Resin-Selection Station Conveys Material on Demand

Conair’s new Automatic Resin Selection Station (AutoRSS) offers processors a powerful, space- and labor-saving solution for resin management. Available in three models, this compact station performs fully automated, proofed and traceable material transfers from up to 60 resin sources with a speed and accuracy that conventional, operator-assisted fantail manifolds cannot match.   

Unlike fantail manifolds or tabletops that require operators to manually connect sources to destinations and then execute conveying commands, the AutoRSS station makes the connections and conveys automatically on command. An operator simply uses any SmartFLX conveying control to input which source needs to feed which destination. The AutoRSS does the rest. Conveying commands can even be made remotely using either a SmartFLX HMI or any web-enabled device running Conair’s SmartServices monitoring and management dashboard. Material transfer is fast, traceable and fully autonomous.

Thanks to an elegant design, the AutoRSS station uses less pipework than other material distribution systems and has a smaller footprint than fantail manifold systems. When in operation, two centrally mounted arms rotate along material ports held in circular manifolds (source manifold/destination manifold) located at the top and bottom of the unit. When a fill command is received, the upper arm rotates and clamps to the correct destination port, while the lower arm rotates and clamps to the correct material source port. 

Compared to the sliding port contacts used in similar resin selection systems, the AutoRSS uses pneumatic clamping, creating vacuum-tight port connections that reduce the risk of leaks or lost pellets. As soon as the port-to-port circuit is completed through the common port at the center of the unit, a conveying cycle begins, followed by an automatic line purge. The AutoRSS has an innovative cleaning system that prevents cross contamination during and after resin changes.

“With the introduction of the AutoRSS station, Conair now offers a fully automated material management solution for processors who have to manage, proof and trace a lot of material changes, but can’t spare the time, labor and space required to do them with older fantail systems,” says A.J. Zambanini, director of Product Development for Conair. He adds that, with the addition of the AutoRSS, Conair now offers a full range of resin selection stations — manual, RFID-proofed and fully automated — to meet varied processor needs.

Three AutoRSS models are available, which may be configured to handle incoming line sizes from 1.5 to 3 in.:  RSSA20, with up to 20 sources/21 destinations; RSSA40, with to 40 sources/41 destinations; and RSSA60, with up to 60 sources/61 destinations

Every AutoRSS unit features a compact design and durable, stainless-steel construction, including heavy duty motors, wear-resistant contact points and positive pneumatic clamping mechanisms.