Autoclave Material Handling Systems & Carts
Airfloat
designs and manufactures autoclave carts and
material handling systems. From turntables,
railed systems and air bearing transporters,
Airfloat has many approaches to handling the flow of
materials to and from your autoclave systems.
Airfloat will work with your project team to determine the lowest-cost solution
that meets your cycle-time needs.
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Autoclave Loading System |
Airfloat autoclave systems
include designs as simple as an air skid or air bearing transporter
to move an existing cart or lay-up table or as comprehensive
as custom carts with in-floor rail and automated turntables
for traffic management. These systems are used in Aerospace,
Automotive, and Glass Industries with no limit to size or
weight of the autoclave load. We can add Robot Cell load/unload
Turntables or Shuttles for a complete material handling solution.
Most people have seen small
table autoclaves used for sterilizing dental or medical
instruments. Some autoclaves are a lot bigger, to use
heat, pressure, or vacuum to laminate glass, cure composite
adhesives used to assemble airplane wings or helicopter
rotors, or evacuate the air from windings of electric transformers
so they can be impregnated with insulating varnish.
Airfloat makes rack handlers and conveyors to provide efficient
loading and unloading of the autoclave. The Airfloat
designs are customized to obtain maximum efficiency and
worker safety in your specific manufacturing situation, enabling
maximum productivity from the substantial investment a big
autoclave represents.
Roll Handling Equipment
Moving
heavy rolls with Airfloat air bearing equipment is the
most cost effective and safest way to handle rolls. With
virtually friction-free movement a single operator can
easily handle 1,000-pound to over 10,000-pound loads.
As
the load gets larger, Airfloat can also design power-driven
systems to meet your needs. Decrease your dependency on
fork trucks. Paper rolls, steel coils, or anything round
can be easily lifted and floated on air through your facility.
Roll Handling Case Study
Application:
An
Airfloat customer in the paper industry needed a method for
effectively transporting large paper rolls weighing 42,000
lbs. on a floor that had a low floor loading capacity.
Solution:
Airfloat
designed and manufactured an air bearing equipped, heavy
load carrying platform for virtually friction free movement
of paper rolls. The platform structure incorporated a V-shaped
cradle to hold paper rolls and oversized air bearings for
low floor loading on a second floor mezzanine. This is a
solution that is not available with any other material handling
process.
Benefits:
- Made it possible to safely move rolls with minimal
facility modifications
- Rolls are easily maneuvered in limited space.
- Total system has a very low investment compared to
alternatives.
- Maintenance costs are virtually zero because there
are no moving parts.
Glass Transporter
Glass Transporter Case Study
Application:
An Airfloat customer needed a product capable
of transporting a 66-ton load of 11-ft. by 20-ft. glass sheets.
Solution:
Airfloat designed and
manufactured a transporter that moves
on four 54” by 78” air bearings
and contains three on-board compressors. The first
compressor provides the air-film for
the carrier to ride on. It is capable of 250
CFM of air at 12.5 PSI and also has a
steerable wheel. The second 100 PSI compressor is
used to lift racks off the supporting
legs so they can be moved by the transporter
as well as for controlling steering.
The power for the drive wheel is supplied by
a 5 HP hydrostatic transmission unit.
Benefits:
- The operator can easily maneuver the
loaded platform by using friction-free,
omni-directional air bearings.
- Self-contained, internal drive saves
space with a compact unit.
- Operates on its own air supply, eliminating
the need for an external air hose connection.
Tire Platform & Transporter
Tire Transporter Case Study
Application:
A major construction equipment manufacturer
required equipment that would eliminate one person from a
tire mounting workstation on their assemby line.
Solution:
The
system consists of an air bearing platform mounted under
a tire-handling fixture platform. The air bearings allow
virtually friction-free, omni-directional movement of heavy
loads by manual movement of optional air-motor-powered steerable
drive (0-180 degree rotation). The operator loads the tire
on the platform with an overhead crane or fork truck and
activates a clamping fixture. The clamping fixture is a fail-safe
design that allows for positive tire holding in case of a
loss of air pressure to the transporter.
Benefits:
- Handling fixture can be raised
or lowered (0 – 6”)
to adjust to a proper axle alignment.
- A pneumatic scissors lift keeps fixture properly positioned
during lifting; the operator
then can move the tire onto an axle.
- Free access from back side allows for good visibility
and clearance to mount tire onto
axle.
- All controls are pneumatic rocker switches and located
on back of U-handle.
- All controls and valves are easily accessible from
back side.
- System air requirements are (60 PSI @ 75 CFM).
- Transporter can be easily lifted onto truck by crane
or fork for movement to new location
Cart Transporter
Cart Transporter Case Study
Application:
An Airfloat customer in the automotive sector required
a method for lifting and moving a wheeled-cart
that would be loaded with drive-shaft parts.
Solution:
Airfloat
designed and manufactured a 3,000 lb capacity air-bearing-equipped
transporter with a hydraulic scissors mechanism for lifting
carts clear of casters for movement and for the loading/unloading
of parts. The unit is air powered and has control independent
of air bearing operation. The air bearings and lift functions
have dual controls accessible from both the left and right
sides of the transporter. The unit is equipped with 17” tray-mounted
air bearings.
Benefits:
- The operator can easily transport and position carts
for loading/unloading.
- The system reduces the risk of injury to the operator
caused by manual pushing.
- The lift table reduces operator bending and reaching.
- Operates on plant air supply.
