RoboLabs Artist ACB-10-120 User manual

Cotton candy machine
Artist (ACB-10-120)
120 V 60 Hz
User manual
Read this manual before use and keep
for future reference!
PDF version of this manual is available on www.robolabs.pro

Safety requirements
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to
potential physical injury hazards. Obey all safety messages
that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
DANGER
•Not grounded equipment can cause electric shock.
Power outlet MUST HAVE proper grounding to avoid
electric shock.
•Using excessive water during cleaning can cause
short circuit and electric shock. DO NOT USE exces-
sive water or water jet for cleaning. DO NOT SPILL
water on electric panels or parts.
•ALWAYS unplug equipment before cleaning or ser-
vicing.
•No user serviceable parts inside. DO NOT OPEN
electric panel unless you are qualified for this.
DANGER
•Improper installation, adjustment, alteration, ser-
vice or maintenance can cause property damage,
injury, or death! Read and understand this manual
before installing, servicing, and operating this ma-
chine.
•Any modification to the machine design will void the
warranty, and may cause machine fault and/or dan-
gerous condition. DO NOT MODIFY the design of the
machine.
WARNING
•Spinning head is very hot while in operation.
DO NOT TOUCH until it cools down.
2

Safety requirements (continued)
WARNING
•Fast spinning head can crush your fingers. DO NOT
TOUCH the spinning head until it completely stops.
•Foreign objects in the spinning head may cause eye
injury to operator and/or other people. DO NOT PUT
inside anything except sugar.
•Refilling the spinning head while it is spinning might
cause eye injury. DO NOT REFILL the spinning head
until it completely stops.
•Excessive sugar in the spinning head may cause eye
injury to operator and/or other people. DO NOT
OVERFILL spinning head with sugar.
•ALWAYS wait spinning head to stop spinning before
sugar refilling.
WARNING
•ALWAYS WEAR eye protection while operating or
servicing this equipment to avoid eye injury.
WARNING
•Only instructed personnel is allowed to operate the
machine.
•This machine is not to be operated by minors.
WARNING
•DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE to touch or reach in the ma-
chine while operating in public place.
3

Contents
1 Overview 5
1.1 Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Deliveryset......................... 5
1.3 Gettingstarted....................... 5
1.4 Electrical requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 Ambient conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Design and operating principle 7
3 Intended use 9
3.1 Operatingorder ...................... 9
3.2 Voltagecontrol....................... 11
3.3 Motorspeed ........................ 11
3.4 Standbymode ....................... 12
3.5 “No-snow”cap....................... 13
3.6 Importanttips ....................... 14
4 Cleaning and maintenance 15
4.1 Routine cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.2 Deepcleaning ....................... 16
4.3 Brush unit maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.4 Conservation........................ 18
4.5 Transportation and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5 Troubleshooting 19
6 Quality control check 21
7 Manufacturer details 22
8 Technical service 23
8.1 Standby voltage calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8.2 Motor speed control calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
A Parts list 25
4

1 Overview
Artist machine (hereinafter “machine” or “equipment”) is intended to
produce cotton candy using pure sugar or sugar mixed with colorant.
Due to its special features, the machine allows operator to make serv-
ings of cotton candy shaped as a flower or other shapes (an animal,
a bird, a cartoon character and so on).
The machine is intended for professional use only.
1.1 Technical specifications
Productivity 1,5–2,0 kg/h
“Cold start” time 3 min
“Hot start” time 30 sec
Rated voltage 120 V
Rated frequency 60 Hz
Rated power 1000 W
Dimensions 390x370x340 mm
Weight 14 kg
1.2 Delivery set
1x Machine
1x Power cord
1x Floss pan
1x Measuring cup
1x No-snow cap
1x User manual
1.3 Getting started
1. Unpack machine and keep the package for future shipping needs.
2. Check the delivery set.
3. Place the machine on a stable table or cart.
4. Fully raise ALL FOUR transport fastening nuts (pos.4 Fig.1) until
they reach the floss pan supports (pos.5 Fig.1).
5. Remove protective film from the floss pan (pos.7 Fig.1), wash
the pan with dish soap, rinse with water and wipe dry.
6. Rinse “No-snow cap” (see Fig.5) with warm water, wipe dry.
5

