DTI-1295 Auto-load Preheat Shuttle System

Customer directive

The basis of the design for this system was to provide an automatic preheat system. The system is used to heat PPF (polypropylene fumarate) material blanks. The customer requirements for this project started with loading individual blanks of material from a stack to the oven system for preheating. The material blank then had to be preheated from both sides with a high intensity radiant heating system. The process ended with presentation of the heated blank to a press for forming. The system requirements included operational capability for adjustable cycle times as fast as 30 seconds part to part.


Description

The DTI-1295 is designed to meet the above requirements. The stack of material to be heated is placed on a scissor table that automatically indexes upward each time a blank is removed from the stack. The scissor table is located perpendicular to the oven conveyor travel direction to decrease overall system length. A two-axis servo controlled pick and place unit picks a single material blank from the stack and places it on the oven conveyor. The pick and place utilizes vacuum cups to grip the material blank for transport. Servo systems are included on each axis of motion to provide the required speed, location accuracy, and acceleration/deceleration capabilities. The oven conveyor extends beyond the entrance end of the heated chamber to provide the place location. The parts are placed on the wire mesh oven conveyor belt. The heated chamber includes automatic doors on each end that open prior to each oven conveyor index. The entire conveyor moves forward to extend and present the heated blank to the press area for forming, simultaneously the next blank to be heated is moved into the heated chamber. As the conveyor traverses back toward the oven the conveyor belt rotates to maintain the location of the new blank in the heated chamber and leave the previously heated blank in the press area. At the completion of the index the chamber doors automatically close to seal off the chamber. The heated chamber is heated using a heater bank above the product and a second bank below the product. Each heater bank includes twelve (12) individually controlled high intensity heater panels. Individual panel control provides the capability to adjust the heating intensity at various locations of the material blank. The heater banks are installed in a drawer type arrangement to allow them to be removed from the heated chamber for inspection or maintenance requirements. All areas around the perimeter of the pick and place are guarded for personnel safety. All machine functions are controlled from the operator HMI (touch screen) and multiple recipes can be stored for future use for various product requirements. The entire system is fully assembled and factory tested for operational verification prior to shipment.


Specifications

Product Being ProcessedPPF Material Blanks
Blank Size Width, Length8′-4″ W x 6′-0″ L (2540mm x 1830mm)
Overall Length, Width, Height25′-10″ L x 26′-2″ W x 11′-4″ H (7870mm x 7970mm x 3450mm)
Type of Heating SystemMultiple Zone High Intensity Radiant Panels (above and below product)
Design Operating TemperatureAs required up to 1202°F (650°C)
Product SupportWire Mesh Index Conveyor Belt
Product LoadingAutomatic Pick and Place Vacuum Loader
Product UnloadingShuttle Conveyor to Forming Press
ControlsPLC control with operator HMI, UL listed control enclosure

Alternative capabilities

Davron Technologies, Inc. designs and manufactures ovens of this type to meet many unique process requirements, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Heating Methods: Different types of Radiant Panel Heaters, Infrared Heaters, Forced Air Heating with Electric or Natural Gas type heating systems.
  • Various Blank Sizes: This type system can be designed to process any size material blank as required for your particular process.
  • Industries Served: Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, or any industry that requires material blank preheating prior to other operations.
  • Materials Processed: Lightweight Composite Plastic Materials, Textile Products, Carpet Blanks, as well as any number of material types heated in individual blank form. Most permeable materials can be heated with forced air.
  • Other Processes: Preheating, Curing, Drying, Glue Activation
  • Heating Systems: Radiant Electric Panels of Various Types, Infrared Heaters, Forced Air with Modulating Natural Gas Fired Burners Direct or Indirect, Forced Air Electric Heating, or Thermal Oil with a heating coil system.