Contrinex robust🔨 Inductives help ‘lift the lid’🚛 – Material Handling equipment – Matl.PLUSAx.co.uk

A material handling company manufacturers a forklift attachment which comprises two sets of forks, for unloading bulk cargo from a shipping container. Whilst a lower pair of forks support the container, another pair of forks, lift the container’s lid. To unload, the lid is lifted away, and the lower forks rotate, tipping out the container’s contents. Contrinex’s robust inductive sensor sense the position of the lid to ensure it is fully open before tipping and emptying the container.

PRODUCT ADVANTAGES

  • Uniquely strong and reliable stainless-steel sensor💪
  • IP68 / IP69K rated plus corrosion, moisture and mud resistance💦
  • Cost-effective high-performance sensor with exceptional resistance💰
  • Virtually indestructible – Vibration and shock-resistant🔨
  • Best-in-class sensing distances📏

CUSTOMER APPLICATION

Containers are often used when transporting bulk cargo, including wood chip and biomass, by rail. A manufacturer of bulk-cargo containers has developed an innovative unloading system that uses only a modified forklift, eliminating the need for specialist handling equipment.

The forklift has two pairs of lifting forks. The main forks, mounted conventionally, support the weight of the container as it is unloaded from a freight wagon; a second pair, mounted vertically above the lower pair, opens and closes the lid of the container. During opening, the upper forks lift the lid a short distance before tilting it vertically, leaving the top of the container completely unobstructed. The lower forks then rotate about a horizontal axis, tilting the container end-over-end and tipping the contents out. A robust and reliable sensor system is required to detect the vertical position of the lid before rotation begins. An extended sensing distance is essential to eliminate the possibility of mechanical damage.

Customer Solution

Contrinex’s innovative 700-Series inductive sensors are robust, reliable and offer extended sensing distances; this Full Inox Extreme range is ideal for a demanding application like this. A one-piece M30-diameter stainless-steel body and vacuum-encapsulated electronics make this device particularly suitable for the mechanically demanding environment, and the sensing distance of 20mm eliminates any possibility of accidental collision in operation.

A metal bracket is mounted externally on the actuating mechanism for the upper forks; the embeddable sensor is mounted immediately adjacent to one of the forks and detects the position of the actuating arm as it drives the fork into the vertical position. The AISI 303/V2A stainless-steel housing and sensing face are corrosion-resistant and impervious to water ingress; the sensor is IP68- and IP69K-rated.

Configured with an industry-standard PNP normally-open interface, the Contrinex M30 Extreme sensor connects to the forklift’s lower-fork tilt-control systems via a flexible PUR-sheathed cable. A sealed cable entry ensures fit-and-forget capability during extended periods of operation in an outdoor environment.

The Full Inox inductive sensor detects the vertical position of the forklift’s upper forks effectively and repeatably, ensuring safe, reliable operation of the unloading system. Contrinex inductive sensors deliver a cost-effective solution that satisfies the customer’s requirements for extreme robustness and extended sensing distance.

Contrinex sensors and more information are available from PLUS Automation Ltd, whose aim is to help you #MakeSenseofSensors.

 

PRODUCT ADVANTAGES

  • Uniquely strong and reliable stainless-steel sensor💪
  • IP68 / IP69K rated plus corrosion, moisture and mud resistance💦
  • Cost-effective high-performance sensor with exceptional resistance💰
  • Virtually indestructible – Vibration and shock-resistant🔨
  • Best-in-class sensing distances📏

Click to download a flyer to find out more about the sensors, or Click to download Contrinex’s Product Overview brochure

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