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Sets container handling in motion

Lifting column for the pharmaceutical industry
Sets container handling in motion

In pharmaceutical production, containers and modules such as conveying or screening systems frequently have to be located above processing machines. They then have to be lowered to a user-friendly level for cleaning purposes. Thrust lifting columns make it possible to lift, lower, rotate, swivel and dock heavy loads safely in the production areas.

Walter Sonntag

There are many different jobs for lifting columns in drug manufacturing, e.g. lifting containers or process modules above processing machines such as granulators, compactors, tablet presses or capsule filling, automatic bottling and packaging machines, and then lowering them again to a user-friendly level for cleaning after the production process is over. Depending on the application, AZO’s thrust lifting columns can either have a rigid design or be made to swivel around the vertical axis. They are either free-standing and anchored to the floor or mounted on the ceiling or wall with additional fixings. The lifting function is performed electrically. The feed chain is moved via the feed chain drive, which pushes the slide with the mounted load handling attachment vertically up or down. An optional overload protection device cuts out operation at high loads. Uncontrolled lowering of the load handling attachment is prevented by the drive’s mechanical brake. The load is positioned with limit switches or by a position controller. As a result, both single movements and sequences of movements can be carried out. There are several additional benefits:
  • No hydraulic unit
  • No possibility of leakage
  • Precise positioning during both upward and downward movements as well as during swivelling and rotating movements
  • Positioning by means of user-program-mable controls
  • Standardised design for receiving interchangeable booms and device carriers
Maximum degree of freedom
The vertical thrust lifting column design is available with a working load of up to 400 kg; it is free-standing and has a maximum height of 4 m. Two-point attachments are required for heights up to 7 m and working loads up to 2200 kg. The column consists of a drive with a protective housing, terminal box, cover strip, flange for ceiling mounting, limit switch with holder, chain guide, slide, load handling attachment, feed chain and feed chain drive. Positioning with cam limit switches is available as an optional extra for the standard design. Four cut-off points can be selected for this purpose. In addition, continuous distance measurements can be implemented with freely programmable controls. If people are required to work in the area around the vertical thrust lifting column, a redundant safety device to prevent objects from falling must be used together with other suitable measures for suspended loads. The solution also includes an overload protection device, so that it is only possible to lift loads which also comply with the relevant conditions and acceptance certificates. An operational status display is provided on the control. Among the services offered by AZO is an annual check by an expert in accordance with BGG 945 at the owner’s request. The multiple thrust lifting column provides the maximum degree of freedom. A free-standing version with a working load of up to 400 kg and a maximum height of 4 m is also available. As with the vertical design, two-point attachments are required for heights up to 7 m and working loads up to 2200 kg. The swivelling motion is achieved with an electric drive. It can also be realised man-ually by the operator. Not only the working load but also the distance from the centre of gravity and the height must be taken into account when designing the lifting column. The operator control unit forms the brain of the lifting column, and is where all desired functions such as lifting, lowering, swivelling, rotating, docking, etc. are specified. For safety reasons, it is necessary to enter a password before parameters can be programmed or changed. All of these functions are performed by pressing the appropriate function buttons; two-hand operation is stipulated in safety-critical areas. All operator actions are accompanied by a flashing light until the selected position is reached. Parameters such as speeds, ramps, delay times, etc. can be adjusted on the operator control unit.
The lifting column technology has already been supplied to manufacturers of effervescent tablets, where the thrust lifting column is used to lift containers such as pallets with bags and all kinds of raw materials to different levels with millimetre precision. At other pharmaceutical companies, the robust stainless steel design works successfully and flexibly with various modules. Drums are docked, for example, lifted, then rotated and lowered again to the relevant processing machine for re-docking.
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