Foundry machines conquer new markets
For more than 70 years, IFE Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH has been involved in the manufacture of machines for the processing of bulk materials. With the help of the wealth of experience gathered over decades, paired with continuous innovation, new approaches are found in order to develop proven machine solutions for other industries and to use them successfully.
Two applications from the field of aluminum processing are described in more detail below:
Machine type 1: Oscillating machine with electronically adjustable oscillating angle
Processing task: loosening and transport of aluminum profiles
Vibration machines with an electronically adjustable vibration angle have been specially tailored to the requirements of the foundry industry. The combination of shake-out grate and conveyor chute is able to vary fully automatically between "material separation" and "material transport".
In a plant for processing aluminum profiles, it has now been proven that this technology is also ideal for treating bundles of scrap. The vertical movement of the oscillating machine allows the scrap to be loosened up, which can be removed immediately after changing the oscillating angle.
Advantages of this vibrating machine type:
- Vibration angle continuously adjustable during operation - "loosening & conveying"
- robust and reliable
- maintenance friendly
- quick adaptation to changed operating conditions
Machine type 2: vibrating machine with mass compensation
Processing task: drying and transport of damp aluminum scrap
In order to bridge the usual distances of more than 30 m in the foundry and at the same time convey and cool components at several hundred degrees Celsius, link-guided oscillating machines are established in the foundry. They essentially consist of a cycle-controlled vibrating conveyor trough, which is driven by a crank. The foundation is protected by the mass compensation.
This conveyor type is now also being used in a plant for processing aluminum scrap. The moist material is fed onto the vibrating machine via conveyor belts. Preheated air (approx. 140°C) is then fed in via a stationary cover hood. These temperature conditions pose a problem for other conveying technologies, but not for mass-compensated vibrating machines. In addition, the conveying and pause cycle can be fully automated using electronic controls in order to achieve efficient drying on a minimized machine length.
Advantages of this vibrating machine type:
- Gentle, low-noise transport through slide promotion at a low vibration frequency
- optimal occupancy of the conveyor trough through occupancy control
- Stable operation due to built-in vibration amplitude control
- Jamming-free operation thanks to the special trough shape
- Lowest dynamic restoring forces through mass compensation
- Good accessibility to all components for maintenance work
