MP200 Material Handling
Delicate materials demand exacting control of material tension and feed rates. Material specifications determine equipment complexity. Spindle orientation can be vertical or horizontal depending on roll weight and material tolerances. Generally, as material gets wider and thinner, and rolls get larger and heavier, the complexity of material handling increases. Roll weights can vary from 10 to 1000 pounds. Strip tension can vary from tenths to hundreds of pounds. Each system requires its own unique material handling solution.
MP200 slitter rewinder
A typical system starts with an unwind station equipped with single or double motorized material spindles, an accumulator for auto roll transfer, a splice station, an S-wrap pull roll, and two tension feedback rollers for independent control of unwind and infeed tensions. For many applications, material is unwound and accumulated horizontally and then diverted to the vertical plane by a 45-degree non-contact air bearing.
Regardless of spindle orientation or tension control scheme, automatic edge control is a critical element of any material handling system.
Since material is conveyed through the plating machine by clips attached to the top edge of the strip, it is important that the insertion depth be properly controlled to avoid potential material damage.
Edge controlled unwind accumulator.
