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Elscint recently manufactured a 100 ltr. heavy duty hopper elevator along with a vibratory bowl feeder feeding of a bearing housing. The part was having a very critical orientation. The permutations and combinations in which the part could come out of the bowl feeder were 8 and this obviously resulted in less feed rate. However, the customer wanted a speed of 70 parts per minute. This was difficult to achieve in a bowl feeder. However, Elscint designed the bowl in such a way that most of the parts were turned in such a way that they would come in the correct direction.
Orientation –
The component was having size 46 x 17 x 16 mm and as the length was 46 mm, it obviously resulted in lesser speed.
Hopper –
As the bowl could accommodate just about 200 parts and the parts being very heavy (at 50 gms a part), a 100 Ltr. Stainless Steel Hopper was designed with the loading height at about 600 mm from the ground level where the parts could be dumped. The requirement was to ensure that at least 200 kgs of parts could be accommodated in this hopper. The hopper was designed such that more than this quantity was easily accommodated.
Elevator –
The elevator was made of mild steel slat chain belt conveyor with a 450 mm width. The parts moved up the slates and then fell down from a outlet chute which emptied into a window provided on the top of the vibratory bowl feeder enclosure. The window was provided with a returnable slat so that the heavy parts falling down do not damage the bowl due to their fall.
Safety features –
The moving parts of the Elevator were completely enclosed and concealed as a safety precaution with a top see through polycarbonate cover with hinges for easy loading of parts into the elevator. The Gearbox was fitted with a torque arm with a limit switch to ensure that the motor would trip in case of overload. There was a level controller in the bowl which provided feedback to the motor when to start / stop.
– Construction of the Elevator
The construction was in M.S. Square tubular structure. The total weight of the equipment being more with the chain belt itself being 60 kgs, this was required to be sturdy and robust.
Vibratory bowl feeder
Model 400 Vibratory bowl feeder was used for this application, considering the size and heavy nature of the parts. Model 400 has a loading capacity of 30 kgs and has a total of 3 coils mounted on the periphery, making it most suitable for such applications.
Gravity chute –
After coming out of the bowl feeder, the parts slid down on a gravity chute fixed at an angle of 30 degrees, making it easy for the parts to slide down easily.
Stand –
The vibratory bowl feeder and the gravity chute mounting was done on a single post stand with (+/-) 100 mm ht adjustment. The same was duly powder coated and provided with levelling pads with provision for grouting the same.
Construction
The complete construction of the equipment was robust and heavy with excellent build quality which is the hallmark of Elscint products. The equipment along with the complete electrical panel was completed and dispatched to the customer’s place in West India by a special vehicle.