15. January 2024

NEEDLE BOARD MANIPULATOR “NIRD”

The NIRD consists of three main parts

Carrier girder with trolley and pneumatic brake

Two-sided cross layer carrier girder for bypassing the removal and insertion position of the needle boards.
To cope for the stress due to vibration and shock, a damping element is positioned in between the wall carrier girder and the carrier girder for the trolley.
SIGNIFICANT: The opening for the needle board cart and the opening for the needle machine MUST be aligned regarding the centre line (no movement in the depth)
Double sided upper and lower role system to cope for a smooth startup movement and to prevent tilting during movement.
Additional damping element in the stop position, to prevent a crash in between the needle board and the needle cart or needle machine.
A pneumatic switch must be pressed in order to release the security brake, which is necessary for a movement of the trolley.
If the pneumatical switch is released, the trolley remains in its current position.

Lifting and rotation unit

Necessary pneumatic connection: G1/4“/ Hose diameter 10mm, 0.6 Mpa (6 bar) for the air supply of the system
The pneumatic cabinet consists of a maintenance unit, the solenoid valves and the throttle valves.
Two pneumatic switches provide a moving along a vertical maximum lifting distance of 1000 mm (most upper and lower position of the needle board in the needle cart)
Pneumatic back-pressure valve to cope for an unintended sinking of the needle board carrier.
A hinge on the lower side of the lifting unit is necessary, to rotate the needle board carrier along the yaw axis. The hinge covers the moment of the needle board carrier as well.

Needle board carrier

Established as double-sided angle system made out of polyamide
Possible needle board orientation up- or downside
Needle board fixation, to prevent a sliding during movement.
Predefined latching positions of the needle board carrier (0°, 90°,180°, 270°) to provide an easy removing or inserting of the needle boards and for parking of the needle board carrier.
Weight (including needle boards): ~150 kg
Provided needle boards:
- Minimum / Maximum needle board length: 800 / 1800 mm
- Minimum / Maximum needle board width: 200 / 380 mm
- Minimum / Maximum needle board thickness: 8 / 24 mm
- Minimum / Maximum needle length: 75 / 101 mm

Implementing/Installation process

Mounting of the carrier girder with damping elements; energy chain implementation (a forklift is necessary)
Mounting of the trolley in the carrier girder / calibrating distance along carrier girder (for easy trolley movement)
Mounting of the lifting unit on the trolley; connecting security brake of the trolley with needle board carrier; mounting pneumatic cabinet, connecting switches and energy chain with pneumatic cabinet
Mounting of the needle board carrier on lifting unit; calibrating max. and min. lifting distance; calibrating throttle valve for lifting and sinking speed; fixitation of the end damping elements in the carrier girder
Calibrating the polyamide angles regarding width, strength and distance to cope for the customer needle board needs.

Needle board removal / inserting process (needle machine / needle board carrier)

Starting Point – Parking position
Bring the needle board carrier through rotation in position for needle board removing
Press pneumatic switch for security brake to approach opening of needle machine
Lift needle board carrier in the correct vertical position (through pneumatic switches)
Press pneumatic switch for security brake to get closer of the opening of needle machine (if necessary)
Maybe a vertical adaption for removing of the needle board is necessary
Remove the needle board
Press pneumatic switch for security brake and disconnect from needle machine opening; afterwards release pneumatic switch for security brake to fix trolley
Rotate needle board carrier by 180° and latch it in this position (through latching unit)
Press pneumatic switch for security brake and move the needle board carrier to the opening of the needle board cart
Release pneumatic switch for security brake
Bring needle board carrier through lifting unit in the right vertical position
Put needle board into the needle board cart