Packing machine for crates
Crates require a specific way of handling. Our SPIDER Palletiser can stack both empty crates as well as full ones. Filling the crates is handled by our SPIDER Case Packer where the products are packed individually or per layer. Stacking full crates is a specialisation in itself. Usually, the crate cannot be lifted from the inside because it is filled to the top. Crates also have to be stacked neatly together. For this job we have various grippers and centring rings available as well as a special crate deposit software so that we can be certain that the crates are always stacked neatly together.
NACE code
10.20
10.39
10.51
10.82
10.85
22.19
27.20
41.20
47.11
52.29
Specific industry knowledge
Retail trade
Automatic Case Packing
More information on the use of SPIDER ROBOTS for Automatic Case Packing specifically for crates will follow soon.
Deploying robots to automate a packing process results in a highly flexible solution whereby several packing patterns and quick production changes become possible. Moreover, the advantage of Delta robots and Cartesian robots is that they take up little space. When packing non-dimensionally stable products they are picked up individually at extremely high feed speeds. Dimensionally stable products are preformed into rows and layers and then packed.
The SPIDER Case Packer comes in two versions. The version with a Delta robot uses a unique product recognition system that detects the position and rotation angle of a product on the infeed conveyor. This information is transmitted to the Delta robot that picks the product “in the flight” and packs it in the crate. Several Delta robots can be used in the event of extremely high supply speeds. This packing method is especially suitable for packing bags. With the version using a Cartesian robot, the products waiting to be packed are preformed into rows or layers after which they are picked up for packing. At high feed rates several crates can be filled simultaneously.
Bottles, cans, flasks or jars are pre-sorted via a divider into the desired rows after which they are picked up for packing. Boxes and other dimensionally stable products are pre-sorted per row and transferred onto a * dwarse taktband to the required number of rows, before being picked ready for packing. In the case of several layers in the box, the cycle is repeated.
Bags and other non-dimensionally stable products are picked up one by one depending on their position on the infeed conveyor. Their position is detected by a patented vision system that is both colour and reflection-independent. At high feed rates, the robot takes two products one after the other before laying them individually or per two in the crate. Several robots can even be setup where the crates are partially filled by each robot. A servo-driven crate-changing system guarantees that * box changes are carried out very quickly.
Thanks to the unique gripper quick-change system and also that new packing patterns are easily set up by yourself, a great many products with their specific packing pattern can be handled. This means that a setup with the SPIDER Case Packer is extremely flexible en ensures that future products will also be able to be handled.
As a rule, check weighers for the primary packed products and filled boxes as well as metal detectors are part of a case packing project. Usually, the SPIDER Palletizer is brought in to destack the empty crates and stack the full ones.
Specific industry knowledge
Food (Sugar)
Food (Dairy)
Logistics & transport
Food (Fish and Seafood)
Chemical
Construction
Plastics and rubber
Food (Fresh)
Automatic Palletizing
Palletising crates
Palletising crates requires a separate approach and here our experience with various types of crates is invaluable. Thanks to the unique gripper concept, crates are automatically centred during pick-up and can then be palletised against each other. Crates that are filled right to the brim can also be processed using a unique gripper. At high feed speeds, even complete loads can be picked up and stacked. In this case an ascending and descending centring ring ensures that the stacked layers are held together when setting down the following layer.
When palletising crates, a sheet of cardboard or foil can be placed on the crate’s contents in advance. Here, a Spider can also be used to destack empty crates whereafter they can be fed to the filling lines. Once filled, the crates, depending on the speed, can be restacked by the same Spider or a second one. In the case of nestable crates, the crate’s orientation is taken into consideration crate and, if necessary, it is rotated 180° before being palletised. After depalletising, it is automatically unfolded and transported to the filling lines.
An additional difficulty when palletising crates and destacking them is that they are always standing in columns resulting in the possibility of various columns resembling an open funnel. By centring the layers, the load is held together. Because the Spider is a portal robot with a long, vertical Z axis, it can palletise crates and moreover their destacking can easily be accomplished between tall partitions. An automatic strapping machine can also be built into the Spider. A central transport conveyer in the form of a carousel can be used for the feeding and removing of full and empty crates. Furthermore, there is no necessity for crate identification such as a barcode or RFID tag to ensure * removing the correct empty crates and to palletise the full crates on the correct pallet.
