The new Stewart Systems Stand-up Case Packaging System is an innovative solution to the problem of automatically case packing self-standing pouch packages. The Case Packing System is capable of loading cases at speeds to 160 pouches per minute.
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Advantages
Operation
Pouches are discharged from the filing / closing system on a short belt conveyor and oriented in a stand-up configuration with narrow side leading. The pouches are guided into a diverting system and as they enter the system they are optically detected and counted. The diverting system directs the flow of pouches into the first row of the staging area. When the correct count for a row is detected, the sequence pauses to allow shifting to an adjacent staging row. Rows are filled sequentially until the selected case configuration is achieved. A linear manipulator is then positioned over the full rows and it grasps all pouches simultaneously, then withdraws vertically with all products. As this case configuration is withdrawn, the system continues to feed pouches to another new row to allow continuous operation. Once the linear manipulator has removed the pouches, the remaining lanes continue filling. Cases are also automatically and simultaneously fed to the loading area. An empty case is indexed to the loading area, awaiting the arrival of the product load. The linear manipulator lowers the pouches into the case, where it places the pouches at a variable preset angle. Case flaps provide additional guidance as the products enter into the case, and all products are released at once. This configuration assures that the maximum number of pouches are well seated within the case while minimizing the possibility of product damage. After releasing the product, the manipulator retracts upward and returns to the product presentation system to gather the next load for the next case as the full case is transported out of the loading area and the next case is indexed into position. |
