AUTEC: How apply Release Agent & Clean Molds + How to Program robot

Robot performs 2 actions at the same time:
1) Applies Release Agent.
2) Cleans the mold by rotating brush.
Each mold is equipped with Autec RFID Transponder.
The results obtained at factory floor are:
1. All the operations that involve the operator in order to program the equipments are eliminated. The operator has nothing to digitize even when a mould is substituted or when the tilting of mould carrier is changed: everything is managed by Autec integrated system.
2. All data are stored in a centralized archive.
3. All geometrical data that refer to dimensions and shape of the mould are detected using an off-line digitizer unit. These data are detected before the mould enters production and are automatically transmitted to all rotary table control panels and to all robots. In this way the mould is already programmed also the first time it enters in production, reducing waste of time and possibility of mistakes.
In particular are automatically programmed:
• Rotary table control panel
• Demoulding robot
• Releasing agent robot
The terminal part of the digitizer is moved by the operator in the point whose coordinates we want to detect. The operator presses one button and the X,Y,Z coordinates are recorded. This operation must be repeated for all the points that have to be detected.
It is important to point out that the geometrical data are detected when the mould is placed in horizontal position on the digitizer unit. When the mould will enter production, the real tilting of the mould carrier will be detected by Autec manipulator. All the new trajectories will be calculated by Autec software and transmitted to all robots.
4. Whenever the mould is placed on the rotary table, it is automatically recognized because of Radio Frequency Identification) and all programming data are automatically transmitted to all equipments.
5. While running in production the tilting of the mould carrier is continuously checked. If the tilting is changed due to technical exigencies of production all new trajectories of robot are automatically calculated and transmitted to robot. It is also recorded time and day of modification so that the operator becomes responsible for that change.
6. A message appears on the display of PC showing to the operator when it is the right moment for substituting the mould. The message appears 5 rounds before the right round in which the mould has to be substituted and contains information regarding the station, the mould that is getting off ant the mould that is getting in. When it is the right moment to substitute the mould, an acoustic signal advises the operator.
The Autec software checks that the mould just entered matches exactly with the planned one: on the contrary a warning is displayed.
Usually, so far, the moment in which the has to be substituted is managed by a paper in which there is written the rounds of rotary table in which to change the mould. This system has the disadvantage that it is not dynamically updated according to the rounds that the mould has not produced because of maintenance or rejects.
Autec software shows to the operator responsible of rotary table the planned list of mould change. If one mould is removed from rotary table because of maintenance, the radio frequency identification system detects this situation, and the software automatically increases the number of rounds at which the mould has to be substituted according to the number of rounds that it has not produced.
The rejects are managed according to the following procedure: close to the rotary table is installed a push button that is pressed whenever there is a reject. The software automatically increases for that station the number of soles to be produced.
7. It is created a file in which are automatically recorded certain data regarding production: these data are available for the planning office.

[@kartikaputrajaya]

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