Antenna Installation
Once you’ve selected the proper antenna for your application,
you will need to decide whether you want to “look up” or
“look down” at the material loop. The RC4000 Selection
Mode allows you to configure the control for either scenario,
whether you are in Reel or Dereel mode.
We strongly suggest that you employ the selectable High
and Low Limit Relays, as an added level of safety. This will
ensure against tight loop or excessive payoff conditions, if a
control or process problem should occur (e.g. material breaks
or runs out, or something moves or damages the antenna).
These relays fulfill the same function as stand alone limit
switches, when properly wired to your control system.
The length of your coupler cable will determine how far from
the control unit you can position the antenna assembly, but a
minimum distance of three feet (3' or 1 meter) is strongly sug-
gested. This helps to ensure that the operator’s body is not
close enough to the antenna to affect the tuning. The standard
cable length is eight feet (8' or 2.4 meters), and optional lengths
of fifteen feet (15' or 4.6 meters) and twenty-five feet (25' or
7.62 meters) are readily available.
Mount your antenna so the material runs through the middle of
the “V” and the lowest point of the loop is either directly above
or below the coupler, depending on whether you are looking up
or down, respectively. The antenna should be securely
mounted, with either four (4) or six (6) #8 machine screws,
flat and lock washers, as required.
The illustrations below depict both direct and indirect methods
of sensing the material loop.
RC4000 Series Antenna Installation
6
www.gordoneng.com
1.800.315.9233
Idler Pulley
Guide Rails
V Antenna w/12A844 Coupler
Grounded
Metal Target
6"
Indirect Control
This illustration depicts one way that a
nonconductive material could be controlled
using an RC4000 Series Reel Control.
An idler pulley, that rides on the material, is
used to transfer the loop height information
to a grounded metal target, which travels up
and down within the “V” of the antenna.
Many variations of this approach are
possible, and they can be as simple as a
grounded metal weight or target suspended
from the material loop within the “V” of
the antenna.
d
Sensing Field
Direct Control of Conductive
Materials
Summary of Contents for RC4000 Series
Page 4: ......
