Extrusion International 5-2022

23 Extrusion International 5/2022 Quadruple Extrusion Line for PVC-U Pipes  Sica has recently consigned a high-speed line for multi- extrusion. This new line is specifically designed for feeding, cutting, belling and packaging PVC-U pipes for use as ducts for channelling and protecting electric cables. It can manage pipes produced with the quadruple extrusion method, from OD.16 mm (3/8”) to OD. 63 mm (2”). The first machine after the extrusion part is the Combo 63Q, a compact combined (feed and cut) module with four independent units for extruded pipe haul-off and then four shearing units for cuts of superior quality at high extrusion speed, equipped with an effective centralised aspiration sys- tem that collects the dust and chips produced. The next element is the Multibell 75Q belling machine purposely designed to receive quadruple extrusion pipes with independent transit speeds. A new incoming pipe sorting system manages the four simultaneously extruded tubes, forming groups of 2, 3 or 4 pipes depending on their diameter. The groups formed are carefully heated in a specific forced hot air oven fitted with a twin automatic pipe alignment de - vice. The pipes are heated prior to the belling phase to guar- antee sockets of precise, constant and identical lengths for the whole group of pipes processed. The machine can produce sockets both for gluing (“smooth sockets”) and for elastomeric seals. There is an ef - ficient socket cooling system that uses pre-cooled external compressed air, combined with the internal cooling of the belling spindles using recirculated water. The socketed pipes are then transferred to the A10-63 strapping machine that uses special pick-up arms to remove them from the belling machine bench, forming bundles of strapped pipes of different quantities and configurations (defined by the operator) and with lengths from 2 m (6.6 ft) to 6 m (20 ft). The pipe bundles are then sent to a tipper conveyor – model A607 – whose job, thanks to a motorised belt, is to position them in line with the final carriage then raise them and load them in the carriage. The system guarantees safe working conditions as the entire line is fitted with perimeter guards with photoelectric barriers and interlocked access. Sica S.p.A. www.sica-italy.com