Keeps the wheels turning
June 1st 2010 Nicholson has designed and
manufactured an automatic conveyorised,
reversible turnover unit to
feed train wheels into a hardness
testing machine. The wheels weigh
up to 1t and have a 900mm diameter
The unit was designed as a
complete system with controls and
guarding including light guards at
the load/unload point. Door access
into the turnover unit is protected by
key operated electrical safety switch.
The wheels are fed into the
turnover unit by a twin track
powered roller conveyor, while the
automatic turnover uses throughbeam
photocells for sensing the
position of the wheel.
On discharge from the turnover
unit the wheel is transported to the
end of the outfeed conveyor and
lowered by pneumatic cylinder into
the test position. A signal is given to
the hardness test machine to carry
out the test.
On completion of the test the
system is reversed automatically,
raising and feeding the wheel back
through the turnover unit and
discharge conveyors. More articles from FM Nicholson (M/H) Limited: | 
