Ergonomics|
Ergonomics |
| The majority of material handling equipment is really “ergonomic” equipment in a broad sense. What else are conveyors, hoists, and cranes? |
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| In particular: |
| Balancers and Manipulators |
| Knight Industries has an excellent air balancer. This rugged, reliable device has a manual float feature that allows an operator to position a load with his fingertips not the control pendant. This is perfect for fitting parts together or sliding rolls on spindles. |
| In high speed applications Knight has a servo hoist that can travel up to 200 feet per minute. This can be combined with a broad range of overhead crane rail components for highly repetitive automotive duty applications. |
| If you need electric power, the Scaglia Liftronic zero gravity balancer is superb. The load follows your hand automatically. The 175 lb. capacity unit on an 8’ pedestal with an 8’ knuckle arm is remarkably cost effective, but very fast and easy to use. |
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| Special end effectors can be designed to pick specific parts. Air powered manipulators are usually OK up to about ¼ ton; above that, hydraulics are normally used. |
| One caveat: “fast”, “safe”, “inexpensive”, “easy to use”, “wide variety of parts”, and “manipulator” are mutually exclusive words. |
| Lift Tables |
| We have several excellent suppliers of electric or air powered lift tables, tilters, lift tilts, and lift rotates. A huge selection of table sizes, speeds, vertical travel, collapsed height, safety devices and controls is available. The ECOA lift table site shows an excellent selection of their rugged general purpose tables. Manufacturers won’t tell you, but most lift tables are not designed to operate more than a few times per hour. If you have a rapid cycle application, specify that. Also, specify if you intend to slide or roll loads on or off the table edge. If you need assistance, please contact us. |
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| Carts |
| Still a simple but effective tool. We can supply carts in all shapes and sizes, even four-wheel steered ones that will follow one another round corners. Bishamon has a great selection of rugged carts that can raise or lower their table automatically, electrically or by a foot pump. |
| Actuators |
| Duff-Norton screw actuators are a safe way of precisely positioning a load, especially if you would like it to stay positioned. |
| The FlexLink aluminum structural system includes belt and screw driven linear actuators. They are great for custom X, Y, Z, axis handling equipment. |
| Benches, Chairs, and Mats |
| Please see the Workstation/Lean Assembly Cell page. |
| Straddle Stackers |
| The Multiton Swift Stacker is worth mentioning. This fully powered, 2000 lb. capacity, walk behind pallet stacker can lift to 79”. It’s an alternative to a fork truck in many intermittent operations at a fraction of the cost. A remote lift/lower control is available for palletizing or de-palletizing operations. Plug into a 115V outlet to charge. |
