ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Currie by Brenton, powered by ProMach, features at Pack Expo 2015 in Las Vegas, September 28-30, a small footprint robotic palletizing system for automated pharmaceutical applications. This Currie by Brenton design reduces by up to 40 percent the floor space typically required by robotic palletizers. The robotic palletizer is part of an active demonstration at the show of a fully automated and unified case packing, palletizing, and stretch wrapping operation. (Brenton and Currie by Brenton Pack Expo Booth C-3121, Orion Packaging Booth C-3023)
PHARMACEUTICAL & MEDICAL CASE PACKERS
As cases exit the Brenton Mach-2 wrap-around case packer each is check weighed before being handled by the robot. An incorrectly weighted case is automatically picked up by the robot using vacuum pick tool and placed on a reject lane. Every in-specification case is picked up by the robot, which then moves the case to a labeler and then to a vision system. Similar to a vision station in the case packer, this vision system verifies that the barcode and human readable information on the label are correct. The unified system’s end-to-end quality control features are foundational to tracking and tracing pharmaceutical products. The robot is mounted directly on the frame of the case packer, saving considerable floor space. The control panel for the case packer and robot has been consolidated into one compact unit and mounted directly to the frame of the case packer for additional space savings.
The HMI for the case packer and the robot have been integrated for unified operation and utmost ease of use. Control of the robot is carried out through the HMI, a much simpler and more intuitive process than programming movement through a teach pendant.
Another space savings aspect is that the robot builds pallet loads directly on the base of an Orion Packaging FA turntable automatic stretch wrapper. This stretch wrapper features Orion Packaging’s latest control system with enhanced HMI, which is being introduced at Pack Expo. The high resolution imaging on the HMI makes diagnosing problems with wrapped pallets and maintenance on the unit easier than in the past.
“I’d like to draw attendees’ attention to the unified HMI and how Currie by Brenton simplifies robotic operations,” said Jason Bennett, Palletizing Product Line Manager, Currie by Brenton. “We’ve taken a huge amount of complexity out of the system, which ultimately leads to higher uptime and throughput. Very few in this industry can do that. Ask one of the staffers at the booth for a robotic palletizer demo. It will be well worth the time.”
After the stretch wrap station, pallets will index forward to the de-palletizing area. A robot utilizing vacuum on the end-of-arm-tool will de-palletize the cases from the pallet. The cases will be placed on a Shuttleworth low back pressure roller conveyor to be discharged outside of the cell. The empty pallet will be conveyed back through the system to the awaiting palletizer.
For more information on Currie by Brenton palletizers, elevators and stackers, sheet feeders, and pallet dispensers, call 800-535-2730 and visit www.CurrieByBrenton.com. And stop by the Currie by Brenton Booth C-3121 at Pack Expo. For more information on integrated end-of-line solutions, visit the ProMach End-of-Line Group website www.EOLPackaging.com.
About ProMach
ProMach is a family of best-in-class packaging and processing solution brands serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household and industrial goods industries. ProMach brands operate across the entire production line: processing, filling, bottling and capping, decorative labeling, flexibles and trays, pharma, handling and sterilizing, labeling and coding, and robotics and end of line. ProMach also provides systems and integration including turnkey solutions, design/build, engineering services, and productivity software to optimize production line design and deliver maximum uptime.
ProMach designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports the most sophisticated and advanced packaging and processing solutions in the global marketplace. Its diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, depends on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solutions. ProMach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For more information about ProMach, visit www.ProMachBuilt.com and for more information on ProMach Careers, visit www.ProMachCareers.com.