Festo has supplied Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) with four automated systems for clamping and releasing trolleys used to carry car seats on the company’s production line. To avoid disrupting the C-Class production, the systems were installed and commissioned after hours.
Festo supplied ADN 50 compact cylinders, air pilot valves, VZ timers, air preparation units and foot valves. Each system controls a break shoe which allows the trolleys to be retained in position until required. Once a trolley is needed on the production line, it travels under the force of gravity down an inclined ramp. There it is released as required to provide trim for the corresponding vehicle unit.
“These systems work independently but parallel to each other, handling about 10 trolleys each at any given time. If you watch all four systems in operation you get the impression that the trolleys are dancing in unison. This level of precision has reduced the risk of accidental damage caused by runaway trolleys,” says Schwulst.
Festo selected ADN compact cylinders for the application. Schwulst explains, “The ADN compact cylinders are manufactured to ISO 21287 standards and are 50% more space efficient than standard cylinders. However they still provide the same amount of force as a standard cylinder. This makes the range ideal for applications where space is limited.”
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