Autoclave Material Handling Systems & Carts
Autoclave Loading System |
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.
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.
At left is a paper roll transporter designed by Airfloat.
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
|
