It's a wrap from curtis
April 1st 2007 Norfolk-based Torros, which specialises in developing equipment to handle raw packaging materials, has turned to Curtis Instruments for an power integrated solution on a new reel handling machine. PVC film is delivered to food processing plants in 500kg reels formed around various sized cores. Once delivered it is loaded on to automatic machines where it is spliced and welded before being used on formfill- and-seal packaging lines. The 500kg reels – besides being incredibly heavy for manual manipulation – are also an extremely awkward shape for conventional lifting equipment. Traditional methods of handling often damage the reel edge, resulting in high levels of waste and loss of revenue. To solve the problem, Torros owner Matt Payne developed a custom set of electrically operated jaws that, once fed into the core of the reel, open out to offer a secure attachment without any physical contact with the valuable packaging film. The complete reel handling machine not only secures the reel, but also has to lift and rotate it while being highly manoeuvrable. To achieve this it is battery powered. Curtis Instruments proposed an integrated solution to give controllable power exactly where it was needed. In order to regulate the motor torque for the grip function, a model 1210 PM motor speed controller was selected. This controller accepts operator inputs from the pendant control and, via its internal microprocessor controlled PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) power regulation circuit, and delivers the precise amount of power required to actuate the jaw mechanism. More articles from Curtis Instruments (UK) Ltd.: | 
