Remote controlled material handling equipment (RCMHE)

Prior to the introduction of the so called “Material handling equipment” humans had to perform physical labor to carry out heavy duty tasks. This could be made possible by employing a huge number of workers. However, when the goods came in bulk unloading and loading turned out to be a very time consuming affair. The use of Material handling equipment in logistics has played a significant role in making the loading and unloading activities easier and faster.

Ask yourself the question “Why are ‘Remote controlled’ material handling equipment used?” and almost instantly you arrive at the logical answer that the chief benefit would be allowing personal to control their machine from a safe distance.

Remote control can be achieved by two different modes:

1)     Radio frequency (RF) Signals

RF signals are further divided into two categories.

a)     Narrow-band system  b)  Spread spectrum system.

2)     Infrared light

Infrared method works by transmitting a beam of light

Infrared mode of radio control is preferred over RF signals because of the safety and precision that it offers. Since the infrared method works by transmitting a beam of light, once the beam is out of sight, the beam is obstructed and the controls turn off.  That is, the operator must always be in view of the RCMHE, which in turns aids safety as the full visibility of the operator over the machine is critical. Precise, in the sense that with the use of RF technology there is always a chance of interference with other signals and might lead to accidents, Infrared remote control makes this type of mistake impossible.

Applications:

1)      Transfer of components from one container to another especially fragile objects

2)      Transfer of  hazardous/explosive objects

3)      Operation in high temperature environment

 

Although it is advantages to use RCMHE, proper training for the staff handling the RCMHE is a prerequisite to ensure safe working.

MATERIAL HANDLING

Bases on Design features and operational characteristics, material handling equipment may be broadly classified as:

Hoisting Equipment’s:

It constitute a group of equipment which are employed mainly for lifting or lowering of unit load or piece goods in batches. This group of equipment’s can be further sub classified into:

1. Pure Hoisting Machineries

• Jack
• Winches
• Hand Hoists
• Pulley Blocks

2. Cranes

• EOT Crane
• Jib Crane
• Cantilever Crane

3. Elevators

• Lift
• Bucket Elevators

Conveying Equipment’s:

It comprises of a number of equipment which are employed for handling principally bulk load (occasionally piece goods or unit load may also be handled) in continuous flow. Such machines do not have separate lifting or lowering gear. This group of equipment also can have further sub classifications as:

1. Belt Conveyor

2. Hydraulic Conveyor

3. Pneumatic Conveyor

4. Apron Conveyor

5. Screw Conveyor

6. Flight Conveyor

Surface/ Overhead Equipment’s:

These are the group of equipment’s which are employed for handling unit load or bulk load in batches on a horizontal surface. This group of equipment may be further sub classified into:

1. Truck and Lorries

2. Railway Cars and Wagons

3. Fork Lifts

4. Overhead mono-rail / Equipment

5. Scrapers and Skidders

Types of Material Handling Equipment Loads:

It usually classified into:

1. Unit Load

2. Bulk Load

Unit Load:

Unit loads are those which are counted by numbers or units. A component of a machine, a complete machine, a structural element, a beam, a girder, building block are some examples of unit load.

Sometimes certain quantities of free flowing materials can be placed in a container and can be handled as unit load. Hoisting equipment are primarily used for handling unit load. Unit loads are usually specified by it’s weight.

Bulk Load:

When the load is in the form of particles or lumps of homogeneous materials or powder like materials, which can not be counted by numbers, it is called as “Bulk load”.

Examples are:

Sand, Cement, Coal, Mineral, Stone, Clay etc.,

A bulk material may be classified by it’s:

1. Bulk Density

2. Lump-Size

3. Flowability

4. Abrasiveness

5. Miscellaneous Characteristics