Thiele Streamfeeder Reliant 3700 User manual

Manual
Reliant 3700

Part Number: 00900383
© 2010 Thiele Technologies, Inc. - Streamfeeder. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, stored on
a retrieval system, or transmitted without the express written consent of
Thiele Technologies, Inc. - Streamfeeder.
Thiele Technologies, Inc. - Streamfeeder
315 27th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418 USA
Tel:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
e-Mail: [e-mail]
Web: www.streamfeeder.com
Printed in the USA.

i
Relaint 3700 Manual
Contents
Safety Information ........................................................ii
 Specications ..............................................................iv
Section 1: About the Machine .......................................................1
Section 2: Preparing for Operation ...............................................5
Section 3: How to Operate ...........................................................15
Section4: OperationalTroubleshooting ....................................19
Section5: InspectionandCare ...................................................21
Section6: WedgeApplications ...................................................28
Section7: MechanicalComponents ...........................................31
Section8: ElectricalComponents...............................................67
Section9: TechnicalTroubleshooting ........................................75

ii Reliant 3700 Manual
Message
Conventions
DANGER signies an action or specic equipment area that can result
in serious injury or death if proper precautions are not taken.
WARNING signies an action or specic equipment area that can
result in personal injury if proper precautions are not taken.
CAUTION signies an action or specic equipment area that can
result in equipment damage if proper precautions are not taken.
ELECTRICAL DANGER signies an action or specic equipment
area that can result in personal injury or death from an electrical haz-
ard if proper precautions are not taken.
TIP signies information that is provided to help minimize problems
in the installation or operation of the feeder.
NOTE provides useful additional information that the installer or
operator should be aware of to perform a certain task.
CHECK signies an action that should be reviewed by the operator
before proceeding.
IMPORTANT alerts the installer or operator to actions that can poten-
tially lead to problems or equipment damage if instructions are not
followed properly.
WARNING LABELS afxed to this product signify an action or spe-
cic equipment area that can result in serious injury or death if proper
precautions are not taken.
Before You Begin

iii
Relaint 3700 Manual
Message
Conventions
Before You Begin
Avoid injury. Do not reach around guards.
Hazardous voltage. Contact will cause electric shock or burn. Turn off
and lock out power before servicing.
Moving parts can crush and cut. Keep guards in place. Lock out power
before servicing.
Pinch point. Keep hands and ngers clear.
Moving parts can crush and cut. Keep guards in place. Lock out power
before servicing.

iv Reliant 3700 Manual
Maximum Product Size: ............... 11.75 W x 14 L in (298.5 x 355.6 mm)
Minimum Product Size: .................. 3.75 W x 3.75 L in (95.3 x 95.3 mm)
Optional: ................................................... 2 W x 2.5 L in (50.8 x 63.5 mm)
Min/Max Product Thickness: ........................ .003-1.0 in (.076-25.4 mm)
Speed: ........................................................ 5700 in/min (144,780 mm/min)
Batch Size: ............................................................................. 1 to 99 pieces
Electrical Requirements: ................................... 115/230vac, 50/60Hz, 3A
Weight: .................................................................................. 75 lbs. (34kg)
speCifiCations

v
Relaint 3700 Manual

1Reliant 3700 Manual
1About the Machine
The Reliant 3700 is designed for reliability, exibility, and ease of use.
All parts required for setup, loading, feeding, and easy operator con-
trol are combined into one compact unit.
Review the diagram below to become familiar with names and loca-
tions of feeder parts and adjustments. This will help to prepare you for
initial setup.
•Feederscanbeconguredtwoways:one-shot
modeorbatchcountmode.
•One-shotmodefeedersarecapableoffeeding
onepieceofproductwhenaightsignalis
received.
•Batchcountmodefeedersarecapableof
feeding1-99piecesofproductwhenaight
signalisreceived.
•Forpurposesofillustration,abatchcount
feederisshowninalldrawingsofthismanual.
Features
Main Assemblies
Hold-Down
Side Guides
Control Panel
Table Top
Gate Assembly
Discharge Safety Shield
Sheet Detect
Sensor
Discharge Belt
Feed Belts
Wedge

