CONTROL & AUTOMATION FLEXIBLE APPLICATION
MK PROFILES
Automation Line for Motor Assembly
TASK
mk recently helped an automotive supplier that manufactures and assembles motor blocks and cylinder heads . The customer had various motor components that needed to be flexibly supplied for feeding the main assembly line so that they can be subsequently assembled . There is no interim storage on the assembly line , meaning that production occurs just in time , which requires a certain degree of flexibility . Zones for walking and driving must remain clear with a relatively low flow rate .
MK SOLUTION
Based on the requirements , a solution with automated guided vehicles ( AGVs ) together with the appropriate mobile racks and load handling equipment was suitable in this case . mk supplied mobile racks that are coupled and carried by the AGVs as towing devices , thus allowing them to be brought to the respective stations in a flexible manner .
Driven roller conveyors act as load handling equipment on the racks and transport the motor components onto the AGVs and onto the subsequent lines at the stations . In one case , a roller conveyor with split rollers and centre guide was designed for the product . The roller conveyors are driven by friction wheels , each attached to the roller conveyor and corresponding station . The roller conveyors therefore do not need their own motor and thus power was not supplied by the battery of the AGV . Furthermore , any motor can be used at the stations to drive the roller conveyors . However , solutions with small , light motors for the load handling equipment on the AGVs , for example with 24 V or 48 V DC , are also possible .
Applications with chain conveyors or accumulating roller chain conveyors can also be used as load handling equipment if the products must be transported on pallets . Stoppers used as transport safety devices on the conveyor prevent products from falling while the AGV is in motion . The stoppers are mechanically unlocked at the stations , and thus do not require a separate power supply . The controller for both the load handling equipment and the AGV are integrated in the master controller for the production process . In addition , the mk safety guards provide work piece protection and protective guarding at the respective transfer stations . Protective tunnels on the mobile racks are also available to protect the products from manipulation during transit . mk were able to provide their customer with excellent integration into their existing systems and controllers and provide a flexible application thanks to the modular profile design .
To find out more about the complete mk range please visit www . mkprofiles . co . uk , call ( 01949 ) 823751 or email info @ mkprofiles . co . uk .
For further information , please visit www . mkprofiles . co . uk
46 PECM Issue 57