Medical news excites both the media and the public alike as new medicines, methods and procedures bring relief to millions who suffer from various ailments. Behind the scenes, the equipment that makes possible thousands of tests results for clinical trials, dispenses tens of thousands of exact liquid doses in individual containers and moves the machines that test and review our bodies requires motion control precision with zero backlash. This zero backlash directly relates to installing the proper coupling between motors and moving parts. One company, Lovejoy, Inc., supplies the industry’s most comprehensive line of motion control couplings to service the needs of the medical equipment industry.
Servo motor applications might be the most common use of a Lovejoy Motion Control coupling. These servo motors run conveyor systems in a laboratory environment, or can assist with medical testing in a lab such as moving test tubes or controlling probes that dispense an exact amount of liquid into test tubes and other containers. Another area is in Pharmaceutical printing and packaging which requires a rigorous level of precision for printing on pill surfaces, on individual medical packets or applying labels.
A pick and place type of application relates to a machine with a robotic arm or actuator that moves a product from one place to another. This arm rotates back and forth to the exact same spot in identical fashion indefinitely. Servo motors run the conveyors that stop and start in precise motion to move the materials into place for the robotic arm to grasp.
Gantry machines, otherwise known as XYZ tables, because of their planes of operation, need to move in multiple directions. The best examples of a gantry style medical machine would be an x-ray or eye examination equipment. Both of these types of machines need to adjust to the individual patient for testing purposes. Depending on the type of motors and the connection required, this style application could utilize the miniature disk, bellows and beam couplings.
For packaging, the GS Curved Jaw is optimal because these types of operations deal with higher torque than some others. Automated assembly of any type, for example electronic circuitry in medical assembly, would also utilize a GS Curved Jaw Motion Control coupling.
A dispensing station, which could be connected to a packaging operation, such as dispensing pills into a tray or load a certain number into a bottle, would utilize a miniature disc, beam or bellows coupling.
Whatever the application, system designers can rely on expert engineering assistance to select the most appropriate coupling for the specifications. Because Lovejoy, Inc. offers the most complete line of motion control couplings in the industry, it allows for a proper match of the right coupling for the application.
“In this industry, it is possible to get a certain level of service out of any style of coupling,” says Charlie Mudra, Lovejoy Product Manager, “but that theory is similar to punching a square peg into a round hole. The square peg might run for a while, but at Lovejoy we’re interested in providing our customers with the best product for their specific application -- a coupling that will provide trouble-free service and enable machinery and systems to run to their maximum capability.”
Lovejoy Motion Control couplings are available in several different styles, including Beam, Oldham, Mini-Jaw, Bellows, Mini-Soft, Mini-Disc and Curved Jaw. High-speed operations, for example, can look to the GS Curved Jaw mini-coupling, with a maximum 31,800 RPM. The Bellows Clamp Style Coupling specifically addresses higher torque and bore capacities.
With more than 100 years of experience specifically in the coupling industry, Lovejoy engineers specialize in offering advice on proper coupling selection, the first step towards ensuring the right coupling for a specific application.
For a more complete understanding of products and services, visit the Lovejoy website at www.lovejoy-inc.com, or call the World Headquarters at the number listed below. Lovejoy, Inc. is certified under the ISO-9001:2000 International Standards for Quality Management. Lovejoy, Inc. World Headquarters are located at 2655 Wisconsin Ave., Downers Grove, IL, 60515, USA. Phone 630-852-0500; fax 630-852-2120; e-mail inquiries Info@lovejoy-inc.com.