The re-designed FlexiCase features vertical forming and the overall machine length has been reduced by 1100 mm to further reduce the packer’s foorprint. It also integrates lightweight tooling and a new robotic gripping arm that works well in low-ceilinged environments. In fact, the new compact gripping arm barely extends beyond the machine frame, making installation easier. More compact in all its dimensions, the new FlexiCase also helps ensure the packaging line is aesthetically-pleasing and uncluttered.
Depending on their shape, length and resistance, plastic bottles of shower gel, shampoo, washing liquids, or detergents are handled using grippers, membranes, or suction cups. The gripping heads, previously made of steel parts and small tooling, are now available in carbon and aluminium, in a beehive structure, reducing head weight by 30% on average, without compromising secure gripping and product integrity.
This substantial weight savings provides additional flexibility in the optimization of FlexiCase, which can work with lighter and quicker gripping arms, consuming less energy: For an equivalent number of products gripped, inertia during loading trajectories is reduced thanks to the lighter combined weight of the head + products, which contributes to equipment longevity (reduction in wear and tear); for an equivalent payload handled by the gripping arm, the reduction in the tooling weight also potentially increases the number of products that can be gripped at a time, as well as increasing the speed.
In addition, the mechanical design of the dual-axis gripping head safety mechanism makes it more sensitive to any collisions (quick machine stops in order to prevent damage to the tooling).
FlexiCase case packers offer a constant level of performance and precision, whatever the payload, the required work envelope or the desired speed, using a wide range of gripping arms: a numerical axis gantry (AN), capable of handling payloads of up to 260 kg; the ER20 robotic gripping arm on the ER20 – with its 2 combined polar and Cartesian axes, helps ensure high speed, good payload, and quality layout criteria, as well as rendering the machine more compact; a high-speed, compact gripping arm for light loads, efficient up to 30 cycles/min.; an externally-sourced 6-axis polyarticulated robot, for maximum flexibility.
