Servo Roll Feeds

RF Series Servo Feeds

The exceptional mechanical design of the RF Series sets it apart from many other feed designs. Horizontal tie-bars provide significant structural rigidity. Feed rolls are full diameter across the entire rated width of the feed. Sealed-for-life spherical roller bearings are used to support the feed rolls.

All RF Series feeds can be equipped with a pull-thru straightener.

The rolls raise and lower on a pivot, rather than up and down in a slide block, to ensure full gear mesh regardless of the thickness of the material.

The roll pressure is applied by two adjustable-stroke pneumatic cylinders. Roll pressure is adjusted by a supplied regulator. The same cylinders are also used for the pilot release of the upper feed roll. These cylinders are positioned well past the center point of the rolls to provide leverage for optimum pressure to the roll.

Servo Feed Controls

Universal Feed & Machine Corporation is proud to employ top quality controls on every servo feed. Universal Feed and Machine servo feeds utilize, as standard, a Control Techniques (Emerson) drive for superior performance. Since no components of the electronic system are proprietary, our customers have the option of using their local distributor for any replacement parts.

Optional I/O are available for more advanced systems. For example, our optional Line Automation allows any powered axis to be stored in the job recipe and automatically set to position when a given job is loaded.

1000 Series control, standard on RF 2.5 and RF 3 models, with color touch screen operator interface.

5000 Series control, standard on all RF 4 through RF 8 models, with color touch screen operator interface.

4-Roll Servo Feed

4-roll servo feeds from Universal Feed & Machine can be a good choice when running wide, lighter gauge material. Since four rolls contact the material instead of two, the per-roll pressure can be reduced. For sensitive materials where not marking or stretching the material is critical, a 4-roll feed may be the best choice.

These feeds benefit from a few construction advantages worth noting:

• The upper feed rolls are trunion-mounted (i.e., rolls pivot rather than go straight up and down as with a slide block design). Trunion mounted upper rolls are the standard on heavy-duty two-roll feeds as they increase the mechanical advantage of the roll and maintain complete gear mesh at all times.
• Upper rolls work together or independently. Unlike some other 4-roll feeds, Universal Feed & Machine four-roll servo feeds allow all four feed rolls to work together or independently. This adds flexibility to the line.
• All standard features and options of 2-roll feeds are also available for 4 roll feeds. Discuss your application with a Universal Feed & Machine sales rep to determine if your application is best suited for a 4-roll feed.

Air Feeds

Air feeds are a simple coil-feeding option best-suited to low volume operations. Universal Feed & Machine air feeds offer a high-strength, cast alloy gripper carriage; pilot release; outboard-mounted electrical controls and adjustable, double-acting air cushions. To simplify job set-up, hand wheel adjustment is provided for rapid stroke length adjustment.

TOptions include pull-thru straighteners and air saver cylinders. Universal Feed and Machine air feeds are also available in Dual Grip, Zig Zag and Double models.

Standard Equipment

• Accurate to + .001”
• Precision fabricated steel feed base
• High strength cast alloy gripper carriage
• Pilot pin release electrical circuit
• Outboard-mounted electrical controls (no reaching over material)
• Adjustable double-acting air cushion
• Rapid stroke length adjustment by means of hand wheel
• Two-roll rear entrance stock guide with entrance vertical guide side shield barrier safety guards
• Noise control mufflers
• Guide bar keeper plates industry-standard interchangeable precision parts
• Mechanical numeric stroke length indicator (FL-4 and larger)
• Adjustable stroke air saver cylinder (FL-4 and larger)
• Right angle stroke adjustment by means of hand wheel (FL-4 and larger)