Decoration within the mold in an automated process
Reiner von Prondzinski, project manager of the plant of Johnson Controls in Wuppertal, included in planning other four KM350-1900DF with a high degree of automation. The facilities have moulding machines equipped with large plates for the scenery of decorative elements by package Decoform of Krauss-Maffei injection.
Manufacturing units were designed with a fully automated in-line process: a horizontal handling equipment removed the decorative pieces of the mold and introduces cuts of material for the next cycle from a deposit at the same time. After extraction of the piece of the mold, the horizontal handling equipment leads decorated pieces to a cabin of cut laser to the cutout. The pieces are introduced in this cabin of cut through a rotating device, and after the cut with a laser mounted on a jointed-arm robot, are extracted again. Then the jointed-arm robot leads to an installation of cut pieces ultrasonic to the cutting and folding of the decorated pieces. Finally, another jointed-arm robot removes the pieces and puts them on a conveyor belt for the final assembly.
This concept of installation it is possible to put an end to assemble parts completely automatically in a minimal surface and send them without long intermediate storage. With this procedure in line, it is possible to guarantee a time reduced in the whole process and a high quality of cut. In this connection, the client expressly requires that there are no folds in the visible area. In addition, the decorative pieces with a fold in the area of the belt adjuster, obtained its final profile in ultrasonic station. The design of the facility reflects the highest level of automation for this type of applications today.