Automatic roller shell groover

Abstract

Sugar, a vital resource, is one of the key products extracted from sugarcane. During the extraction of this product, the sugarcane is passed through a series of grooved rollers. This project is concerned with the automation of the manufacture of these rollers. After reviewing the various methods that could be used to cut a series of grooves into the roller shell, the aim of the project was to develop a device or machine which will automate part of the manufacture of the roller shells. Speci¯cally, the design was to meet the following requirements: - Able to handle a typical sized roller and most if not all of the roller sizes used. - Able to complete assigned operations at an equivalent production rate as current processes employed, or better. - Able to sense roller position and status and then determine the appropriate course of action. - Able to operated safely by non-technical personnel. Rather than attempt to modify a traditional lathe, a novel approach was developed and pursued. This approach was to hold the roller stationary and rotate the cutting tool around the roller instead.