Blowmolding: New takeaway system helps processors handle machines’ higher outputs

Extrusion blowmolding machinery gets faster every year, but blowing good parts is just part of a processor's challenge; safely and successfully removing them is another. Designed to help with that latter is the MTM 2001D takeaway system, for use with shuttle blowmolding systems.

The manufacturer of the MTM 2001D, Lectro Engineering (St. Louis, MO), says that although the unit was designed with Bekum's "H" series of shuttle machines in mind, it also works well with other shuttle-type extrusion blowmolding machines. It comes with a number of features designed to help ensure that both its uptime and speed are tops, with stable bottle removal and bottle orientation from each without nicks or scratches.

Those features include dual servo-controlled gripper hands which help decrease cycle times by reducing overall motion, traveling just half the distance of comparable takeaway systems, so Lectro. The gripper hands come predrilled for water cooling, if needed. Standard are 14-inch gripper hands but smaller ones with 10.5- or 7.5-inch gripper hands are available.

The takeout system is outfitted with an Allen Bradley PLC control system and a servo-motion control system from that same company. The setup mode includes a self-teaching module to help new users get started. The self-diagnostic screen makes for easy troubleshooting. Naturally it is fully guarded to ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications. Lectro says it provides the entire ladder and PLC programs in a user-friendly format so any knowledgeable technician can open and navigate through it. And because a blowmolding facility can be a tough one for touchscreens, the unit is designed so that, even when a screen is damaged, continued operation of the 2001D is not compromised.

The color touchscreen is only used for "Easy Touch" bottle setup (setting up a new bottle recipe), to change to an existing recipe on a changeover or to utilize the manufacturer's self-diagnostic screens. Daily operation involves pushing just two buttons located on the main control panel to startup the 2001D takeaway system. The company also provides an optional deflash station to remove scrap flash from handleware or other non-captive blown bottles. The deflash station utilizes programming and wiring that is already included in the takeaway system. In some cases the 2001D deflash station can utilize existing deflash punch tooling packages from other manufacturers.

Dan Lockwood, product manager for downstream blowmolded equipment,told MPW that the first of the new MTM 2001D units will be installed at a a processor's plant in the first quarter of 2011. "This (new model) is a complete redesign version of MTM’s previous 2001A, which was also a servo based takeaway for the Bekum and other shuttle type blowmolders," he explained.

The “D” in primarily stands for dual or double gripper hands. Lockwood states the new MTM 2001D takeaway can maintain any production speed of the blowmolders to which it is mated; there is no penalty in blowmolder output with a new 2001D coupled as its takeaway system. —[email protected]