EQUIPMENT
Industrial transfer shuttles
A transfer shuttle carries a load between pickup and discharge points. Applications include paper reel infeed and transfer connections within automated storage installations.
Function
Load transfer
Service
Production stations or storage areas
Guidance
Automatic in the reel-infeed example
Interfaces
Pickup, placement and control defined for the installation
Diameter
Reel-infeed example: 600 to 1,500 mm
How it works
The load is placed on the shuttle, moved to the required transfer point and collected by the next piece of equipment. The route and control signals coordinate this sequence.
Guidance, load support and carrying capacity are specified for the installation. Reel infeed and storage transfer use distinct configurations.
Key features
Length
Reel infeed: length of 1,800 to 2,050 mm
Weight
Reel infeed: up to 4 t
Expansion
Separate logistics application: addition of a shuttle and racks
In the historical application described by ALFI, a paper reel is placed on an automatically guided shuttle at the line entrance.
Figures for this example
- Reel diameter: 600 to 1,500 mm.
- Length: 1,800 to 2,050 mm.
- Weight: up to 4 tonnes.
These values apply to the reel infeed station. Pickup, support and discharge are coordinated with the other equipment on the paper handling line.
In an automated storage configuration described in the sources, capacity expansion involves adding a shuttle and new racks.
Transfer points
The study identifies loads, pickup and discharge stations, required routes and movement frequency. Control signals are coordinated with the storage system.
Shuttle payload and guidance are specific to that installation. The figures in the paper industry example above remain associated with reel infeed.