7. Place the floss pan on the machine making sure the indentations
rest on the floss pan supports.
1.4 Electrical requirements
DANGER
•Power outlet MUST have proper grounding to avoid
electric shock.
•If supply cord damaged, it MUST be replaced by
manufacturer, service agent, or qualified persons in
order to avoid hazard.
•ALWAYS keep power cord and plug o the floor and
moisture.
•DO NOT USE any kind of adapters, inverters, or ex-
tension cords, as it might aect the overall perfor-
mance of the machine, and impose additional risks.
Machine is supplied with power cord fitted with NEMA L5-20P plug.
You MUST ensure that your electrician provides you with outlet recep-
tacle NEMA L5-20, which is properly grounded.
1.5 Ambient conditions
This equipment is designed to be operated at the ambient tempera-
ture from +5°C to +40°C (+41°F to +104°F) and relative humidity not
more than 45% at 40°C (104°F) while using at altitudes not exceed-
ing 1000 m over the sea level. The temperature decreasing is related
to RH increasing, for example, 90% of RH at 20°C (68°F). This equip-
ment MUST NOT be exposed to precipitations of any kind (rain, snow
and so on).
As temperature and humidity increase above these ranges, cotton
candy can still be produced, but it will be very dense and heavy. Most
importantly, being a sugar product, it may begin to melt shortly after
being production.
6

2 Design and operating principle
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4
6
7
3
8
9
2
1
11
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Figure 1: Main components of the machine
The main parts of the machine represented on the Fig.1: 1 – Hous-
ing; 2 – Transportation handle; 3 – Spring mounted support; 4 –
Transport fastening nut; 5 – Floss pan support; 6 – Spinning head
with heater; 7 – Floss pan; 8 – Rotor; 9 – Stator; 10 – Chassis; 11 –
Rubber leg.
The Spinning head (6) and electric motor are mounted on the
Chassis (10), which itself is connected to the Housing (1) by four
spring-mounted supports (3). These spring supports dampen vibra-
tions and allow the motor to self-balance during operation.
An electric motor drives the spinning head at high rate. The spin-
ning head rotates with the sugar mix inside where the heating element
warms the sugar up to its flow point 120–140°C (250–285°F). Due to
centrifugal force, the melted sugar flies through slits in the sidewall,
where it instantly cools and crystallizes, turning into candy floss.
7

An impeller attached to the Rotor (8) rotates along with the spin-
ning head, producing a powerful upward airflow. The Stator (9) pre-
vents operators and objects from coming into contact with the rapidly
rotating impeller, and also rectifies the airflow. The airflow lifts the
cotton candy upwards. Sugar particles that are too heavy accumu-
late on the inner surface of the Floss pan (7), installed on Floss pan
supports (5).
Four Transport fastening nuts (4) secure the spring-loaded chas-
sis during transportation to prevent damage to the motor. They are
located on the threaded support studs at each corner of the chassis.
Four rubber legs (11) ensure machine’s firm contact to the surface
where it is installed, and also dampen vibrations.
5
3
2
1
6
4
Figure 2: Control panel
The control panel represented on Fig.2: 1 – Motor switch; 2 – Volt-
meter; 3 – Heating adjustment knob; 4 – Heating switch; 5 – Motor
speed adjustment knob; 6 – Standby switch.
The motor switch (1) turns on the motor and energizes the rest of
the machine. Heating switch (4) turns on the heating element. Ad-
justment knob (3) regulates power to the heating element and thus
controls its temperature. Voltmeter (2) indicates actual voltage sup-
plied to the heating element.
Adjustment knob (5) regulates speed of motor rotation and thus
intensity of the airflow. Standby switch (6) turns on standby mode,
when small power supplied to the heating element, keeping it warm,
so the operation can be resumed shortly.
8

3 Intended use
CAUTION
•DO NOT TURN ON until transport fastening nuts are
FULLY RAISED. Otherwise it may cause excessive vi-
bration during whole machine operation, and lead
to machine failure.
•Vibration of the spring mounted chassis during spin-
ning head acceleration and deceleration IS NOR-
MAL.
3.1 Operating order
1. BEFORE plugging machine in the outlet receptacle, MAKE SURE
all three switches (pos.1, 4, 6 Fig.2) are in (0) position.
2. Fill measuring cup with flossugar and load it in the spinning
head.
3. Quickly rotate the head manually to distribute the sugar evenly.
4. You will need sticks, rods or cones to spin inside the plastic pan
to collect the cotton floss as it is produced. These can be made
of wood, paper or plastic. Wood sticks and plastic straws should
be soaked in water first in order to create better adhesion for the
floss.
5. Turn the main power switch (pos.1 Fig.2) ON, and the spinning
head will begin to rotate.
6. Turn the heating switch (pos.4 Fig.2) ON.
7. Use the knob (pos.3 Fig.2) to adjust voltage on voltmeter (pos.2
Fig.2) to 70-80 V1.
8. Depending on conditions, it will take about one minute to warm
up the head to operating temperature. You will usually smell
the candy aroma between 10 to 15 seconds before production
begins.
1When setting up at a new location, the power level must be adjusted according to
the environmental conditions. If cotton candy comes out too slow, increase the voltage
slightly. Alternatively, decreasing voltage will slow production. When you change loca-
tions or if the temperature or humidity changes later in the day (if working outdoors)
then you may need to make additional adjustments.
9

