The Automated VENA Wet-Cast System is designed to produce concrete slabs (pre-cast material) in ABS or Polyurethane moulds. The VENA Wet-Cast System (Vena WCS) also includes the articulated Robotic arm as a de-moulding and packaging device. The ABS or Polyurethane moulds will be bolted onto a steel or wood framing. The number of moulds per framing will be determined according to the size of product being produced.
 

The Process
The empty moulds will be dispensed individually and transferred by a chain driven conveyor into a turnover station (turnover # 1). This turnover station is designed to flip the moulds in order to be cleaned by a two-part process. The first being an air cleaning device which shoots jets of air into the moulds to assure that no cement or particles remain in the moulds. The second process is the oiling mechanism, which applies oil into the moulds to guarantee that the concrete slabs can be easily removed. Once these processes have been completed the moulds then pass through another turnover station (turnover # 2) in order to be brought right side up.

The moulds then continue down a chain driven conveyor to the filler box station. Here, the moulds are filled with concrete and then sent through a three stage vibrating station. This will assure that the concrete enters all crevices of the mould and eliminate any air pockets.

The moulds (now containing concrete) will be transferred to a stacking station in order to accumulate a sufficient number of moulds to fill the racking or chamber and will then be conveyed to a rack carrier or fork lift pick up zone. Here the moulds are sent to a curing chamber for a certain period of time (duration depending on the product). When the curing process has been completed, the moulds are then sent to a de-stacking station that dispenses the moulds individually to the de-moulding station (six-axis articulated robot). The robot picks up a number of slabs at a time using vacuum tooling for the removal of the slabs. The robot then rotates 180 degrees and places the product onto a wooden pallet that has been provided by a wood pallet dispenser. The product will be stacked horizontally, having one slab on top of the other. The vacuum seals will be sized and spaced to accommodate all slab types (sizes). Simultaneously, the empty mould returns to the chain driven conveyor to begin a new cycle.
 

Wrapping
Once the product is packaged it is sent to the inline top sheet dispenser. A poly top sheet is then applied over the top of the load prior to entry into the wrapping zone. Once the load has been wrapped the pallet will be transferred onto a gravity conveyor and accumulated at the end of the conveyor. A forklift operator will be required to unload the full pallet from the conveyor. Other packaging equipment also available.