Crate types
– collapsable crates
– nestable crates
– Delhaize crates
– Euro Pool crates
– Euronorm crates
– CBL crates
Specific industry knowledge
Food (Prepared dishes)
Total End-Of-Line Automation
Many companies prefer to have their entire end-of-line automation come from a single manufacturer. This is exactly what we can offer since, besides the SPIDER Case Packer and the SPIDER Palletiser, we also integrate diverse peripheral equipment. Check weighers, metal detectors, empty and full pallet handling, pallet wrappers and pallet labellers are built together with the packing and stacking robots to form a single line where all individual components are coordinated. The line in its entirety is setup beforehand in our workshop and fully tested using the customer’s products.
In many cases a Spider Palletiser can be used to destack empty crates. At lower speeds, this Spider can also be used to stack full crates. There are also specific crate denesters available to feed the crates one-by-one to the Spider Case Packer. Collapsable crates are first automatically opened before being filled.
The SPIDER Case Packer is setup in such a way that everything is easily accessible and gripper changes can be quicky implemented. If desired, a separate manipulator is provided to place leaflets or booklets automatically in the crate.
The fully filled crates are either weighed or the contents is controlled via a vision system to ensure that all products have been packed. A reject is on hand to ensure that incompletely filled boxes, trays or crates are not accepted so that production does not have to be stopped in the event of a partially-filled crate.
Full crates are then fed to the Spider Palletiser. Various grippers can be provided, depending on the type of crate.
One of the main benefits of using the Spider Palletiser is that, at lower speeds, several lines can be simultaneously stacked by the same robot on individual pallets. Indeed, the Spider is a “portal robot” allowing the frame to have an extra-long extension so that all the pallets can be stacked neatly next to each other. This also makes it possible to have a simple central supply and removal of empty and full pallets. The full pallets can be removed via pallet transport conveyers, a transfer cart on rails or a portal transfer cart. The latter has the advantage of making an obstacle-free passage possible for the transfer cart’s journey.
Various automatic pallet wrappers can also be provided to wrap the full pallets. If required, a cover sheet can be laid on the pallet load resulting in dust-free or waterproof packaging.
After this, one or more pallet labels can be affixed to the full pallet. The palletising data can be supplemented with additional customer-related information which is then sent to the automatic pallet labeller.
After labelling, the full pallets are taken away and, if required, buffered on a pallet transport conveyor.
our methodology
Analysis
We always start from the existing production environment. You receive a layout, a carefully detailed pricing and a concise description of the solution. We always substantiate our proposal with information on projects already completed in the sector in which you are active.
Project planning
We draw up a project dossier with all the technical details of your installation. We then go through everything together, adjusting and validating the proposal wherever might be necessary
3D design
Following the validation of the project dossier, we come to a final technical layout. We then convert this into a technical 3D design, giving you a correct image of what your installation will look like.
Line control
In this step the components of your installation are manufactured and we proceed to the development of the line control. All components are connected in a line-by-line fashion with each other so that they are in constant communication with each other.
Assembly line including all peripheral equipment
The complete assembly of your installation, including all peripheral equipment such as weighers, labellers, etc. is done by us in advance. We assemble the complete line with the greatest care into a single unit using a standardised methodology. Because the entire line has been fully operationally tested beforehand, both installation and the further start-up takes no time at all.
FAT
Following the assembly of your installation, it is then extensively tested in our workshops, allowing you to see it at work before being assembled at your premises. Using a comprehensive checklist, the installation is checked down to the smallest detail as to whether it meets all specifications before being transported to you.
Transport, assembly, start-up and training
All components are disassembled before being transported and assembled on site. Your employees are then trained to be able to work optimally with your new installation.
After sales service
At SPIDER we provide an excellent after-sales service. On the one hand, there is the continuous monitoring and logging of your installation so that we can remotely follow the operation in real time via cameras inside the installation, allowing us to make adjustments remotely. On the other hand, you can also call on our experienced service team 24/7.
reliable partner
We attach great importance to across-the-board communication with our customers. Even before the initial design stage, we want to fully understand their requirements so that we can provide the right end-of-line solution. We build our SPIDER Case Packer and SPIDER Palletiser, as well as their integration, into the complete line. This results in the operator having being able to handle it comprehensibly because of the uniform manner of operation of the various parts. Thorough training is provided for the operators. This is backed by structured after-sales service that the customer can call on 24/7.
Automatic Case Packing
Automatic Palletizing
Total End-Of-Line Automation
