Name

ID
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Experiment 20: Air Conveyor with Holding Cylinder

Introduction

Air conveyor systems offer a low line pressure method of conveying light weight
containers. Ideal for empty aluminum beverage Cans, plastic lids, small boxes and
various other containers. Air conveyors allow containers to slide on a layer of air by
lifting the containers with a designed pattern of small lifting air outlets.

(a) (b)
Figure 1: Types of air conveyors (a) Lifting air conveyor for PVC bottles, (b) Sliding air conveyor

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 1 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
Experiment Description

Figure 2: Air conveyor slider

 The products are placed one by one at the beginning of the roller conveyor.
 The holding cylinder (cylinder B) is normally extended.
 When the products on the roller conveyor reach the holding cylinder, it will be
detected by sensor S4.
 If there is any product detected by sensors S0 or S3, then the holding cylinder
(Cylinder B) will remain extended.
 Otherwise, if there are no products in front of S0 or S3, then the holding cylinder
will retract, allowing the product to pass. The holding cylinder will extend again
when S3 detects the product.
 As shown in figure 2. The air outlets in the conveyor are divided into two equal
groups. Each group is controlled by a Single solenoid 3/2 normally closed valve.
 The product is delivered by the roller conveyor one by one and stays on the
weighting device S1. The arrival of the product to the weighting device will be
detected by proximity sensor S0.
 Timer T1 will be used to give a delay of 3 seconds, thus allowing the sensor of
the weighting device S1 to reach the steady state of its measurement.
 After the 3sec. delay; if S1 output 0 then the weight of the product is below the
preset (desired) weight, otherwise the weight will be exceeding the preset weight.
Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 2 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704
Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
  If the weight is above the preset weight; then the air outlets (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 &
9) will be activated to be able to slide the (heavy) weight and the cylinder will
extend to push it to down the air slider conveyor.
 If the weight is below the preset (Light) weight then only even air outlets (2, 4, 6,
& 8) will be activated allowing the same process as above point.
 The cylinder is extended and retracted by a single solenoid 5/2 Directional
control valve.
 When the product reaches the end of the air slider conveyor, it will be detected
by proximity sensor S2 deactivating the air outlets pressure and the cylinder A
will retract.
 The process repeats automatically.

Required Components and Accessories:

Quantity Item Symbol/Picture

1 Switch panel

1 Light Indicator Panel

2 Double acting cylinder

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 3 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
2 Single solenoid 3/2 normally closed
valve (for the air outlets)

2 Single solenoid 5/2 directional control

valve (for the cylinder)

- Cable cords for connections

- Air hoses for connections

Experiment Implementation
1- Design your symbol table.

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 4 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
2- Implement the PLC program.

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 5 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 6 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704
Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 7 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704
Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
3- Connect the hardware circuit on the work station panel.
4- Draw the wiring diagram on the template shown below.

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 8 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department
 5- Draw the pneumatic circuit

6- Download the program to the simatic300 PLC station.

7- Check the program and wiring connections.
Conclusion and Results

Dr. Hisham El-Sherif 9 Mechatronics Lab MCTR704

Eng. Mostafa Mahmoud Abla
Mechatronics Department