2
Reliant 3700 Manual
Main Assemblies Feature Descriptions
Feature Description
Gate assembly Mounted on a gate plate directly above the feed belts, this device provides
a curvature to help preshingle stacked product. Adjustment knob allows
you to set downward pressure. When properly adjusted, a one-thickness
gap is created to help singulate and eject product.
Table top Used to support the back wedge.
Side guides Holds a stack of product to be fed and helps keep it straight for proper
entry through the gate assembly area. Adjustment knob allows you to
move the side guides equally offset for different size products.
Wedges Lifts the product to keep it off the table top, reduces excessive contact with
the feed belts, and helps push the product against the curvature of the
gate assembly. To achieve proper lift, adjustment wing-nuts allow you to
adjust the wedge to various positions and angles.
Hold-down This series of rollers provides a varying pressure on top of product to force
it down on the discharge belt, helping to eject a single product after it exits
the gate assembly area.
Sheet detect sensor Mounted on the feeder extension arm, it “looks” for the leading edge of the
product to stop the feeder momentarily. For effective operation, a exible
extension allows you to adjust for distance and perpendicular to product.
Flight-detect sensor (not shown) Mounted at a remote location, it “looks” for a target on-line (such as a
ighted conveyor) to start the feeder.
Feed belts Provides the friction and motion necessary to pull individual product from
the bottom of the stack and through the gate assembly area.
Discharge belt Combined with the hold-down rollers, provides the friction and motion
necessary to pull product away from the gate assembly area. Rotates 50%
faster than feed belts to separate and eject the bottom product away from
next product entering the gate assembly area.
Control panel All connectors and switches for sensor, interface, and AC power are
located here. Also contains numeric keypad and vacuum uorescent
display for operator control interface.
Discharge safety shield Provides residual risk protection to operator when feeder is running.

3Reliant 3700 Manual
Control Panel Components

4
Reliant 3700 Manual
Control Panel Feature Descriptions
Feature Description
AC power cordset connector Cordset plugs into this IEC320 connector to provide feeder with power
from a grounded/fused outlet. Switchable for either 115- or 230-VAC.
Feed/ight trigger connector The remote ight-detect sensor plugs into this 4-pin connector to provide
the “start” signal to begin a feed cycle.
Power On/Off Toggles AC power On or Off.
Fuse holder Contains two replaceable GMD3, 3-Amp, 5-mm fuses. IMPORTANT:
Always make sure power module is replaced exactly as removed. Failure
to follow this caution can result in damaged electrical parts.
Reset button/fault indicator Labeled Reset, the primary purpose of this pushbutton switch/indicator is
to reset the feeder after: 1) a “time-out” occurs or, 2) the discharge safety
shield is opened or, 3) "miss-feed" occurs. Time-outs occur: 1) during a
misfeed or, 2) when the hopper runs out of product; or 3) ashing during
"miss" condition. Built-in indicator illuminates: 1) steady during a time-out
condition; 2) ashing during an “open” discharge safety shield.
Variable speed control This dial switch (labeled Speed) allows the feeder speed to be
synchronized with an inserter, or infeed conveyor. Turning counter-
clockwise decreases speed; clockwise increases speed.
Cycle button This pushbutton switch (labeled Cycle) is primarily used during
preparation and test, this is used to manually start (or run) a feeder cycle.
To “start” a cycle, push Cycle completely in and then release.
Batch count thumbwheels Note: Batch count feeders only. These two wheels allow you to select a
number from 1 to 99 to which the feeder will always count and then stop.
Fault ouput connector The fault output I/O cable plugs into this connector to provide the host
system interface.
Fault conguration selector switch This switch allows the operator to select between stopping the feeder
or sounding an alarm only when a fault is detected.

