High-speed sprue pickers

To help shave seconds off overall molding cycle time, the TOP series of high-speed, swing-type sprue pickers offer a .7 second take-out time. These fully automatic sprue pickers are designed to work with injection machines from 40 to 350 tons clamping force. The pickers use a Palm Pendant LED control that operates safely away from the picker. The control is easy to learn and stores up to 99 preprogrammed mold setups to facilitate quick changeovers. A user?s manual covers unpacking, installation, wiring, testing, programming, motion patterns, and trouble shooting, reportedly easing installation and setup for maintenance personnel. The sprue picker?s adjustable bracket allows the gripper to swing off center of the mold, and comes standard with a heat shield to protect the picker from barrel-heat damage. Also standard is an automatic safety lock, which prevents the picker arm from dropping should it lose air pressure. With a quick release of a handle, the picker can swing 90° out of the way during mold setup. Use of lubrication-free cylinders and bearings reportedly makes the robots nearly maintenance free. Part drop-off can be changed from the press?s operator to nonoperator side, with a simple adjustment. There are 12 models to choose from, ranging from the TOP A Series for basic sprue picking to the TOP X Series with 90° wrist action and the TOP XC Series with 90° wrist action and vacuum.

Plastic Process Equipment Inc., Macedonia, OH
(216) 367-7000; www.ppe.com