CMF Technology: T-Box, loading/unloading unit

The T-Box high capacity roller box loading/unloading unit is the result of CMF Technology's decades of experience in the field of tile handling and storage. The transporter/elevator rollerway positioned in front of the two neighbouring boxes and the patented position of the single central-tilting mandrel arm make T-Box fast and reliable in all tile loading and unloading phases.

The mandrel arm mounted on the machine is located between the two roller boxes and rotates through 180° to move the right or left box rollers, as necessary. The switch from one box to another is instantaneous, guaranteeing continuous operation and making it ideal for positioning at critical points of the plant such as kiln-front feeding. This specific technical feature of the single central/tilting mandrel arm, the trademark of CMF Technology's storage machine, allows for significant savings in plant space and considerably simplifies the machine's mechanical components subject to wear.

The interpolation of the upstroke/downstroke and sideways movements of T-Box's transporter/elevator rollerway makes it possible to reach the box level rapidly and complete loading or unloading (the number of tiles on the transporter/elevator is the same as the number of tiles that can be held on the box level). The switch between loading and unloading from one box to another is immediate, eliminating the need for mini-compensators and guaranteeing safer tile handling.

The roller boxes used on T-Box are the standard CMF type and the roller fixing and driving system is simple yet highly efficient. On one side of the box the rollers rest in holes, on the other they are held in place by a wearproof anchor pin with a pressure-activated quick coupling. This also contributes to solving problems caused by holding systems using bushings and metal stop rings and allows significant time savings during assembly and maintenance phases. The rim on each hole reinforces the roller box. The movement mandrels are tapered and when pushed inside the rollers they raise them slightly, thus locking them firmly through the expansion of the elastomers incorporated into the mandrels.