5Reliant 3700 Manual
2Preparing for Operation
Once the feeder is installed, you are ready to prepare the machine
for operation. You must perform several adjustments with the prod-
uct you are going to be feeding and do a test run with this product
to verify that it is set correctly before going on-line. Youwillhaveto
performthisprocedureforeachproductyouplantofeed.
The adjustments you must make (in order) are as follows:
1: Gate assembly adjustment
2: Side guides setting
3: Back wedge setting
4: Photo sensor adjustment
5: Manual test to verify
When performing initial adjustments prior
to operation, always make sure you turn Off
the main power switch, open the discharge
safety shield (to disengage the interlock), and
disconnect feeder from the electrical power
source. Failure to do so can expose you to a
potential start-up and moving parts which can
cause serious injury.
Do not attempt to make any adjustments while
the machine is running. Failure to do so can
expose you to moving parts which can cause
serious injury. Do not wear loose clothing
when operating the feeder. Avoid making
adjustments with loose or unsecured parts.
This can potentially damage parts.
STEP 1:
Gate Assembly
Adjustment
Review
The gate assembly provides the curvature to help preshingle product
and the proper gap to help the feed belts advance product through
the gate assembly area — one at a time. The downward pressure (or
weight) of the stack in the hopper will provide the force to help push
the product against the curvature of the gate assembly, and help it
contact the feed belts. This preshingling will allow the gate assembly
to separate (and singulate) product as it moves toward the gap.
To achieve the optimum separation, you have to use the adjustment
knob to either increase (clockwise) or decrease (counterclockwise) the
gap between gate assembly and the feed belts. Depending upon the
characteristics of the product you are using, you may have to change
the gate assembly from the factory-set high spring tension to a low
spring tension. See “Changing from Factory Set High-Tension to
Low-Tension” to follow.
Objective
Adjust the gate assembly for minimum gap, with minimum pressure
on the product. Feeding problems will occur with either too much
pressure on the product, or too large a gap between the gate assembly
and the product.
Keepinmindthatthegateassemblyworkswith
thewedgetoprovidetheproperlift,curvatureof
theproduct,andproperbelt/productcontactto
separateandfeedonesheetatatime.
Hopperreferstothespacewheretheproductis
stacked(madeupofthesideguides).
Feedingproblemswilloccurwitheithertoomuch
productinthehopper,ortoolargeagapbetween
thegateassemblyandtheproduct.

6
Reliant 3700 Manual
Ifbottompieceofproductdoesnotmovefreely,
thenthegateassemblyistootight.Thiscanlead
toprematurewearoftheO-ringsorfeedbelts.
Excessive lowering of the gate assembly can
damage product or lead to premature wear of the
O-rings or feed belts.
Awidergapbetweenproductandbeltprovides
thehighesttoleranceforcurledandbentedges.
STEP 1:
Gate Assembly
Adjustment
(continued)
Using One-Piece Thickness of Product to Set Gap Adjusting Gate Assembly for Correct Gap
Lifting Gate Assembly Upward to Insert Product
Feedingproblemswilloccurwitheithertoomuch
productinthehopper,ortoolargeagapbetween
thegateassemblyandtheproduct.
Procedure
To adjust the gate assembly for proper gap:
1. Slide a single sheet of test product under the gate assembly.
It may be necessary to pull up on the adjustment knob to allow
the piece to be inserted.
2. Test thepiece for clearance. Grasp the product with two hands
and slide it front-to-back under the gate assembly. A proper
adjustment allows a slight amount of drag on the top of the
piece.
3. Adjust the knob on the gate assembly until the piece has the
desired drag. Turn the knob clockwise to increase clearance or
counterclockwise to decrease clearance.
4. Repeat the drag tests and adjust as needed to achieve accept-
able clearance.
Move product
front to back,
test for
slight drag
Turn knob
counter-
clockwise to
lower (or
decrease
gap)
Slip sheet of
product under
gate assembly
Pull knob up