9. Cotton candy will fly out upwards in a vertical column or “sleeve.”
This “sleeve” can be wrapped or wound around a stick by rapidly
turning or spinning the stick with your fingers in a clockwise
direction (see below). You will usually want to collect floss be-
tween 8” to 14” above the spinning head, though you can adjust
for conditions and the size of the serving, see Fig.3.
Figure 3: Collecting candy floss
10. Special shape of the floss pan allows operator to bring the stick
very close to the head while collecting the floss. This is very
handy while making a cotton candy of complex shape (a flower,
an animal or a bird, a cartoon character and so on).
Shutting down
11. Turn o the heating switch (pos.4 Fig.2) and capture the remain-
ing cotton candy as the head cools down. When the head cools
to the point that “snow” is produced, then cover the head with
the “No Snow” cap and allow the head spin for 3-4 minutes to
fully cool down before turning o the motor switch (pos.1 Fig.2).
12. Once cool to the touch, wipe out the inside of the “No Snow”
cap, and put it back over the spinning head for protection. You
can also cover this with a paper or plastic bag to protect the
flossugar from dust, debris and insects.
13. The machine and Floss Pan should be wiped down with a damp
cloth to remove excess flossugar as needed.
When shutting down for periods of less than 24 hours, you may
leave any remaining flossugar in the spinning head.
10

If you are shutting down for longer than one day, then you should
perform a complete cleaning of the spinning head as described in the
Technical Maintenance section below.
Do not leave unused flossugar in the spinning head for more than
a day or two as it can harden/caramelize and eect the balance of the
head during future sessions, which could ultimately result in failure of
the machine.
During transportation always secure the chassis using the trans-
portation lock-down nuts. This will prevent possible damage of the
machine and prolong the lifetime.
3.2 Voltage control
Using too high voltage values could result in overheating the flos-
sugar and the the cotton candy would then be produced in a narrow
rope that is dicult to capture.
In an extreme scenario, the floss would be burnt and ejected as
irregular flakes and sugar dust that would create a mess covering ev-
erything nearby in the immediate area. The Fig.4 below shows an ex-
ample of mildly overheated heating element. Notice the cotton candy
is rising more like a “rope” than a wide “sleeve." Keep in mind that
once the heating element and the whole spinning head have reached
such a high temperature, reducing the voltage will not immediately
produce the desired eect.
Due to thermal lag, any changes in voltage will only slowly take
eect over the next 15 to 30 seconds (or longer, depending on am-
bient temperatures) so it is very important to avoid overheating the
element in the first place.
3.3 Motor speed
If candy floss comes out too fast, it is possible to reduce the rotation
speed by the adjustment knob (pos.5 Fig.2).
The motor circuit includes a time relay set for 12 seconds, so each
time the motor switch is turned on, the motor always spins at its maxi-
mum rate for 12 seconds, and after then the speed is reduced accord-
11

Figure 4: "Rope” cotton candy
ingly to the position of the adjustment knob. This provides stable and
smooth motor operation and minimizes inrush current impact.
3.4 Standby mode
If there are no customers at the moment, it is convenient to keep the
spinning head warmed up to be able to resume operation very quick.
To turn on the standby mode set the switch (pos.6 Fig.2) to STANDBY
position (the switch will be illuminated).
In this mode, a half of of the full power to be supplied to the heat-
ing element, no matter which position the heating adjustment knob
(pos.3 Fig.2) is set to.
To resume operation, set the switch to WORK position (the switch
illumination will be o).
12

