Precise emptying and dosing with durable, easy-to-install components

When it comes to removing highly viscous fluids and shear-sensitive media with abrasive properties from a container, processing them and transferring them to a dosing point, ViscoTec systems are in demand.

With the vipro-FEED M plus, VisoTec has developed a model in its range of emptying systems that empties containers of around 30 litres fully automatically. The insertion of the so-called follower plate into the container, venting, continuous detection of the plate position and monitoring of the fill level – with the vipro-FEED M plus, all this happens automatically at the touch of a button, which is a considerable advantage for the user.

When designing the system, the developers were looking for a suitable guide rail for the lifting unit, which is installed on the supporting frame (the backbone). To remove the medium, the lifting unit pushes the fluid or paste to the pump inlet using the follower plate. A special progressive cavity pump then conveys the medium via an outlet pipe to the dispenser.

The precise coordination between emptying and application of the medium is the central task. The adequate guide of the lifting unit plays a major role here. A spur gear motor drives the pump unit – and this system weight of approx. 50 kg, including the resulting forces and torques, must be controlled by the guide rail. This is because when the follower plate is inserted into the drum at full pressure, the lever arm creates a considerable tilting moment that the rail has to absorb.

In order to guide the cables on the backbone and in the optionally available container drawer in a controlled manner and to protect them from wear, a flexible and compact energy supply system was also required that could be integrated into the limited installation space.

ViscoTec relies on tried-and-tested cable guidance, as our plastic-energy chains already perform very well in the predecessor model. A medium-sized chain from the E2/1400 e-chain series is used vertically on the lifting unit of the new model, while the E2.10 micro version is used horizontally in the drawer. The two-part chains are easy to open and fill, operate quietlyand score highly with theirlong service lifeandlight weight. Theircompact designallows safe guidance even in tight installation spaces.

For the linear guide, the designers opted for our lubrication-free and maintenance-free drylin W system because it provides them with a large modular system with different sizes and bearing types. ViscoTec sees the fact that the bearing inserts can be easily replaced without having to change the structure with the rails and attachments as a major advantage.

Simple online configuration and fast sample procurement: The developers have particularly benefited from these igus services. They configured the e-chains as well as different variants of drylin linear guides online with the respective requirements in terms of maximum values and torques. They came up with a step model to download in no time at all, which they were immediately able to incorporate into their 3D designThe subsequent sample procurement took place virtually overnight, assamplescan be provided at very short notice.

In addition to the design criteria, theease of assemblyand thegood price-performance ratioof the drylin W were also decisive factors in the decision. "The linear guide fulfilled all our requirements,"