VZ-TEC Easy Bucker VZ1000 User manual

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
VZ-TEC
EASY BUCKER©VZ1000
Project Engineer ..................................... Cory VanderZwaag System Designed & Built By White’s Bridge Tooling, Inc.
Tooling Project Manager (Build).……...…… Ryan Haskins
Tooling Controls Manager …………………... Jason Playter
White’s Bridge President.....…………………... Pete Odland
White’s Bridge Tooling, Inc.
P.O. Box 8
1395 Bowes Road
Lowell, MI 49331
[phone]
VZ-TEC
www.vz-tec.com
[phone]
WBT Job #6735

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
3. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
4. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
5. RECOMMENDED SPARE PARTS LIST
6. PURCHASED COMPONENTS MANUALS AND LITERATURE

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
INTRODUCTION:
This document provides the instructions, descriptions, and technical data you will need
to operate the VZ-TEC East Bucker© VZ1000 properly and safely. Read this manual in
its entirety before operating this machine. Be sure you understand each step and are
familiar with any special instructions, CAUTIONS and WARNINGS.
• Variable Frequency Drive: Allows for adjusting the RPMs of the machine to achieve
quickest bucking of material in conjunction with the humidity of the plant and
minimal loss of material.
• Emergency Stop Buttons: Are situated to both sides of the machine in case of an
emergency. NOTE: these buttons are to be used in case of an emergency. Use the
VFD (variable frequency drive) for powering on and o.
• Motor Housing: Each motor housing contains bearings that are to be maintained
by greasing the bearings at regular intervals. Also regular inspection of the spiders
inside of the LoveJoy couplers is suggested.
• Vacuum Recovery Port: As an addition to the VFD VZ Tec’s vacuum recovery system
may be purchased and tted to you Easy Bucker.
• Mounting Plates: Alongside the center bolts on the mounting plate are a number of
angles that allow for a pitch to be secured so that a number of options are available
to situate the production line to the end users needs.
• Leg Assembly: The legs of the Easy Bucker have an ordination that needs to be
adhered to. Read on to #3 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS for proper assembly.
Fig. 1.1

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
The Easy Bucker is designed to be set up with an engine hoist or fork lift. It is
important that you rst set in place the Easy Bucker BEFORE the conveyer or
platforms are set.
While using the machine, the Easy Bucker is designed to allow up to four people to
load it continuously. Position the tilt of the machine at 0° and set platforms of both
broad sides of the machine parallel with the sloped feeder. Now four people may
load the machine all at the same time for maximum productivity.

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY!
Operation of the Assembly workstations involves machinery with ELECTRICAL ENERGY and
PRESSURIZED AIR LINES. Safety awareness is essential. You can help prevent accidents that
may cause INJURY to others or DAMAGE to the equipment by observing all the standard shop
SAFETY RULES at your workplace and taking the following additional PRECAUTIONS.
MACHINERY PRECAUTIONS:
• Know and respect the machinery. Approach moving machine parts with caution.
• DO NOT operate the machine in the automatic mode unless all guards, covers, shields
or other safety devices are in place. If guards are removed for any reason, they must be
replaced before restarting the machinery in the automatic mode. Do not place hands, any
body parts or tools into the machine without rst turning o the main power switch on the
Operator Control Panel and locking out the control panel power.
• Learn the location of the EMERGENCY STOP push button on the Operator Control Panel.
• Never place your hands on or near any moving machine parts.
• Never reach inside any enclosure or guards while the machine is being cycled in the
automatic or manual modes.
• While performing troubleshooting procedures for this machine, it may be necessary for
maintenance personnel to remove the guards. Use extreme care to ensure that personnel
keep clear of the machine or serious injury could result.
• Use warning signs when maintenance personnel are repairing the machine. Never allow
anyone to operate the controls while others are working on the machine.
• KEEP THE DOORS TO THE ELECTRICAL CABINET CLOSED! Only authorized personnel may
open them.
• DO NOT operate the machine if there are obstructions in the way of moving machine parts
• Always be attentive to machine malfunctions. Fault indications, improper or marginal
functions, or unusual noises can indicate problems requiring immediate attention
• Keep your work area clean by removing all rags, scrap, and oil spills that could cause an
accident.
• Ensure that a re extinguisher and other appropriate re protection gear are readily
available.
• Only qualied personnel should make repairs or adjustments to the machine.
• Do not work on pneumatic devices without bleeding the system pressure to 0 PSI.
• Limit systems pressures to within specications to prevent damage to the system.
• Never manually activate limit switches, relays, or valves unless following maintenance
instructions.
REMEMBER
IF YOU SUFFER AN INJURY, SEEK FIRST AID IMMEDIATELY!

