KHS, the German packaing and filling equipment provider is to launch its fully automatic Innopal PBL gantry palletiser at the Anuga FoodTec expo to be held in Cologne 8-11 April.
The Innopal PBL gantry-type palletiser is designed to process 6,000 to 20,000 individual packs per hour. This equals a palletising output of 60 to 180 layers per hour, making it suitable for use in small and medium-sized companies. Because of its compact and variable design capabilities, the Innopal PBL can also be integrated in existing lines.
A new layer pusher that has been extended in the direction of the full pack conveyor is a special feature of the twin-column palletiser. A grouping station is no longer needed as the layer pusher handles the row pushing function to set up layer formations and palletise simultaneously. This means increased performance while occupying considerably less space in comparison to conventional machines.
KHS claims that the Innopal PBL is exceptionally suitable for palletising a widest possible range of different goods and is therefore capable of palletising bags of sugar or raw eggs packed in trays just as carefully and reliably as it palletises trays of bottles.
The advantages of the modular design KHS dry area concept are apparent in the new palletiser. The machine is run via a PC-based control computer that controls not only the co-ordination of the servo-axes but also the peripheral components and provides facilities for machine visualisation via VGA monitors. One intelligence controls everything, minimising the risk of interface problems.
Toothed belts are used exclusively to generate the horizontal and vertical movements. The modular design of the mechanical parts and the plug-and-socket connections of the electrical equipment contribute toward reducing the time required for installation and ensure rapid replacement or addition of individual modules as needed, the company says. Additionally, servomotors mean short cycle times and high performance coupled with exact adherence to positioning accuracy.
Another innovation on exhibit at the Anuga-Foodtec comes from the KHS Kisters division. At the trade show, KHS Kisters will be presenting a new handle applicator, equipped with servo technology. The new handle applicator can be implemented for single-lane as well as for multiple-lane tray shrink wrappers.