ATM robotics raise production at Legrand Electric

Citation

(1999), "ATM robotics raise production at Legrand Electric", Industrial Robot, Vol. 26 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1999.04926faf.003

ATM robotics raise production at Legrand Electric

ATM robotics raise production at Legrand Electric

Keywords: ATM, Robotics

ATM Automation has completed the installation of automated systems on a new injection moulding line, producing domestic electrical consumer units, for Legrand Electric.

ATM's design and build contract comprised the manufacture and installation of robots, conveyors, guarding and other ancillary equipment. The new moulding cell, includes three "Billion" machines rated at 140, 200 and 320 tonnes, arranged side by side (see Plate 3).

ATM installed an ES2000 model robot on each moulding machine. These drop the sprue into a granulator on one side of the line and place the moulded component on a conveyor on the opposite side. ATM designed special receipt cages and chutes to deliver the sprue to floor level.

Plate 3ATM's design and build contract comprised the manufacture and installation of robots, conveyors, guarding and other ancillary equipment. The new moulding cell includes three "Billion" machines rated at 140, 200 and 320 tonnes, arranged side by side

ATM secured the contract following the successful non-stop performance of a model ES1000 robot last year. A second robot of this type has also been installed this year and both are mounted on Billion 90 tonne machines to de-mould components of high aesthetic value.

The design of the cell was constrained by the necessity to ensure free access to fire exit doors. ATM designed the robotic and conveyor systems for product take-off to be installed at a height of 2.5m to allow unhindered personnel access to the doors. Components are delivered to the floor level workstation, where they are inspected and wrapped, via an angled conveyor. This is divided into three lanes, each specific to one of the machines, to prevent the mouldings colliding and the possibility of resultant blemishes.

The cell uses some 40 different mould tools, changed as required by an overhead travelling crane. The ATM robots were modified to reduce their operating height in order to clear the beam of the crane and prevent collisions with moulds suspended from the crane's pulley block.

The ATM design has enabled production to increase from 800, to nearly 2,000 units per week, a hike of nearly 150 per cent. It will also accommodate the future expansion of the automated operations to enable the loading of threaded inserts into the moulds. This operation is currently carried out post-moulding.

For further information please contact: Robert Hopper, ATM Automation Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)116 277 3607; Clare Moody, Clare Communications PR. Tel: +44 (0)161 839 0226; E-mail: clare@clarecomms.demon.co.uk