Automation, attachment of lids in ventilation ducts

Abstract: This master thesis has been written to design and develop an automated solution which can attach protection lids in the ends of the ventilation ducts as they are manufactured. A danish factory within the group are using a solution which enables the manufacturing process of ventilation ducts to be automated which Lindab also want to implement in their Swedish factories. However, as the conditions which the ducts are required to be delivered in are much tougher in Sweden, lids are attached on the ends of the duct to prevent contamination. As these lids are manually attached there is no financial incentive for Lindab to automate the manufacturing process of the ventilation ducts as the operators still have to remain to attach the lids. The thesis covers the product development of automating the lid attachment. Through different elimination matrices and evaluation against the requirement specication was a final concept chosen. In addition to product development, a background investigation was also performed to examine for what reasons the automation was desired but also what advantages in production efficiency an automatic solution provides. The automation was solved by constructing a mount station where every duct dimension are fixated in the same radial axis which facilitates the process for the expanding mechanical grippers to attach the lids in the pipes. The lids are picked up by the grippers from conveyor belts where they are stored in stacks. In order to enable the lids ability to stack as well as improve their shape rigidity, the lids were redesigned with the addition of a radial reinforced rib pattern which extends over the entire bottom as well as a heel placed in the middle of the mantle surface which is in contact with the duct.