Position: End of line handling/packaging system provides food processors and packers with significantly improved handling characteristics, eliminating damaged products.
Bizerba, a leading manufacturer and supplier of automatic weighing, packaging and labelling systems for the food industry, is launching a new end of line handling/packaging system, which is specially designed for loading fresh food products in sealed packs directly into trays or cartons for onward transportation to retail outlets.
Unlike conventional systems, the new handling/packaging system provides food processors and packers with significantly improved handling characteristics, eliminating damaged products that can often occur during handling.
The new handling/packaging system is designed for high throughput production environments, typically operating two or three shifts over a twenty four hour period.
As a result, the handling system allows staff normally employed for tray loading to be deployed to other production areas, maximising productivity still further.
Tips:a quality packaging controller is enable the packaging equipments work more safely and efficiently.
In a two shift production environment, for example, the new handling system can effectively replace up to six workers.
The new handling/packaging system comprises three integrated units: robotic product/pack holding arm, with vacuum holding mechanism; a feeder unit for temporarily holding packs as they are removed from the end of the production line; and a pallet or container location and handling unit.
Packs reaching the end of the production line conveyor move onto two feeder bars; at this point the vacuum mechanism on the pack holding arm locates and holds the products while the feeder bars are slid aside, allowing the holding arm subsequently to lower the packs onto a pallet.
The tray or carton is then repositioned to allow packs to be stacked in the most efficient manner.
The entire process is fully automatic and operates at high speeds without the risk of packs being dropped or damaged; packs can be stacked both horizontally and vertically with full in-flight rotation to achieve optimal loading.
Designed to further enhance line integration and production efficiency, the system features a range of programs for different pack sizes and can be linked to Bizerba's Weigh Price Labelling machine so that depending on the type of product to be labelled, the handling/packaging system can change its configuration to suit the requirements of the package.
The new handling/packaging system can also be supplied with an Optical Inspection System, which is designed to monitor and automatically reject damaged packs including those without labels or where labels are unreadable.
Michael Harris, Managing Director of Bizerba explains, "We are committed to providing our customers with new and improved solutions and the latest addition to our comprehensive range of products provides numerous benefits, including improved handling, elimination of damaged packs, reduction in manpower requirements and significantly improved line integration.