7Reliant 3700 Manual
STEP 1:
Gate Assembly
Adjustment
(continued)
To adjust the gate for effective product skew control, follow these
steps:
1. Repeat drag test detailed on previous page.
2. Test the piece for uneven side-to-side drag. Grasp with two
hands and slide it front-to-back under the gate assembly. A
proper adjustment allows for equal drag on the left and right
sides of the piece of product.
3. To compensate for greater drag on one side of the product,
turn the opposite adjustment roller counterclockwise 1/8 turn.
Next, turn the other adjustment roller clockwise 1/8 turn.
4. Repeat drag tests and adjust as needed until equal drag is
achieved. You may need to repeat this procedure after observ-
ing the feeder cycling (refer to Section 3, How to Operate).
Whenfeedingproductwithvaryingthickness
throughout,itmaybenecessarytoturnboth
adjustmentrollers1-2full turnscounter-
clockwisetocompensateforthedifferential
thickness.Thisprocedureallowsthegatehorizon
to“oat.”
Theadjustmentknobsetscrewsarepre-setatthe
factorytolocktheknobtothethreadedrod.DO
NOTOVERTIGHTEN!Over-tighteningtheset
screwsmaydamagethecomponents.
Horizon Adjustment Mechanism (shown on Advancing O-Ring Gate)
Set Screw
Adjustment Roller
Threaded Rod

8
Reliant 3700 Manual
Review
The feeder is shipped to you with a high-tension spring in the gate
assembly. Certain types of product may demand that you change the
gate assembly from a high-tension setting to a low-tension setting (for
example, irregular shaped product). Thisworkswellformostproducts,
allowsfortallstackheight,andhelpsprovidethebestperformancein
preventingdoubles.
If you are feeding a product of irregular thickness, you should change
to low-tension. This provides the following benets:
• Allows the gate assembly to adjust to the irregular thickness
among product pieces.
• Prevents marking on the product by the gate assembly.
• Prevents peeling back the top sheet of a multi-page product.
Procedure
To change the spring from a high to a low spring tension, follow these
steps:
1. Remove the gate assembly from gate plate (lift up on knob
and tip at slight angle to remove).
2. Remove the adjustment knob by turning counterclockwise
(Fig. A).
3. Lift the cylinder off of top of spring (Fig. B).
4. Turn the cylinder around so that the cylinder collar faces up
(Fig. C).
5. Place the cylinder on top of the spring.
6. Replace the adjustment knob (make about 8 revolutions of the
knob before reinstalling gate assembly on gate plate).
Changing From
Factory Set
High-Tension to
Low-Tension
Adjusting Gate Assembly for Low-Tension
A B C
Excessiveloweringofthegateassemblycan
damageproductorleadtoprematurewearof
theO-ringsorfeedbelts.
Whenchangingfromalow-tensiontohigh-
tensionsetting,youmayhavetoadjustthe
stackheightdownwardtopreventfeeding
problems.
Certaintypesofsingle-sheetproductmay
requireevenmoretensionthanthehigh-
tensionsettingcanprovide.Toincrease
tensionevenfurther,placeawasherbetween
thecylinderandspring.

9Reliant 3700 Manual
Review
The side guides hold the stack of product being fed and guide the
product through the feeder in a straight line of movement. You can
adjust the side guides to accommodate different sizes of product.
STEP 2:
Side Guides Setting
Agood“rule-of-thumb”measurementtouseis
about1/16in.(1.6mm)betweenproductedge
andsideguide(1/8in.or3.1mmoverall).
Objective
Adjust the side guides so the product stack maintains uniformity from
top to bottom, with no drifting or binding. Adjustments are made
horizontally.
Make sure the space between the side guides can accommodate the
size of the product being fed. Consider the following as you adjust the
guides:
• An initial starting point should always be that each guide is of equal
distance from the center point of the machine.
• Each edge of the product should rest equally on belts either side
of gate assembly (or equidistant spacing). Therecanbecertain
instanceswhereguidesdonotneedtobecenteredduetoproduct
characteristics.Thisiscalledoffsetspacing.
• Adjust both side guides to be as close as possible to either sides of
the product, without causing binding, curling of edges, or resistance
to movement.
Procedure
To adjust each side guide for proper equidistant horizontal spacing,
follow these steps:
1. Place a small stack of product in the hopper.
2. Using the side guides adjustment knob (centrally located be-
tween the two guides), turn in either direction until guides are
located at the recommended distance from the product:
1/16 in. (1.6 mm) for each edge, 1/8 in. (3.1 mm) overall.
3. Visually check both guides for proper spacing from product.
To adjust each side guide for proper offsethorizontal spacing, follow
these steps:
1. Push down on the side guides adjustment knob to disengage
guides from gear mechanism.
2. Grasp whichever side you wish to offset rst and move into
position.
3. Place a small stack of product in the hopper, with edge of
paper against offset guide.
4. Move the second side guide so that it is located at the recom-
mended distance from the product: 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) for each
edge, 1/8 in. (3.1 mm) overall.
5. Lift up on the adjustment knob so that the guides lock into
place.
6. Visually check both guides for proper spacing from product.
Horizontal Adjustment of Side Guides
Individual Side Guide Offset
Horizontal
adjustment
(rotate to adjust
both side guides
Horizontal
adjustment (push
down to adjust
either side guide)
Manually adjust
either side guide
for offset

