Press Review
Automatically mounting tape and photopolymers
Converting - Technical Article about the TPMM, by Converting Editor.
BiesSse presents TPMM, a one of a kind machine that automatically mounts the double-sided tape and photopolymers at a rate of 50 sleeves/cycle.
At the latest Flexo Day (hosted by ATIF, Bologna, 11 November 2015), BiesSse demonstrated a brand new polymer-mounting system based on innovative technology, drawing the interest and reflection of operators. Called TPMM (Tape and Plate Mounting Machine), it was presented by Angela Conti as an industrial automation milestone, designed in the spirit of lean manufactoring to maximize efficiency in the flexographic preprinting process, with repeatable mounts, high precision and little waste.
The basic idea is (relatively) simple: to carry out all manual mounting operations automatically and on the same machine. But in order to make that a reality, the BiesSse engineers had to overcome a series of troublesome and sensitive obstacles.
Functions and issues
In order to perform its duties, the TPMM must manage five main activities: sleeve measurement; removing the liner and cutting the tape; mounting the tape; mounting the plate; final check.
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Just on cycle
With TPMM, the BiesSse team has developed a system capable of mounting in just on cycle 50 sleeves, complete with double-sided tape and photopolymers. Its main characteristic is its ability to automatically identity the initial position and size of the photopolymer with micrometric accuracy using precision cameras, and to process the destination coordinates on the machine's Cartesion plane, with minimal error. This represent a valuable feauture, since considering real operating conditions, it means photopolymers can be loaded randomly.
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Multitasking and traceability
In order to reduce the cycle time as much as possible, the TPMM's designers have conceived a motion management system with an eye to multitasking. While the system is performing a given operation, the operator can perform other operations simultaneously on other areas of the machine.
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