Volumetric Dosing Systems
These systems are used to accurately dispense the concrete mix into the mould to achieve a consistent product thickness and a cost saving in materials.
Generally two methods of dosing system are used comprising;
- Method 1 - Mechanical/pneumatic system attached to the bottom of the concrete holding hopper.
- Method 2 - Electro/mechanical system.
Method 1 is widely used when infrequent tool changing is required. Method 2 tends to be used where product changes are more frequent. Dosing is controlled automatically by weight, measured via a load cell.
Product Handling Systems
When the pressed product is ejected at the unload station, it has sufficient green strength for it to be handled by vacuum. Slabs are generally edge stacked onto pallets whilst kerbs can be stacked layer on layer. There are variety of handling systems available from Fielding and Platt ranging from manual to fully automatic units complete with pallet magazines. All units are fully integrated and interlocked with the press cycle.
Automatic Take-Off & Pallet Loading
Located above the ejector station, a vacuum plate picks the pressed product from the mould plate before it is transported by the take-off carriage to a waiting pallet on the roller table. The vacuum carriage is fitted with a tilting table designed to turn the kerbstone or paving slab edge before the product is placed on the pallet. The tilting table is fitted with changeable tooling to suit the profile of the Kerbstone or Paving Slab.
The pallets are delivered from a 10 pallet capacity magazine mounted adjacent to the take off carriage. The PLC control loads a magazine into the conveyor roller, which in turn drives the pallet forward as it is filled. The pallet is run out onto rollers, from where the client’s forklift removes it for transportation to the product curing area.