10
Reliant 3700 Manual
STEP 3:
Back Wedge
Adjustment
Review
The back wedge provides proper lift to the product to help keep it off
the table top and feed belts, and it creates the force necessary to push
product against the gate assembly. By adjusting it back and forth from
the gate assembly or pivoting side to side, you can create the lift and
force necessary to preshingle product against the curvature of the gate
assembly. Also, it keeps other sheets off the feed belts until proper
separation of the bottom sheet at the gate assembly has occurred.
Here are some general guidelines that should help you determine
how the back wedge should be positioned for your particular product
(for illustration purposes, the optional Articulating Roller Wedge is
shown):
• Movingtheindividualrollerstotheoutside of the back wedge shaft
(Fig. A) will create a bow in the center. The bow will stiffen the
product to promote better singulation of thinner product.
• Pivotingthebackwedgefromitsperpendiculartothegateassem-
bly(Fig. B) will increase or decrease the amount of drag of contact
(or traction) on the feed belts for a given side. This can also be used
to control twisting or skewing of product as it leaves the gate as-
sembly area.
• Ifthebackwedgeispositionedtoofarbackward from the gate
assembly (Fig. C), then the belts are driving the product before the
bottom sheet has separated and left the gate assembly area. This
pushes the gate assembly up, creating more pressure on the prod-
uct, O-rings, and feed belts. The result can be premature buildup of
ink or varnish on the belt surfaces. It can also cause more than one
product at a time to be forced under the gate assembly, creating a
double feed.
By moving the back wedge forward, only the bottom product can
make contact with the belt surface. Slippage is reduced, minimizing
buildup on the belt surface. Double feeding is also reduced.
• Ifthebackwedgeispositionedtoofarforwardto the gate assembly
(Fig. D), then a pinch point can be created between the top surfaces
of the individual rollers and the product. Moving the back wedge
even closer toward the gate assembly can allow product to over-
hang the wedge, creating too much lift of the product off the feed
belts.
Tips for Proper Back Wedge Adjustment
A C DB
Keepinmindthebackwedgeworkswiththegate
assemblytoprovidetheproperlift,curvatureof
theproduct,andproperbelt/productcontactto
separateandfeedonesheetatatime.
Thereareanumberoffeedingproblemswhich
canbesolvedbysimplyadjustingthebackwedge
todifferentpositions.Someoftheseproblems
includedoublefeeds,skewing,twisting,poor
singulation,inkorvarnishbuilduponthebelts,
andjammingatthegateassemblyarea.

