expert's latest indexers provide the accuracy, reliability and performance for continuous high speed assembly operations

The accuracy, reliability and in-service performance of Expert UK's recently-launched ERD series indexing drives have led to their selection for two custom-engineered assembly machines developed by special purpose machine builders, JPR Automation of Berinsfield, Oxfordshire.

A 24-station ERD 108 globoidal indexing unit has been incorporated at the heart of a fully automated installation developed specifically to produce 1/4 turn chipboard fixings for a major North American self-assembly furniture manufacturer.

The turnkey system features bowl fed die cast Mazak cam components and plastic shrouds, which are assembled at more than 60 units per minute (see Plate 7).

In operation, the injection moulded parts are fed, in the correct orientation, to carriers located at the periphery of the equipment's indexing table. Following an automatic check, specific webs on the mouldings are cut, before the one-piece cam components are installed at the next index position. Subsequently, the body of the moulding is automatically folded around the cam as the workpieces index to the next assembly station, where the two halves of the plastic body are clipped together. The encapsulated cam unit is fractured at a pre-determined point on its body to enable the finished product's 1/4 turn fixing characteristics to be achieved. A further automatic inspection station carries out a final check before the completed assemblies are ejected from the machine, ready for packing.

Plate 7A 24-station Expert ERD 108 globoidal indexing unit has been incorporated at the heart of a fully automated installation developed by JPR Automation to produce 1/4 turn chipboard fixings for a major North American self-assembly furniture manufacturer at more than 60 units per minute

According to JPR Automation's Managing Director, John White:

The assembly system must accommodate significant variations in the components, while still maintaining consistent production under "lights-out" conditions. Within this continuous high-speed assembly environment, it is therefore essential that the indexer is able to maintain the highest levels of positional accuracy and repeatability without the need for additional locking devices.

In order to achieve the required production rates, the Expert unit indexes the table, fixtures and process components - weighing around 25kg - in a cycle time of less than 0.3 sec.

Mr White adds:

This is the third machine of this type we have supplied to our customer in as many years. We have used Expert indexers on these and several other projects and, with the help of their technical advice service, have always found a product from their standard range to meet our requirements.

This is very much the case with JPR Automation's second ERD series indexer application - a free-standing unit developed to assemble a range of three-part high security blind fasteners used in the commercial vehicle and container manufacturing sectors.

Here, a four-station ERD 108 unit has been selected. At the start of the operational sequence, components are loaded manually on fixtures mounted on the rotary table. They are then transported through a guard arrangement to the assembly position, where a pneumatic ram produces an interference fit between each fastener's steel mandrel, body and locking collar. With a 0.75 sec cycle time, the Expert unit enables operators to achieve production rates of up to 20 assemblies per minute, dependent on skill levels.

For further information please contact: Mike Meadows at Expert UK Ltd on: +44 (0)24 76 717566 or visit Expert UK's Web site: http://www.expertuk.ltd.uk/expertuk