Today, vacuum technology forms a central element in the automated production and machining of plastic parts.

Regardless of whether the parts are injection-moulded or thermoformed and of the materials from which they are made, the parts can, with the aid of vacuum, be removed quickly, safely and without damage from the production machines, permitting these expensive machines to be used almost continuously. Consequently, the handling of plastic parts must be done with very dynamic movements and with the maximum process safety. Furthermore, precise and repeatable removal and positioning operations are a basic prerequisite for safe handling of the parts. This, in turn, means that the components used for the vacuum grippe and handling systems must be designed especially for their intended purposes. In order to meet all of the requirements with respect to lowest possible weights, continuous high performance and maximum technical availability, the manufacturers of these components must be highly competent in the fields of vacuum technology, creative design, system abilities and application knowledge. The vacuum specialist J. Schmalz GmbH in D-72293 Glatten possesses a high degree of competence in all of these fields.

At the trade fair FAKUMA in Friedrichshafen, Schmalz presents innovative vacuum technology for the rational handling of parts in the plastics industry: the new vacuum switches VS-V-AH/AV-T, the optimised range of compact ejectors "Schmalz MiniPump" SCPM and a comprehensive range of suction pads made from the material HT1, which was developed specifically for handling plastic parts with little or no marking of their surfaces.

New: Electronic vacuum switches with "teach" function

While the compact ejectors and the HT1 suction pads are proven products which have been sold by the thousand and have now been upgraded, the new electronic vacuum switches VS-V-AH/AV-T are absolutely new.

They contribute decisively to improved efficiency and process safety, since they can be used universally for safety monitoring, for the optimisation of cycle times or as measuring and switching elements for additional functions such as energy-saving devices.

The new vacuum switches monitor the vacuum precisely and with excellent repeatability. They can be integrated very flexibly into vacuum systems, either with a flange (with the switch mounted vertically or horizontally) or with threaded or plug-in connections. An important feature of these new switches is the two digital switch outputs which can be set easily at any time with the aid of the "teach" button. The states of the switches are indicated clearly to the user by means of red and green LEDs. Further attractive features of the new switches are their small dimensions (only 10 mm wide) and their low weight.

Optimised compact ejectors "Schmalz MiniPump"

In the optimised compact ejectors "MiniPump" SCPM, the switching and valve motions of the integrated vacuum control valves have been minimised in order to increase their speed even further, thus permitting even shorter cycle times in practical applications. All relevant functions are already integrated into the compact ejectors SCPM, which makes their installation much faster than the mounting and connection of the individual components, such as Venturi nozzle, valves for control of the vacuum and blow-off functions, vacuum monitoring switches, filters and silencers, which would otherwise be needed. Furthermore, it is possible to combine the compact ejectors SCPM with the digital vacuum switches VS-V-AH/AV-T described above to form a compact, lightweight unit.

The special suction-pad materials for hot plastic parts: HT1

The connecting element between the plastic parts and the handling system is the suction pads made of the special material HT1, which are designed primarily for the removal of the hot parts from the injection mould. These suction pads are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes for the handling of all imaginable plastic parts.
Suction pads made from HT1 leave no visible marks on the workpiece surfaces. The suction pads contain no substances which could interfere with the wetting by paint, which means that the parts can be painted immediately without the need for an additional cleaning operation. The parts can thus be transferred directly from the injection mould to the painting cabin, resulting in shorter overall production times. HT1 suction pads can withstand temperatures of up to 160° Celsius and have a very long operating lifetime, even when used for handling hot injection-moulded parts. This, in turn, improves the technical availability of the compete production facility, since the injection-moulding machine can be used at its full efficiency only if the parts are removed quickly and reliably.