Positioner makes packaging machinery more flexible

A novel linked carriage positioner simplifies format changes in packaging machinery lines.

Bett Sistemi is a world leader in the design and manufacture of components and systems for automated packaging and packing machines.

The firm's components and structures are regularly chosen by major Italian and European packaging and bottling machinery and systems manufacturers.

The latest addition to the company's Robolift line is a novel linked carriage positioner for format changes.

The new patent-pending system allows system managers to change the format in packaging lines and leads to considerable time saving in comparison with today's systems.

In fact, with current systems, format (bottles, flasks and relative packaging) changes in a handling line require a series of manual procedures, using DIME, which are rather complicated and time-consuming.

The clamps must be opened and the guide edges loosened or tightened (one guide for each product line) which, depending on the length of the lines and the number of lanes, entails a work time ranging from 10 to 60min.

In such a situation two people often have to be involved and every time slight adjustments are made, and so there are safety risks.

The automation of these machines therefore has a weak point and this inefficiency lies in the format changes.

With Bett Sistemi's new linked carriage positioner, format changes become extremely quick and safe, whether they are carried out manually, using the crank or handwheel, or by means of a special gear motor, controlled by an inverter or a PC.

Up to seven programs can be set with the mininverter, while with the PC there is no limit to the number of formats, and everything is run and programmed using specific Bett Sistemi software.

Thanks to this new product's high level of modularity, positioners can be produced measuring up to 6m in length with as many as 36 carriages, broadening the designer's horizons hugely and speeding up the 'slow part' of the automatic machine and the system.

The new Bett Sistemi positioner, conceived to resolve the format change problems of bundling machines, is also suited to other fields of use: the channelling of products on boxing machines, deboxing machines, dinking machines, carton machines, wrap-a-rounds, robots and bottle-packers and tray-wrappers.

The new Bett Sistemi linked carriage positioner for format changes has a maximum shaft torque of 40N/m, with which it can move up to four positioners linked together with five carriages each.

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