Product category:
Hydraulics and Pneumatics
News Release from: Parker Hannifin | Subject: P1V-S series
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2005
Parker air motors power aerosol filling
operations
Aerosol filling equipment specialist Aerofill specified Parker Hannifin P1V-S series stainless steel air motors during the design and development of a new aerosol filling adjustment system
Operating in one of the most demanding industrial manufacturing sectors imaginable, aerosol filling equipment specialist, Aerofill, specified Parker Hannifin P1V-S series stainless steel air motors during the design and development of a new aerosol filling adjustment system Aerofill opted for Parker air motors for a number of reasons, primarily due to the fact that they exhibited many key features as standard, such as a stainless steel construction and ATEX approval
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 19 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The benefits that the P1V-S brought to the overall system include a more compact construction; lower production and materials costs; increased filling accuracy; reduced compressed air consumption; a simplified filling adjustment procedure; and a considerable increase in reliability.
Aerofill specialises in the design and manufacture of industrial machines used to fill and cap aerosol cans.
The P1V-S motors are employed at two critical stages in the production process: low- and high-pressure filling.
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The Aerofill design manager, Richard Boyle, explains the filling process and how the air motors are integrated into the system, "At the low pressure stage the system introduces the product - ranging from hair spray and paint to polish and shaving foam - into the open-ended can.
Then the high pressure filling stage applies the propellant - butane or dimethyl ether (DME) - through the valve at pressures up to 60bar.
"Operating at speeds up to 500 cans per minute, the system first loads the empty can and then initiates the low pressure filling function.
At this point the P1V-S air motors are employed to adjust the fill level.
Following this, the valve is inserted, crimped tight and the semi-finished can is inspected with a checkweigher.
The high pressure filling process is then initiated with the Parker air motors once again controlling the fill size.
Two inspection processes follow the high pressure filling: a second checkweigher and pressure test.
Button placement, cap placement and case packing complete the manufacturing process".
Typically operating as part of a larger, high-speed packaging line, the filling machines will be required to switch between batches on a regular basis, several times a day.
Therefore, a fast, simple and reliable fill size adjustment method is vital for the smooth, cost effective line management.
Designed for push-button control or PC interface, the Aerofill fill size adjustment mechanism operates as follows: during push button control, pneumatically operated valves determine the air motor forward and reverse direction.
This adjusts an internal stop to limit the movement of the displacement piston.
A digital counter gives the fill size setting in ml.
The company PLC control is known as the automatic fill adjusting system (AFAS).
The programme selects a fill size and controls the air motor direction through pneumatic solenoid valves, while an electronic pulse counter records the air motor revolutions, which correspond to the position of the internal piston stop and thus the fill size.
The system can be linked to a checkweigher to give auto adjustment via closed-loop feedback.
The Parker P1V-S series features a stainless steel construction for all external components, and as a result are ideal for use in food-grade applications and corrosive environments.
The range comprises seven sizes with powers from 0.09 to 1.2kW and speeds ranging from 5 to 24,000 rpm.
In the Aerofill application 0.2kW, 700rpm models were specified.
The air motor and planetary reduction gearbox are built into the polished stainless steel housing, which is sealed by a fluoroelastomer O-ring.
In addition, The output shaft is also polished stainless steel and sealed by a fluoroelastomer seal, and, as a result, the motors' cylindrical shape offers a clean, hygienic design that is free from dirt traps.
The P1V-S series is designed for intermittent operation with a non-lubricated air supply, which prevents lubricant particles escaping with the exhaust air and also reduces service costs.
The planetary gearbox is lubricated with an USDA-H1 standard grease.
With Aerofill equipment handling hazardous materials in potentially explosive environments, ATEX certification was a fundamental requirement.
The ATEX Directive covers the use of equipment in potentially hazardous atmospheres comprising potentially explosive concentrations of gas, vapour, mist or dust.
In fact, emphasising the importance of ATEX certification, another area of Aerofill expertise is the design, manufacture and commission of hydrocarbon filling rooms, which have proven to be one of the most successful ways of either setting up a new line or converting an existing aerosol line to fill hazardous flammable propellants.
The filling room, which houses the Parker hardware, is normally positioned external to the factory.
Comprising a reinforced certified steel structure with an explosion relief area located in the roof, it can be fitted with up to ten-channel gas detection, twin independent two speed ventilation, automatic fail-safe propellant shut-off and a filling room management system for interlocking and controlling the entire operation.
Other specific features include explosion suppression, closed circuit TV, monitoring and incident reporting.
Given this focus on safety it is hardly surprising that Aerofill placed ATEX certification high on its design priority list when it started the search for air motors suitable for operation in such demanding environments.
Parker was an obvious choice.
Richard Boyle concluded: "Level control actuators lie at the heart of the Aerofill aerosol filling systems and directly influence key system specifications ranging from the critical fill accuracy and ease of adjustment to operating and maintenance costs. Request a free brochure from Parker Hannifin ...
Parker Hannifin P1V-S series stainless steel air motors met our design requirements and offered more again.".
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