Sustainability will drive flexible packaging usage to higher levels
than ever. That’s good news for Edson Packaging Machinery. With over
40 years of case packing experience, they thoroughly understand
difficult to handle packs. Now they’ve applied that knowledge to a new
robotic case packing system launching at PACK EXPO International 2008,
booth N-4345.
Edson already offers a line of proven top load, gantry-style robotic
case packers that provide fast, gentle handling of flexible and rigid
products ranging from personal care to frozen foods.
What makes the new Edson RPd 270 different is its compact, modular,
high speed, highly flexible 2-axis delta mechatronic design using ELAU
packaging solutions (booth E-6413).
Robotics: the ultimate in mechatronic design
The new delta robot differs visibly from most case packers with a
sleek, uncluttered work envelope that holds several practical
advantages. It’s easy to sanitize and clean out, is fully enclosed for
clean room operation, and provides the hallmark mechanical simplicity
of a true mechatronic design. A stainless steel version is also
available.
Partnering with Schneider Electric’s packaging specialist, ELAU, Edson
has combined ELAU’s purpose-built robotic, automation and servo module
technologies with their own vast application knowledge to optimize
performance.
Mastering the intricacies of Flexible Packaging
Standup pouches (SUPs), bags and pouches can be difficult to grip,
especially when the contents create an uneven surface because of their
shape, hardness or frozen condition. Although carbon graphite robot
arms powered by highly dynamic servos can achieve incredible speeds,
they can also generate enough g-force to knock the bag from the gripper.
Edson has mastered these and other challenges in classic,
multidisciplinary mechatronics fashion – through software, mechanical
design, servos and advanced vacuum and gripper systems.
For example, ELAU supplies an exclusive software object that limits the
robot arm’s acceleration to the maximum without losing control of the
product. It’s not available from other automation suppliers, and it
simplified robot programming for Edson’s engineers. By smoothing arm
operation, it also makes for gentle product handling and longer arm
life.
Technology takes the mystery out of robotics
Likewise, ELAU has taken the mystery out of robot programming through
its robotic transformation – a software object that takes the
parameters a mechanical engineer would apply to a conventional
servo-driven packaging machine and automatically transforms them into
the complex kinematic algorithms that robots require to synchronize all
axes about the tip of the robot arm.
General automation suppliers have announced robot control capabilities,
but due to their underlying architecture they are unable to process
fast enough to compete with proprietary robot controls. To deliver the
promised performance, therefore, Edson offers its robotic case packer
only as an ELAU-enabled system.
The rest of the electrical system is supplied by Schneider Electric’s
packaging technology and solutions center (PTASC), for a single source
of supply and worldwide support.
Edson has selected ELAU to supply its 2-axis delta arm, a design that’s
also purpose-built for packaging applications. It is built of a stiff,
lightweight, durable carbon fiber composite for the same reason that
high performance aerospace structures use this material.
The 2-axis delta concept offers the reach, payload and efficiency
needed for case packing, compared to articulated robots or 3-axis delta
pick-and-place robots.
About Edson Packaging Machinery
Edson is a specialist in ‘end packaging’ automation and has served
small and Fortune 500 companies on 5 continents, for over 40 years. To
achieve this success, Edson develops advanced packaging systems to
handle the latest in packaging formats, and offer full ‘end of line’
integrated solutions.
With the focus on sustainable packaging, providing flexible packaging
systems is key; however the real level of success is in providing
responsive ‘after market’ service for repair, upgrades and
modifications to handle new packages. Complementary to the automation
itself is Edson’s offer of integrated ancillary equipment, such as
conveyors, accumulators, RFID scanners, lane diverters, adaptive motion
controls and easy to program interfaces.
World-wide customer support is provided through Edson’s network of
regional automation partners, and teamed with ELAU’s factory support
centers, users can be confident of fast and competent service.
www.edson.com
About ELAU packaging solutions
ELAU, Schneider Electric’s packaging specialist, equips over $1 billion
worth of packaging machines annually. Currently, over 40,000
purpose-built ELAU packaging automation systems are deployed in
machinery worldwide.
Through ELAU, Schneider Electric is the only controls supplier with a
dedicated business unit focused exclusively on the automation of
packaging machinery.
The market demands packaging operations that are more flexible,
efficient and sustainable to fulfill marketing, supply chain and global
business strategies. ELAU innovations have enabled a revolution in
mechanical, software and hardware modularity to deliver these agile
packaging systems.
For more information, visit www.elau.com or email [email protected].
