Theory - Table

Plate Door | Y-axis

See also  Commands | NVS Parameters | Parts | Procedures | Troubleshooting

The Table is a platform that assists the drum in loading and unloading plates. It has all the functions of the base Trendsetter VLF table, except that it only uses two sets of vacuum ports. The third set is blocked off, because the AL's pneumatic upgrade has made it unnecessary.

Extra functions and features of the Autoloader Table:

• provides a flat, level and consistent surface to drag plates over and drop plates onto
• provides a flat, level and consistent surface for the x-axis gripper assembly to travel on
• has y-axis grooves to allow the y-axis grippers to get underneath the plate (to move the plate between the table and the plate door)
• has x-axis grooves to allow the pusher fingers to get underneath the plate (to push the plate off the table and onto the conveyor)
• has larger counterweights to compensate for the extra weight of the table extensions
• has dampers on the counterweights to assist in absorbing some of the energy
• has a gate (with up and down sensors) for use during manual bypass only. The Autoloader will not operate when this gate is open.

The table must be adjusted so that:

• it is completely flat and level. (need a link to alignment procedures)
• it is aligned to the drum (horizontal, vertical, linear, and angle). (need a link to alignment procedures)
• the counterweight dampers have about 6mm of free travel before bottoming out
• the table sensors and safety interlock switches are piggy-backed together on the same brackets. Both systems ("table up" and "table down") must be checked to verify that all 4 switches are adjusted properly
• the two safety interlock switches on the gate and the two on the table strut are contacting properly.

Plate Door (p-door) and Y-axis

The y-axis grips the plate on the table and brings it home to the plate stop on the p-door before loading. It also grips the plate after it unloads from the drum and pushes it back onto the table.

The p-door angle must be adjusted so that the front lip is higher than the rear corner. The angle is slight, but allows the y-axis to drive off of the p-door and onto the table. It the angle is too small, the grippers or gripper holder will drive into the leading edge of the table, instead of onto it.  The angle is set using the cylinder mount adjusters.  Note:  Do not use these mounts to adjust the plate stop.

The plate stops must be adjusted to determine the plate drop. The adjustment is the same as for the Trendsetter VLF (Trendsetter VLF Plate Door Adjustment), except that the plate stop is now in two pieces and requires more tape locations and some side-to-side overlap to ensure a straight plate stop.
Note: Ensure that the grippers are not interfering with the plates during plate stop adjustment.

The y-axis gripper holder is adjusted by idling the y-axis, then rotating the linear drive by hand to align the back of the gripper throat with the front of the plate stop. Adjust the home sensor set screw. Send commands for the y-axis to move out, then move home (with a plate) to verify the adjustments.

The vertical height of the y-axis gripper assembly must also be adjusted, and the set screw on the away sensor.