The air conveyor for PET bottles
The PET containers seem to be floating on air PET bottles should be treated gently. This is why the AirCo helps these sensitive lightweights float reliably and gently from the stretch blow moulder to the subsequent machine and does so at an extremely high speed. Yet this versatile conveyor can do so much more than simply move bottles from A to B: If there is an interruption at one of the downstream components, such as the filler or labeller, then the AirCo acts as a buffer, thus effectively bridging the downtime. As a result, the AirCo keeps both the bottles and the overall plant efficiency at a consistently high level!
Applications The suitability of PET bottles for conveyance depends on many factors: the container shape, weight, material attributes, ambient conditions and dimensional tolerances all play a part. To meet all of these requirements, the AirCo is made up of clever components which have proven successful many times in practice. This includes for example: The triangular chute, the clip neck-ring guides, the automatic rail adjustment system, the highly efficient fan unit, the automatic pressure control system and the reliable ultrasonic sensors.
Figures, data, facts Design features Additional equipment Robust box-type construction in stainless steel with a sheet thickness of 2 millimetres The UHPE plastic neck-ring guides are fastened in place using the clip system Reliable guidance for the containers in a patented triangular chute Rail adjustment using a multiposition cylinder or electric motor during change-over Non-vibrating drives: The motor and radial blower are balanced together. Low-noise motors: With a max. of 78 db, their noise level is lower than any noise protection requirements in force anywhere in the world. Floor, wall and ceiling mounting possible Automatic neck-ring guide adjustment The guides can be adjusted pneumatically when two different neckring diameters are handled. Pressure-controlled regulation The speed of the radial blower is automatically adjusted in accordance with the degree of filter contamination. AirCo standard design Fan housing in painted steel 1.5 kw drive Reliable and relatively hygienic conveyance Can be upgraded to a hygienic design at a later stage AirCo in hygienic design Stainless steel fan housing 2.2 kw drive Special filter concept to meet the highest demands on hygiene The entire conveyor route can be enclosed using see-through plastic panels The panels are easily opened for cleaning and inspection purposes
Figures, data, facts Pneumatic rail adjustment system Rail adjustment with pneumatic cylinder Adjustment in 5 millimetre steps Up to twelve positions are possible Advantages Best availability and repeat accuracy No additional positioning cylinders required Easy retrofitting Electrical rail adjustment Infinite adjustment of the rails with a linear motor from 60 to 120 millimetres Maximum distance of 16 metres between two linear motors Maximum distance of 3 metres between two rail supports Separate linear motor per cam Advantages Best availability and repeat accuracy Maintenance-free Simplest retrofitting No pneumatic hoses along the conveyor
Filter systems Filter system Main filter Pre-filter Effective filter area Application F5 Micro fibre-glass mat 11 m 2 Production mode F5 with G4 pre-filter Micro fibre-glass mat Polyester fibre mat with thermal bonding Production with high exposure to coarse dust and soot particles in the dry section F8 with G4 pre-filter Micro fibre-glass mat Polyester fibre mat with thermal bonding 13 m 2 High demands on the purity of the blower air Creation of microbiologically optimum conditions HEPA micro fibre-glass mat H13 suspended-matter filter G4/F5 37 m 2 Highest demands on the separation capacity for submicron particles
AirCo Compact System description Shortened conveyor distances between the blow moulder and filler The data transmission between the blow moulder and the filler is controlled via the air conveyor Advantages Simplest routing Few curves Fewer drives resulting in a lower energy consumption Improved system efficiency No preforms are lost in the blow moulder oven when the filler is stopped Example: Line with Stretch blow moulder Air conveyor Filler 36,000 containers per hour 1.5 litre bottle Standard air conveyor Buffer time of 60 seconds Buffer length of 105 metres AirCo Compact Buffer time of 20 seconds Buffer length of 40 metres Comparison: line with standard air conveyor (top) and with the AirCo Compact (bottom)
Operation and control Operation The complete conveyor system can be operated comfortably using the central touch-screen Clear and easy-to-understand menu structure with Windows interface Clear graphics to assist the operators Visualisation of the line layout for the quick localisation of the causes of malfunctions Controller One special feature of AirCo conveyors is its sophisticated control concept. It is individually tailor-made to suit your line, your products and the local conditions. A fixed component of the concept comes in the form of sensors which continually measure the conveyors efficiency and buffer capacity. The calculated values are used to regulate both the speed of the individual conveyors and the output of the machines. When changing container types, particular sections can already be changed over to the next container size while the conveyors in the other sections are still conveying the old type. Line downtimes can be reduced considerably in this way. Technical features All motors and frequency inverters can be individually controlled and parameterised from the touchscreen. All parameters are stored and backed up in the system. The frequency inverters are controlled by Profibus or DeviceNet.
Your benefits Flexible arrangement Depending on the space conditions, the conveyor can be installed on the floor, on the wall or be suspended from the ceiling. Quick change-over Thanks to the pneumatic or motorised controller for guiding the containers, the AirCo can be changed over within the shortest of times to convey containers which have a different format. High efficiency The intelligent controller and the use of low-maintenance ultrasonic sensors ensures the overall efficiency of the system remains high. Quick installation and commissioning Almost all of the components are already pre-assembled in the factory. This ensures the conveyor is ready for operation within a very short time ( plug and play ). High level of hygiene For areas requiring more stringent hygiene, the conveyor is also available in a hygienic design version.
Subject to technical changes The illustrations can contain optional auxiliary equipment 0 900 22 875 2 PDF_en 01/13 IT solutions The SitePilot modular system includes IT solutions which we developed especially for the beverage and food industry. Whether you want to increase the utilisation of your line capacity, monitor product quality, or make spare parts handling more efficient: With SitePilot, you will always get the best result. enviro High-performance technology with low consumption of resources offering safety for humans and the environment this is all guaranteed by the enviro sign. TÜV SÜD (technical control board) as an impartial assessor has confirmed, that the enviro method leads to energy- and mediaefficient and environment-compatible machines and lines. Lifecycle Service Your company is unique why be satisfied with conventional solutions? The krones Lifecycle Service will support you and your production also after the purchase of new machines. These are services which are individually tailor-made to suit your products and location. krones Academy Make your colleagues high performers: The training of krones Academy provides first-hand trade information proven in field. You will find the suitable know-how package for almost any field and hierachy level ranging from technical courses to management training. krones Service Line You need support with a technical problem? Or you have an urgent question about you line? No problem: We are just a call away from you. Dial +49 9401 708090 to get quick and straightforward assistance in several languages around the clock! krones ag Böhmerwaldstraße 5 93073 Neutraubling Germany Phone +49 9401 70-0 Fax +49 9401 70-2488 E-mail info@krones.com Internet www.krones.com