3.5 “No-snow” cap
In the production of cotton candy, “snow” includes flakes, flecks,
small filaments and sugar dust that are all too small to be collected
in the normal winding process of producing a cotton candy serving.
There are four situations when “snow” will be emitted from the spin-
ning head:
1. At the very beginning of operation.
2. During the end of production.
3. When there there is not enough flossugar remaining.
4. If the coil and sidewall are overheated.
In both the beginning and ending of operation, snow is produced as
the heating element crosses the temperature threshold at which it can
evenly and uniformly melt the flossugar in the bowl into quality cotton
candy floss.
The same is true when there is not enough flossugar left in the
head because the remaining sugar will not be evenly distributed and
that will cause some of the material to overheat.
Finally, if the head becomes extremely overheated then brunt sugar
flecks and dust will be produced instead. Paying attention to Volt-
age regulation and not excessively preheating the heater during cold
startup will ensure this does not happen.
Regardless of the cause, you can prevent the distribution of snow
(which can create a mess) by placing the “No-Snow” cap (see Fig.5)
over the spinning head, where it will capture the snow as it is ejected.
Figure 5: “No-snow” cap
13

However, you should not leave the “No-Snow” cap in place for long
periods of time as it will eventually become filled with floss and this
will then collect on the spinning head itself.
To help prevent this, the inside of the “No-snow” cap should be
wiped o in between each use to prevent accumulation of spent flos-
sugar. If you do notice melted or burnt sugar accumulating on top or
lip of the spinning head cover, or excessive buildup on the sidewall,
then this should be scraped o before proceeding.
This can be done using a wooden bamboo skewer or stick (never
metal) while the head is spinning. Gently put the tip of a stick into
the inner right-side edge of the cover and allow the rotation of the
head against the stick to scrape o any sugar accumulation. This can
be repeated on the outside of the sidewall as well, again only on the
right-side of the spinning head.
This cleaning should not be done when customers are nearby as
small pieces of sugar could fly some distance and pose a risk to the
face and eyes.
3.6 Important tips
1. Use ONLY 100% pure granulated sugar (beet or cane).
2. DO NOT USE sugar powder, sugar with added starch, dextrose,
corn syrup and so on. Doing so will lead to poor quality floss
and/or quick clogging of the spinning head.
3. To make colored and flavored cotton candy use flavoring mix
(Floss Art, for example), or ready to use flossugar.
4. DO NOT USE excessive flavoring mix! Doing so will:
•increase the cost of production;
•make the product tastes bitter;
•lead to spinning head clogging;
•lead to excessive carbon build-up inside the spinning head.
HINT: if you want deeper color, sprinkle the flossugar mixture
with water (1 tablespoon of water per 2kg/5lbs of sugar) and
mix well before put in the machine.
14

4 Cleaning and maintenance
DANGER
•Electric shock hazard! DO NOT use excessive water
or water jet to clean the machine. DO NOT spill wa-
ter or other liquids on electric parts of the machine,
including housing.
•ALWAYS unplug the machine before cleaning.
•ALWAYS keep power cord and plug o the floor and
moisture.
•DO NOT IMMERSE spinning head in water.
WARNING
•WAIT until spinning head is cooled down before ser-
vicing.
WARNING
•Use food-grade cleaners ONLY.
•DO NOT USE aggressive cleaners, or sharp items, or
abrasives for cleaning.
The purpose of technical maintenance is to keep the unit operable
during the entire service life.
Recommended schedule
Depending on how intensively machine used, and the supplies, it might
require more frequent cleaning.
Routine cleaning once a day
Deep cleaning twice a month
Brush unit maintenance every 6 months
15

4.1 Routine cleaning
1. Unplug the machine from the wall outlet.
2. Take the Floss pan and “No-snow” cap o from the machine;
rinse with warm water. Wipe dry immediately.
3. Remove residues of sugar from outer surfaces of the machine
with a clean soft damp cloth. Wipe dry immediately.
4.2 Deep cleaning
During long-term operation, the heating element and sidewall slits
can become clogged with sugar and carbon deposits. This may sig-
nificantly reduce both productivity and the quality of the cotton candy
produced. To make a deep cleaning it is necessary to disassemble the
machine.
1. Unplug the machine from the wall outlet.
2. Remove all sugar from the head, turning the machine upside-
down if necessary.
3. Detach spinning head cover by removing three flat-head screws,
see Fig.6. If the cover is ‘glued’ to the head, gently tap with the
screwdriver handle in order to loosen the parts. Rinse the cover
with water and wipe dry immediately.
4. Detach upper part of the stator by removing four screws, see
Fig.7. Rinse this part with water and wipe dry immediately.
Figure 6 Figure 7
16

