Semi-Automatic Conveyor System for AVK
The conveyor system, which is being tested here at Q-System, is going to be installed “down under” – at AVK Valves, Australia. As the name indicates, AVK manufacture valves.
When the valves are cast they are going to be poured into a so-called loader and from this into a shot blasting machine, which will clean and smooth the surface before painting.
Today, the feeding into the loader requires a strong man. He has to lift up every single 40 kg valve from a pallet and throw it into the loader, which will then tilt and pour the valves into the shot blasting machine. A heavy work with many liftings during the day. AVK wanted to avoid the manual liftings and to increase capacity.
AVK Valves Decided for a Semi-Automatic Conveyor System
When the new conveyor system is installed, the pallets with valves will be placed on a gravity roller conveyor and run to the end of this conveyor. The operator will pick up the pallet using a manual transfer cart and bring it onto a driven roller conveyor. This conveyor transports automatically the pallet into the loader.
The loader is now equipped with a pneumatic unit which will hold the pallet while the loader is tilting and pouring the contents into the shot blasting machine. Afterwards, the empty pallet is automatically returned to the operator who will bring it to the return conveyor.
Via a lifting table, a non-driven conveyor and a turntable the empty pallet is now transported automatically to a position between the loader and the shot blasting machine. The now cleaned valves are poured back into the pallet, which is afterwards transported to the outfeed end of the conveyor, ready for painting.
All Units are Based on Standard Modules
The clever thing is that all units are based on standard modules, which of course makes the system cheaper.
The roller conveyors, the manual transfer cart, the turntable and the driven in- and outfeed conveyors are one hundred percent standard. The only special units, which are modified standard, are the two pneumatic units for holding the pallet while being tilted.
