Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News
Magazine
PMPN Article Index
Originally Published October 2000
PRODUCT UPDATE
CARTONERS: Are Flexible and Fast
New control and drive systems enhance productivity and ease of use.
A cartoning machine designed to pack blisters, bottles, ampule trays, bags, and tubes has a top output of 120 folding cartons per minute. The CUT 120 cartoner features a simple, self-lubricating, nonstretching carton-transport system whose design borrows only the desirable attributes of walking-beam and chain systems. It offers intermittent, PC-based, all-servo drive control. Carton changeover takes just seconds and requires no change parts. The cartoner provides a wide variety of feed and closure configurations and adjusts to accommodate any carton size between
A semiautomatic cartoning machine rated at 3–60 cartons per minute is available configured to create a tuck-in or glued seal. The compact CPT-60 is constructed entirely of stainless steel with upper clear acrylic enclosures equipped with limit switches. The system's features include product detection sensing from carton pickup, finished-product removal, a jogging switch, a digital speed indicator, and emergency stop. The machine comes with one set of change parts. CapPlus Technologies, Phoenix, AZ.
Designed to adapt to a wide variety of cartons and products, a servo-driven cartoner is well suited for pharmaceutical applications. The flexible Model 400S occupies less than 10 ft of line space and offers a maximum operational speed of 400 cartons per minute. It features independent servo drives for carton setup, dust-flap, major-flap, and compression sections, Allen-Bradley servo drives, Control Logics controllers, and toolless changeover. Special timing-belt flight and loader systems keep maintenance to a minimum. The cartoner accommodates bottles, vials, wrapped products, and blisters. Dimension Industries, a div. of Douglas, Maple Grove, MN.
A cartoning machine features a flighted product conveyor with barrel-cam automatic loading and updating. The ECM-series cartoner handles cartons as small as
A high-speed cartoner is optimized to handle delicate single-dose foil packets containing pharmaceutical over-the-counter gels and ointments. The Cartopac Model SC4 cartoner has been designed so that the interaction that takes place between the rotary carton feed, opposing vacuum prebreaking system, mechanical carton-erection system, and pouch picking, stacking, and placing operations maintains gentleness in the handling of the packets. Twin-perforated pouches are transferred automatically from the form-fill-seal machine, gently picked and precision stacked, and then loaded into the carton. The process avoids denting, scratching, or tearing the foil packets and minimizes carton and packet scuffing. IWK Packaging Machinery Inc., Fairfield, NJ.
A stand-alone servo-controlled cartoner is easy to integrate into existing blister, bottle, pouch, and production lines at pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, medical device, and cosmetics manufacturing facilities. The P-1500 cartoner processes straight-tuck, reverse-tuck, fifth-panel, and glue-closure cartons at speeds as fast as 150 cartons per minute. Servo technology facilitates the reproducibility of system settings and accelerates toolless changeovers. Setup programs are stored in the programmable logic controller and accessed through a man-machine interface with color touch screen. Timing belts used throughout the GMP-compliant machine in place of chain drives ensure clean, noiseless operation. Klöckner Medipak, Clearwater, FL.
All functions of an operator-friendly horizontal cartoner take place in easy-to-see, easy-to-access areas. Diagnostics are displayed on an eye-level control panel, and changeover is speedy. The continuous-motion MA255 machine requires minimal maintenance, and sealed oil baths keep drive movements quiet and free of vibration. The cartoner's balcony construction separates working areas from mechanical parts in compliance with GMP standards. Featuring a carton-erection system that places erected cartons directly into transport-chain lugs, the machine produces and fills cartons at rates up to 200 per minute. Automatic rejection follows detection of products missing or incomplete cartons. Marchesini Packaging Machinery Inc., West Caldwell, NJ.
A robotic case-loading system that is vision controlled provides high accuracy in the gentle yet tight packing of a variety of products into cases or trays. The FX-100 can detect the position of randomly delivered products on the infeed conveyor and signal the robotic arm to pick up each in correct registration so as to position the group of packages for loading into a preformed case or tray. The flexible system can handle a wide variety of products, as well as many types of cases and trays. It can be integrated with an existing case, tray, or wraparound machine to create a fully automatic loading system. Quick and accurate changeover is made certain by programmable logic controllers, servo-controlled drives, and handwheel adjustments. Salwasser Manufacturing Company, Inc., Reedley, CA.
An economical vertical cartoner handles most styles of cartons, including autobottom, glue, display panel, four-flap interlock, and locking tab. The Model 54L/82 Combination Unit runs a large range of sizes at speeds of up to 60 cartons per minute. The 54L Convey-O-Mat and 82 Top Closer can be separated for increased versatility. Bivans Corp., Los Angeles, CA.
Horizontal continuous-motion cartoners are suitable for handling pharmaceutical packages such as packets, pouches, blisters, vials, tubes, and syringes. The HCM-series cartoners offer a sanitary fall-through design for containment of product and ease of recovery. The machine works at speeds of up to 300 units per minute, handling most carton styles. MGS Machine Corp., Maple Grove, MN.
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