Critical components in a well designed and functioning towline system are the carts or carriers as they are commonly referred. Carrier design and functionality are even more critical in assembly systems since they function as mobile workstations. From the start of the clients build process (load station) through the various assembly stations to the unload point the carriers along with is fixture must provide easy worker access to the assembly task as well as product stability.

SI has solved this requirement with their unique “Ergonomic Towline Vehicle” (ETV^®)

ETV carriers are available in a variety of designs, load capacities, footprints and lifting interfaces-manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic.

The central feature for all styles of ETV’s is the skirt covered hydraulic lift table that lifts, lowers and rotates the attached product to ergonomically favorable assembly positions. These positions are achieved manually by foot pedal activation, preprogrammed and operator selected by push-button or communicated via RFID technology. In the latter case RFID tags are read as carriers approach each workstation. Based on the information communicated from the self contained PLC processor regarding (1) the assembly task and (2) the worker preferred assembly height the on board processor automatically lifts or lowers the deck to configurable pre-set heights prior to its arrival. This process eliminates operator interaction, reduces in station process time and increases productivity rates by over 15%.

Carrier Design Features

• 14”x37” platform lift table
• 750 lb. lift capacity (std.) optional heavier capacities available
• Heavy duty structural frame, Polyurethane wheels, protective housings, orange paint
• Foot pedal operated towpin “de-dog” mechanism
• 12 VDC lift motor with gel cell battery and charger
• Toe guards and floor level sweep strips
• 4” per second lift cycle
• 34” vertical lift (24” above the 10” deck frame)
• Accordion style bellows safety skirt
  

Options

• Manual foot pedal operated lift mechanism
• Semi automatic, pre-programmed touch pad lift mechanism
• Fully automatic, pre-programmed, configurable RFID lift mechanism
• On board PLC micro processor
• Removable rotating deck for 360° product rotation in 45° increments