A compact automated greasing solution

DOPAG will be showcasing a production cell at the K 2019 trade fair together with the industrial robot manufacturer FANUC

The automated greasing of components frequently calls for compact solutions that allow for the precise and automated execution of grease application in a tight space. As a provider of solutions, the metering and mixing technology manufacturer DOPAG has automated production cells in its portfolio that can be tailored precisely to the application and to your requirements thanks to their modular set-up. DOPAG will be demonstrating what shape such a solution can take at the K 2019 trade fair together with FANUC. Visitors can witness the application live at the industrial robot manufacturer’s stand (Hall 14/A60) from 16 to 23 October.

Plastic gearwheels are greased in the production cell. These are prepared manually and are placed on a workpiece carrier within the production cell. A FANUC 6-axis articulated robot handles the entire greasing process. The robot (model LRM 200ID7L) has a load capacity of 7 kilograms and a 911 mm reach. It picks up the gearwheel and takes it from the workpiece carrier to the appropriate firmly installed valve. Two valves are used – a shot valve and a spray valve. The robot performs the action required for the application in question – a lengthwise motion for spraying and a rotation for shot work. The robot then puts the component back in a workpiece carrier.

Shot and spray valves for precise material application
The gearwheel is greased both inside and out. Exterior greasing is handled by the shot valve, equipped with an extension nozzle. The material is applied punctiformly to the sides of the gearwheel. The spray valve is used for interior greasing, combined with a round jet nozzle and a gearwheel flow rate measuring cell. The gearwheel flow rate measuring cell measures the flow rate during metering, thereby guaranteeing exact dosage.

The two valve types are extremely fast-switching dispensing valves for contactless greasing. Shot valves can achieve up to 200 switch cycles a second. The spray valve allows for the full-surface application of grease and oil. Thanks to various attachments and extensions, both valves can also easily handle tricky application angles. The metering components are activated and coordinated by the DOPAG MR40 metering control unit. A 30-litre lubricant pump from the lubriLine product line was incorporated for material supply. Three material pressure regulators are used to maintain a steady working pressure throughout the metering process. These reduce the pressure of the material being conveyed down to the necessary working pressure, thereby guaranteeing unwaveringly precise and reproducible greasing of the gearwheels.