Secondary Packaging

Expanding the scope of the operator

With computer and technological advances, the role of the packaging machinery operator continues to evolve as the year 2000 nears. Flexibility is key.

September 30, 1996

Controls & machine components: Page 422

Conveying & accumulation

Components assume new importance in packaging

Conveyors, coding and marking machines, and motors and drives are the components best-known to packagers who have production and engineering responsibilities.

September 30, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Big changes in tools for mechanics of the future

The most popular handtool for future packaging mechanics may well be a laptop computer, our experts say. Electronic controls have already arrived in many machines, and are expected to dominate by the turn of the century.

September 30, 1996

Cartoning

Robotics deliver Rx for manual cartoning

Automated set up, packing and labeling of cartons containing antibiotic I.V. bags saves Baxter Healthcare nearly $2 million/year in labor and material costs.

September 30, 1996

Secondary Packaging

Case packer

The new automatic and servo-motor driven case packer from Brenton Eng. (Alexandria, MN) reaches speeds to 35 cases/min. It features a patented continuous-motion downstacker.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Indexing conveyor

WeighPack Systems (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) now offers bottle/can indexing conveyors for integration on WeighPack's automatic weigh/fill systems.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Liquid filling machine

The new Electroflo 6000 automatic liquid filling machine from Electronic Filling Systems (Winder, GA) is designed to handle very thin to very thick fluids.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Motion control software

Warner Electric (S. Beloit, IL) has introduced a Windows(TM)-based software package that guides designers through sizing and selecting products required for linear motion applications.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Camwing rotary actuator

The Kamo Seiko Camwing rotary actuator is now available from Lansea Systems (Quincy, MA). It has an integral soft start-and-stop motion profile. Balls and grooves are used, instead of pneumatic cushions or shock absorbers, to convert linear motion to rotary motion, and to provide high starting torque with smooth acceleration and deceleration.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Digital servo motors

The MKD line of digital AC servo motors from Indramat (Hoffman Estates, IL) are IP65 rated, making them suitable for harsh environments. Five frame sizes are available, offering peak motor power up to 12 kW, with peak torques ranging from 4 to 104 Nm (35 to 900 lb") and speeds to 9ꯠ rpm.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Tray former

The new TF-2 is a low-cost and compact medium-speed tray former from Combi America (Canton, OH) that will be displayed at Pack Expo. The company will also show a case erector with a new water-activated tape system for environmentally friendly paper tape.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Motion control system

The Zeta Series microstepping drive/controller system from Parker Hannifin (Wadsworth, OH) has a new ETS Series electric cylinder. This mechanical actuator incorporates ball or lead drive screw technology and a unique triple bearing anti-rotate assembly to provide smooth motion at speeds from .01 to 40 ips.

September 30, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Rinser/cleaner

The Model HSAWC-9 rinser/cleaner from BFT (Panama City, FL) removes particle contamination, dust and debris from a wide range of glass and plastic containers at speeds to 300 bottles/min.

September 30, 1996