G.W. Becker Commissions Semi-Automated Cranes

The heavy-duty units are used in a plate leveling application for a specialty metal producer. 

G.W. Becker, Inc. (Hermitage, PA), a manufacturer of overhead cranes, recently commissioned two new semi-automated, 1-ton capacity double girder semi-gantry cranes with dual hook drops. The project included the turnkey design, manufacturing, installation and start-up of the cranes, runways and vacuum lifters. 

The cranes are equipped with a pair of drums with a common drive system on a single trolley used to un-stack and stack plate from pallets. The large hook centers allow for increased stability when handling longer pieces of product. The operator manually positions the Entry crane over a pallet loaded with plates at the load station of the furnace. The pallet is positioned so that no additional gantry (bridge) movement is required to un-stack the plates. The operator manually positions the hoist with the vacuum lifter directly over the pallet and sheets. When the operator is satisfied with the positioning, he depresses a ‘Home Set’ button on the HMI and enters the number of plates on the pallet. The operator then switches the selector from the ‘Manual’ position to ‘Auto’ and depresses a ‘Dispatch’ button which transfers control of the trolley hoist to the PLC and activates the un-stacking routine. A warning strobe and horn activates prior to and during any automated movement. The hoist then lowers the vacuum lifter until a limit switch on the lifter is depressed which sends a signal to the PLC, which indicates that the vacuum lifter is in place and can be energized. 

Once energized and the vacuum is obtained, the hoist rises to a predefined height and trolleys over to the entrance drive rollers on the conveyor table. The hoist lowers to the height of the rollers and releases the plate onto the conveyor. The hoist rises; trolleys back to the pallet; awaits a signal from the furnace PLC that the plate on the rollers has moved into the furnace; picks up another plate; and repeats the cycle for the number of plates on the pallet. The stacking routine for the second crane at the Exit is essentially repeated in reverse.

The set-up and initiation of the semi-automated routines of both cranes are controlled from a single remote podium with touch screen located near the Mill Operator’s Station. The color screen displays real-time status feedback and fault codes. The system also includes one engineered radio control system that will operate both cranes from a single transmitter on a back-up basis. 

www.gwbcrane.com