Base Handling Ltd - IBC Platform Lift

PLM/1000/5610/B/G Double Pillar IBC Platform Lift

This Double Pillar IBC Platform Lift has a Safe Working Load of 1000 Kgs and a lift height of 5610mm. The lifting platform was 1800mm wide x 1400mm deep to allow an Intermediate Bulk Container to be loaded onto the lifting platform. Given the width of the lift carriage, the lift carriage plate was supported underneath by 80 x 40mm box section structure. The IBC Platform Lift was manufactured from Grade 304 stainless steel, was a welded construction throughout and was designed to be bolted to the floor. The lifting is accomplished via a motor gearbox mounted at the top of the main column and a 1” Simplex chain. At the upper level, there was an extended landing plate to allow the IBC Platform Lift to be stood off the wall. The landing plate was bolted to the bridging structure and extended approximately 300mm onto the upper floor where it was fixed into the floor using suitable fixings and a resin anchor.

Safety Guard to BS EN 14120:2015 Safety of Machinery Guards

This IBC Platform Lift safety guard is constructed from 40 x 40 x 3mm stainless steel box section and 2.0mm stainless steel sheet to meet the guidelines of BS EN 14120:2015 Safety of Machinery Guards. The safety guard reached to a height of 2200mm above the upper floor level, having a pair of hinged doors at each level through which the IBCs can be loaded and unloaded. All doors were electrically interlocked to prevent the machine being operated with a door open and in addition, the doors are mechanically locked closed whilst the IBC Platform Lift is running. Each pair of doors may only be opened when the lifting carriage is at the appropriate level.

IBC Platform Lift Electrical Control

This IBC Platform Lift was fitted with an IP65 Stainless Steel Control Panel mounted on the safety guard at a convenient position to give good maintenance access under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation 1998 (PUWER). The control panel incorporated the following controls; Up, Down, Guard Release, Emergency Stop, Cleaning Key Switch and a Reset Facility. There was a remote Stainless Steel push button station at the upper level incorporating the following controls; Up, Down, Guard Release and Emergency Stop.

Dual Upper and Lower end of travel limit switches are positioned to prevent inadvertent adjustment or damage but are easily adjustable by trained personnel for fine adjustment on site. The IBC Platform Lift operation is latched so that pressing the respective ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ push buttons once will raise or lower the lift to the other floor level. Each time the Lift Carriage activates the upper limit switch, an electrical actuator will be driven out underneath the lift carriage to support it while it is loaded. Before the IBC Platform Lift can move again, the actuator will retract automatically once the down button is pressed.

IBC Platform Lift Safe Access System

This Safe Access System was fitted to the IBC Platform Lift during manufacture to allow access to the inside of the safety guard at the lower level for maintenance and housekeeping. The Access System operated as follows:-

• The lift frame must be empty, at the full up position and the safety guard gate must be closed
• At the full up position, the lift carriage is prevented from moving by a 50mm support bar driven out beneath the lift carriage using an electrical actuator
• As the bar is engaged, it will alter the state of 2 off separate safety limit switches
• The one switch will disable the IBC Platform Lift safety circuit and relay
• The second limit switch will allow the lower safety guard door to be opened providing that the Safe Access Key Switch has been operated
• It is now safe to enter the lift enclosure with the IBC Platform Lift disabled and the lift carriage supported
• To re-instate the IBC Platform Lift operation, the above sequence is reversed