Figure 8 Figure 9
5. Detach rotor by removing three screws, see Fig.8. Rinse rotor
with water and wipe dry immediately.
6. Detach lower part of the stator by removing four wing nuts, see
Fig.9. Rinse this part with water and wipe dry immediately.
7. Assemble in the reverse order.
4.3 Brush unit maintenance
As with most electrical motors, the machine utilizes brushes and slip
rings which are subject to wear and require inspection, maintenance
and eventual replacement.
1. Disassemble the machine as described in Deep cleaning section.
2. Remove two screws that hold the hatch (pos.1 Fig.10); remove
the hatch.
2
1 43
Figure 10: Brush unit maintenance
17

3. Inspect the slip rings (pos.2 Fig.10) for bumps and color changes.
The rings should fit closely to insulators and should not show
excessive wear.
4. Slip rings are made of high-grade brass and will last years if
properly serviced. If the slip rings are excessively worn or are
covered with bumps, they need to be replaced by qualified ser-
vice sta.
5. Remove all dust, debris and tarnish from the slip rings.
6. Remove two screws to open the brush unit (pos.3 Fig.10)
7. Take out two carbon electrodes (pos.4 Fig.10).
8. If electrodes are significantly worn out, or broken, the brush unit
should be replaced.
9. Repeat for the other brush unit.
10. IMPORTANT: After installing new brushes, allow the motor to
run for 15 minutes before turning on the heating element. This
will allow the brushes to conform to the slip rings, avoiding the
potential for arcing under load.
4.4 Conservation
If the unit is not used for a prolonged period of time, then the routine
maintenance must be performed before it is placed back into service.
4.5 Transportation and storage
The equipment may be transported by any kind of covered vehicle, in
accordance with transportation rules for this kind of vehicle. Ambient
temperature during the transportation and storage must be between
minus 25°C and +55°C.
18

5 Troubleshooting
DANGER
•Diagnostic procedures involving electric testing and
internal components testing MUST be performed
ONLY by a skilled technician!
Machine doesn’t turn on (head doesn’t spin)
•Ensure machine is plugged in.
•Ensure motor switch is in MOTOR position.
•Check voltage in the wall outlet. Too low voltage may cause this
issue.
•Check power cord. Replace fault power cord.
•Check motor coils with a tester. Replace fault motor.
•Check internal wiring for open circuit. Fix open circuit.
•Check capacitor C. Replace fault capacitor.
•Ensure motor speed adjustment knob is set to maximum. Per-
form motor speed calibration procedure. Check variable resis-
tors RP3, RP4, and also the solid state relay VS1. Replace fault
component(s).
Machine doesn’t produce cotton candy
•Ensure heating switch is in HEAT position and standby switch is
in WORK position.
•Increase voltage supplied to the heating element by rotating
heating adjustment knob.
•Check heating element EK. If heating element is fault, replace
the spinning head.
•Check brush units. Replace fault brush unit(s).
•Check power regulator. Replace fault power regulator.
•Check variable resistor RP1, fixed resistor R, and power regula-
tor VS2. Replace fault component(s).
•Check internal wiring for open circuit. Fix open circuit.
19

Excessive vibration during operation
•FULLY RAISE all four transport fastening nuts.
•Distribute sugar inside the spinning head evenly.
•Ensure there are no foreign objects inside spinning head. Re-
move if any.
Floss comes out as flakes, smoke coming out from the
head, floss coming out as a narrow “rope"
•DO NOT use sugar with added starch or similar. Ensure all rec-
ommendation regarding sugar used are met, see Important tips
section above.
•Decrease voltage supplied to heating element with heating ad-
justment knob.
•Clean spinning head.
•Check power regulator VS2, variable resistor RP1, fixed resistor
R. Replace fault component(s).
Cotton candy melts fast
•Sugar absorbs moisture easily. High relative humidity of ambi-
ent air makes cotton candy melts fast. Choose working loca-
tions with lower relative humidity levels.
Low productivity
•Increase voltage supplied to heating element with heating ad-
justment knob.
•Clean spinning head.
•Check voltage in the wall outlet. Low voltage causes low pro-
ductivity.
Floss coming out while standby mode is activated
•Perform standby voltage calibration procedure.
•Check variable resistor RP2, inductive relay K. Replace fault com-
ponent(s).
•Check internal wiring for open circuit. Fix open circuit.
20