CHICAGO — John Brown Plastics Machinery Inc. divisions introduced several new machines at NPE 1997, held June 16-20 in Chicago.
The Beaverton, Mich.-based Brown Machine Division's CT-800 Trim-In-Place Thermoformer includes an articulating mold for ease of part ejection and stacking. It also features servo-motor-driven platens, operating plug assisting and part ejection. The CT-800 also contains a self-threading preheater and a four-stop roll-out oven with ceramic heaters on the top and bottom.
The machine features a maximum mold size of 800 millimeters wide by 450mm long with a 150mm depth of draw. Designed with an auto head adjustment, the shut height automatically adjusts while the machine is running. It also includes a quick-tool-change feature and a pendant operator station to minimize space requirements.
The CT-800 and the corresponding PH-876 pre-heater are controlled by the new Brown Machine Syscom III Windows-based microprocessor control system.
The Cumberland Engineering Division presented the new 6-foot-by-8-foot reversing rotor granulator, developed to double the running time of the granulator.
``The unique rotor design of the 6x8RR and its optional auto-reversing controls provide twice the running time of conventional granulators and is ideally suited for continuous lights-out operation,'' said Bob Ragosta, product manager.
The reversing rotor design features double-cutting-edge rotor knives for twice the run time, a solid multiknife helical rotor engineered for versatility and strength and manual reversing controls with optional auto reversing/anti-jam controls for continuous unattended operation. The ultralow-speed rotor runs at fewer than 100 rotations per minute for cutting efficiency, minimal dust and fines and controlled particle size of molded parts, scraps and runners.
Cleaning and maintenance are simplified with a pivoting infeed hopper and a new pullaway screen cradle, while the new infeed hopper allows easy feeding of multiple applications with optimum control of flyback.
John Brown Plastics' Beringer Division introduced a line of jet cleaners that use electric heat to remove polymeric and other organic residue from process parts and tooling. Since cleaning agents such as solvents, chemicals or fluidized aluminum oxide powder are not used, disposal of the hazardous waste is not necessary. Cleaning is performed without combustion and at a precise temperature, preserving and extending part integrity and service life. This cuts plant operating and maintenance expenses for sophisticated dies and other tooling.
Complex shapes, such as gear pumps and dies for melt-blown fibers and coextruded film, can be cleaned without disassembly. Temperatures typically range from 850§-950§ F. Chamber sizes range up to 40 inches in diameter by 180 inches long.
A new Catalytic Oxidizer can be selected as an add-on to the basic system and is suitable for most thermoplastics except halogenated materials. It uses a catalytic converter to transform hydrocarbon vapors generated during the cleaning process into carbon dioxide and water.
Beringer claims this system is 99.9 percent pollution-free and can be discharged directly to plant exhaust and sewer systems without subsequent treatment.
John Brown Plastics Machinery operates five divisions in the United States and one in Milan, Italy. All divisions are business units of Kvaerner. Kvaerner is an international diversified business group registered in Norway with a London-based international operational headquarters. The group employs more than 56,000 worldwide and has annual sales of more than $10 billion.