11 Reliant 3700 Manual
Objective
Adjust the back wedge for proper support of the product off the table
top, without creating any pinch or stress points.
Procedure
To adjust the back wedge for initial proper positioning, follow these
steps:
1. Grasp a handful of product, approximately 2 to 2-1/2 in. (5 to
6 cm) thick, and preshingle the edges with your thumb.
2. Place the preshingled product in the hopper so the edges rest
against the curvature of the gate assembly.
3. Turn the back wedge adjustment handle counterclockwise to
loosen the wedge.
Preshingling a Small Stack of Product By Hand
Positioning Product Prior to Loosening Back Wedge
STEP 3:
Back Wedge Adjustment (continued)
2 to 2-1/2" (5 to 6 mm)
This end against
gate assembly
Back wedge
adjustment
handle

12
Reliant 3700 Manual
5. Make sure the edge of the back wedge assembly is parallel
with the edge of the product stack. Adjust as required and then
tighten adjustment handle.
Adjusting Back Wedge for Parallel
Adjusting Roller Position
Adjusting Back Wedge for Proper Lift
STEP 3:
Back Wedge Adjustment (continued)
4. Move the back wedge forward and backward until the bottom
sheet is not touching the table top. A good starting point is to
measure about 5/8 in. (16 mm) from the bottom sheet to front
edge of table top. Then as you test, you can “ne tune” from
this point. Youcanalsonetunebackwedgelocationbyloos-
eningtherollerswiveladjustmenthandletopivottherollers
backandforth(ArticulatingRollerWedgeonly).
Movingthebackwedgetoofarforwardtothe
gateassemblycancreateapinchpointbetween
uppersurfaceoftherollersandtheproduct.If
movingthebackwedgeinisnoteffective,thenan
optionalwedgemayberequired.
Start with about
5/8" (16mm) lift
Loosen adjustment
handle to swivel
forward or backward
Back wedge
parallel to
stack

13 Reliant 3700 Manual
STEP 4:
Photo Sensor
Adjustment
Standardphotosensorshippedfromthefactory
isadiffusereectivedetector.Noadjustmentfor
gainisrequiredornecessary.Inpreparingfor
operation,properlypositiontheSheet-Detect
photosensorrst.
Onlyadjustthephotosensorwhenthefeeder
powerisOff.Donotattempttoadjustthephoto
sensorwhilethefeederpowerisOnorwhilethe
feederisrunning.Doingsowillexposeyouto
pinchpointswhichcancauseinjurytohandsor
ngers.
Potentialdamagetofeederpartsisavoidedif
adjustmentsaremadewhenthefeederpoweris
Off.
Review
The Sheet-Detect photo sensor is mounted on the exible arrm ex-
tension assembly to detect the leading edge of a product about to be
ejected so as to turn the feeder Off.
The Flight-Detect photo sensor is mounted on the line to detect a
target (for example, a conveyor lug) so as to eject a product.
Objective
For the Sheet-Detect photo sensor to be effective, it must be adjusted
within a specied range and angle to the product.
Procedure
To adjust the Sheet-Detect photo sensor for proper positioning, follow
these steps:
1. Aim and align the photo sensor straight toward (perpendicular
to) the product. If the photo sensor is at an angle, the light will
not be reected straight back to the receiver.
Sheet Detect
Sensor
Onthefeeder,suchobjectsasshafts,guides,
belts,andsupportsmaycausefalse“reads”
ifthephotosensorisnotadjustedproperly
fortheproduct.Theresultingproblemcanbe
intermittentorcontinuousfeeding.SeeSection4,
OperationalTroubleshooting,forasolution. 2. Position the photo sensor at distance between 1 to 1-1/2 in.
(25 to 38 mm) from the product. Initially use the adjustable
arms on the extension assembly. WhenonlythegreenLEDis
On,youwillknowwhenthephotosensorispositionedprop-
erly.TheamberLEDisOnwhenproductisstaged.
3. When making the adjustment, be aware of any background
objects beyond the product range. Onthefeeder,suchobjects
asshafts,guides,belts,andsupportsmaycausefalsereturns
ifthephotosensorisnotadjustedproperlyfortheproduct(or
target).Theresultingproblemcanbecontinuousfeeding.See
Section4,OperationalTroubleshooting,forasolution.
Avoidlightcoloredbackgroundsinthedischarge
area.
Foranyquestionsyoumayhaveaboutadjusting
theFlight-Detectphotosensor,consultwitha
qualiedtechnician.