Cartrac RoboLite Spinning Tube Conveyor-Automotive Application
SI Cartrac RoboLite Spinning Tube Conveyor is a unique and highly flexible material handling system with proven performance and capabilities in factory automation. Since 1969, Cartrac has been a key component in a number of installations that have received awards for high productivity through automated assembly technology.
This system has proven its versatility in installations for some of the largest corporations in the United States and abroad. The Cartrac RoboLite Spinning Tube Conveyor consists of two major components: a special pallet or carrier used to hold the product being transported, and transported devices or track sections that propel the carrier through the system. These track sections are modular and of varying designs to facilitate a wide range of system requirements such as carrier direction changes through the use of turntables or radius turn track sections.
Transfers can be used to move carriers laterally between two or more parallel tracks while shallows are available for moving carriers off the main line, thereby allowing other carriers to proceed.
Access devices are available to provide entrances into loop systems. Key stations mounted on track sections provide the means to stock carriers at specific locations. For operations requiring more accurate interface capabilities, decision stations can be provided to gain increased carrier positioning repeatability.
The Cartrac RoboLite Spinning Tube Conveyor systems are manufactured in 3 sizes: CM, mini Cartrac systems for products weighing up to 200 lbs., CK 24 inch Cartrac and CS 36 inch Cartrac for products weighing up to 3000 lbs. While the arrangement and design of components differ for many 36 Cartrac, the operation concept is the same. The forward motion of each car is achieved through essentially located drive wheel. This wheel is spring loaded against the drive too. The tube location makes the drive wheel move forward. A pivoting housing for the drive wheel permits the angle of the drive wheel against the drive tube to be varied between 0 and 45 degrees. This provides the ability to vary a car speed independently of tube speed or other car speed.