Not only does digital packaging machinery deliver greater throughput and greater device flexibility, it adds many new features such as remote maintenance, integration with a company's ERP system and evaluation of production data.
Only a few years ago, no one expected the rapid speed of digital packaging machinery. With the electronic process faster and faster, once the need to increase the distribution box. However, being able to significantly reduce the number of cables required for the bus system, coupled with the advent of decentralized computers, means that there is no need to increase the size of the distribution box. Nowadays, stand-alone distribution boxes are no longer necessary in the packaging industry, and digital packaging machines take up less space than previous mechanical or electromechanical packaging machines.
Automation brings changes to the packaging
The automation era in the packaging industry started about 20 years ago when all-mechanical equipment was equipped with a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the logic functions and the mechanical power shaft of the drive. However, the flexibility of this first generation of automation equipment is not satisfactory. Consumer products, especially food, have shortened life cycles, diversified product trends and greater demand for equipment flexibility. In the second generation of automation equipment later developed, more and more functions were transferred from the mechanical power shaft to the electronic drive system, and the logic functions were still controlled by the PLC system.
Control and drive technology has proven to be a key technology in the field of packaging machinery. Today, fully electronic third-generation machines have all the advantages of servo technology, while setting a new industry standard. Not only does digital packaging machinery deliver greater throughput and greater device flexibility, it adds many new features such as remote maintenance, integration with a company's ERP system and evaluation of production data.
The logic function originally implemented by the PLC is losing its importance, and now it is the electronic motion function that dominates. As the demands on equipment flexibility increase, the number of servo motors is also increasing. This means that due to different programming languages and systems, the physical and logical interfaces are no longer needed. Since the mid-1990s, several companies have led the trend in integrated motion control and logic control solutions in the field of packaging machinery.
Top loading equipment is becoming more popular in carton packaging. Flexible cartoning machines load from above, more flexible than horizontal machines. The robotic arm can be equipped with different vacuum clamps to suit a wide range of products. This solution is also very effective for compound packaging. For medical purposes, for example, blister packs, ampoules, vials, medicine instructions and medicine scoops can all be packed with top-loading equipment. In the area of confectionery, top loading equipment is used to place a variety of different shapes of chocolate into the deep pan. The flexibility of top-loading equipment operation is equally valid for larger packages. With only minor adjustments, the machine can adapt to different container shapes. This means that new product types meet future requirements.