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
MACHINE SETUP PROCEDURES
LEG ASSEMBLY
Assemble the leg before hoisting machine, platforms, or putting in place the conveyor belt. The
Easy Bucker employs two separate leg assemblies that allow the machine to set variable height
and to pivot at its center point; these are the center bolt holes on the mounting plate
(Fig 4.1). Bolt holes to either side of the center bolt hole on the mounting plate are to secure
the machine to the desired angle.
Before trying to insert the upper leg into the lower leg makes
sure that the grove on the upper leg and the inner seam on the
lower leg will be on the same plane. Upper leg (Mounting Plate)
inserts into the lower legs (Leg Base) locking into place with
through bolts and nuts. F101.1 and N101.1. Once assembled,
legs should be positioned so that the oset Mounting Plate will
be in direct contact with the machine’s own mounting plate,
once in place.
HOISTING MACHINE
Bring the machine into place by either one of two ways:
1. Forklift: The Easy bucker’s center point is at the center of the
machine, position forks as wide as possible and ender under
the center of the machine. Bring to desired height. Double
check that the legs are at the same height and the center
holes of the machine’s mounting plate and the center hole
of the legs’ mounting plates are in line. Fasten with F102.1
and N102.1 at the center hole of both sides before fastening
the pivoting adjustment hole to the desired angle. NOTE: At
this point the Shoot Assembly and Emergency Stop Buttons
should not be fastened to the machine
2. Engine Hoist: If using an engine hoist to bring the machine
up into place rst place the machine securely onto blocks
or the base of an engine hoist so that ngers and arms
can safely pass under the center point of the machine. At
the center point of the machine use a short strap to wrap
on top of the machine so that the ends of the strap come
underneath the unit and into the area of the shafts inside.
Pass the end of the strap over the shafts and now you bring
in the engine hoist and hook eyelets of straps into the hoist
arm. NOTE: Be sure to test the position of the strap in order
to ensure you have strapped at the point of balance where
the machine can travel parallel to the ground. *At this point
the Shoot Assembly and Emergency Spot Buttons should not
be fastened to the machine.
Fig. 4.1
Fig. 4.2

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS CONT.
MACHINE SETUP PROCEDURES
SHOOT ASSEMBLY
Once the machine is bolted into the legs and at it is at the desired height it is now time to
fasten the Shoot Assembly. Bring the angle of the machine to 0° for the Shoot Assembly.
1. Fasten the metal panels of the Shoot together F104.1
2. Fasten the assembled panels centered onto the bottom of the machine F105.1
3. Fasten the rubber skirt to the metal shoot that was just assembled using R101.1
4. Lastly cut the rubber panels of the Shoot Assembly to the desired angle that will match to
height and pitch of the conveyor that will be placed below the Easy Bucker
Fig. 5.1

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS CONT.
OPERATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: Make sure both emergency stop buttons are pulled out to allow Variable
Frequency Drive (VFD) to power on.
POWERING ON
Turn the top, Variable Speed Control, dial fully counterclockwise, this is the lowest/ slowest
allowance of RPMs the VFD allows. And then turn the Directional Switch to the vertical position,
here the Easy Buckers Shafts are closed to power and rotation.
Now Power the VFD on using the On/O Switch. The display screen will power on.
RUNNING THE EASY BUCKER
Once the Display Screen is powered switch the Directional Switch to the Right,
Counterclockwise. This will all the inner shafts of the Easy Bucker to down and in towards each
other.
It is now time to set the speed of the shafts to buck the plants at an optimal rotation. Rotate
the Variable Speed Control Dial clockwise and begin feeding in full dried plants by holding the
base of the stock past all branches. As an operator of the Easy Bucker© pay attention to the
spent plant stocks where all biomass comes o cleanly with very little stem breakage.
Fig. 6.1

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
TIPS FOR OPERATION
• VZ-TEC recommends plants to contain between 8% - 12% moisture. Machine can operate
with moisture content up to 18% if needed.
• Feeding the whole plants into the Easy Bucker© should be a simple and expedient process.
Be sure to hold the plant near its cut base so that all the biomass of the plant can pass
through the brushes.
• NOTE: it is important to grasp the plant base rmly and not to hold higher on the plant
where branches can trap the hands into the pulling force the shafts produce.
Fig. 7.1 Fig. 7.2

USER’S GUIDE:
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
NOTE: The following procedures are general automation system procedures.
LUBE OIL & GREASE
• Ensure that adequate levels of proper lube oil and grease are in their respective lube
systems.
NOTE: Power off and unplug the Easy Bucker before performing all maintenance.
• The regular greasing of Easy Bucker will ensure quality performance. Shown here as the
White Circle.
• It is also recommended that when greasing the bearings set screws and the Spider spacer
between Lovejoy is tightened and inspected. In the event that either ware out or become
lost, immediately install new hardware for proper and continued maintenance. Represented
are the White Arrows for the Set Screw locations and the White Box for the Lovejoy Spider
spacer location.
DO NOT OPEN THE DOORS TO THE ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURE: If you suspect an electrical
malfunction, contact your supervisor.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE PROCEDURES:
Maintenance procedures specic to the automations standard components are located in the
appropriate factory supplied manuals and literature at the rear of this manual.
WARNING
Fig. 8.1