Product category:
General packaging materials, equipment and services
News Release from: PFM Packing Machinery | Subject: Vision robots on packaging lines
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 December 2006
Packaging line offers flexibility for
wet wipes
Automatic packaging line for 'wet wipes' uses machine vision equipped robot to pick up lids and apply glue before replacing the lid on a pack.
Wet wipes are particularly distinctive and challenging when it comes to maintaining productivity and high volume throughput on packaging lines In the case of wet wipes producers that use equipment supplied by PFM Machinery, they are reaping the benefits of packaging systems that the company believes are unique in the application of lids or labels by vision-system equipped robots
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Sep 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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At the heart of PFM's highly-specialised wet wipes lines is the company's Flexpicker.
The story began 12 years ago when manufacturers of wet baby wipe products asked PFM to develop a system to place lids on their pillow packs so the wipes were easy to remove and the product was protected and drying-out was prevented.
The Flexpicker system comprises two feeding belts and a glue application gun.
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The robot picks the lid up from a cleated chain conveyor using a vacuum cup system and applies a continuous flow of glue before placing the lid, on the pack with a precision of 2mm.
Any shape lid can be used with a minimum usage of glue and a very fast change-over time of 5 to 10 minutes.
One of the most problematical areas of successful wet wipes packaging is avoiding the fluid from the wipes coming into contact with the finseal area and other` external surfaces of the pack and, therefore, compromising the integrity of the pack.
There is also the possibility of the fluid getting onto the surfaces of the packaging equipment and 'contaminating' other packs as they come through the system.
PFM has solved this by utilising inverted wrappers like the Scirocco and the Mistral, preventing any lotion from the wet wipe tissues compromising the seal.
Containing the liquid within the pack is ensured by PFM's Mistral and Scirocco BB flowrap system using an NY-PE laminated film that is perfect for use with humid products.
Another distinctive feature of PFM's wet wipes packing system is the precise die-cutting of the pillow pack to provide the hole from which the product can be extracted.
This is performed by a film preparation unit that can also ensure that a second label can be partially applied to the opening label and the pack itself, providing an important tamper-evident feature.
PFM's sales director, Chris Bolton commented: "We have many years' experience in this specialised packaging field, which has enabled us to perfect systems that can consistently provide 120-140 packs per minute throughput, which we believe is the fastest possible rate within the wet wipes market." He said: "Our systems are also able to ensure full hygiene compliance and we further ensure continuous production through our teleservicing facilities that monitor and interrogate line performance remotely via a modem.".
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