PRODUCTS & APPLICATIONS PRINTING, PACKAGING & LOGISTICS RELIABLY DETECTING PRODUCTS ON CONVEYOR BELTS


Sensors are needed to continuously and reliably detect a wide range of products and films on the conveyor belts of primary and secondary packaging machines for confectionery and baked goods (HFFS, FS, Thermoform, or VFFS). These machines, however, must keep running even if the product or packaging material changes. To help, Leuze has developed the DRT


25C dynamic reference diffuse sensor. The sensor works with three light spots and uses reference technology, with the


latter referencing the conveyor belt instead of the product. In the first step, the surface characteristics of the belt are taught in,


enabling the sensor to subsequently detect all objects that do not correspond to the belt surface as ‘deviations’, even if the conveyor belt is dirty or vibrating. With this approach, the surface properties of the products, such as the colour, gloss or transparency do not influence the detection. The DRT 25C uses its three light spots to reliably detect the entire spectrum: small, flat, or tall and spherical products. Even irregular shapes and contours, or products with holes, are detected thanks to the wide scanning range, and these are also detected as a continuous piece. According to the company, the reliable detection of objects – even


those with challenging shapes and surfaces – guarantees a high machine throughput and prevents system downtime. Of further benefit, no adjustment of the sensor is needed when products or packaging materials are changed, reducing setup time and enabling higher machine throughput.


Leuze www.leuze.com SENSOR SUITS THE DEMANDS OF CONFECTIONERY PACKAGING


Photoelectric sensors from Contrinex are proving useful in the packaging of confectionery. In such a fast-moving industry where high volume production is required, the manufacturers pack sealed bags of candy in cardboard cartons, which are then stacked for shrink- wrapping and palletisation. The packed cartons arrive in uniform stacks and the wrapping machine encloses each stack in a tube of heavy-duty heat- shrink film. This then passes through an infrared oven which shrinks the film, sealing the pack of cartons. Following this, the packs are conveyed onwards towards palletisation. To detect the presence of each pack as it


leaves the shrink wrapping area and update the item count on the control system, highly reliable non-contact sensing is required. Meeting the requirements, Contrinex C23PA


miniature through-beam photoelectric sensors are being specified for this application. These dual-unit sensors, available with an optional alignment aid, have a maximum sensing range of 30m. Each sensor comprises a separate transmitter and receiver, each mounted in a


20mm x 30mm x 10mm miniature plastic housing. Connection to the control system is via a PVC-sheathed cable with the choice of an integral M12 connector or a hermetically sealed entry. In use, the sensor is mounted with the


transmitter and receiver on opposite sides of the conveyor immediately after each oven. Depending on the space available, either unit may be located some distance away from the track. The integral alignment aid ensures rapid, accurate set-up, even at extremes of operating range, while the choice of mounting brackets allow optimal sensor positioning in almost any situation. As each carton breaks the light beam, the


sensor detects its presence and signals the control system to increment the item count. Industry- standard PNP or NPN 3-wire or 4-wire outputs support direct interfacing with modern industrial controls. A second output provides a stability alarm in the event of reduced sensitivity, flagging the need for preventative maintenance before any performance degradation occurs. According to the company, the C23 range detects fast-moving targets reliably. These


ECO-FRIENDLY: WRAPPING CANS IN PAPER


The KHS Group has introduced a range of tray packers that enable cans of food and beverages to be wrapped in paper. The paper wrapping was developed with an international beverage producer. According to the company, this type of pack can replace shrink film or wrap-around carton packaging for transportation or sale on packs of 12 or 24 cans in the high-capacity range of up to 90,000 cans per hour. In order to wrap cans in paper instead of film, just a few


adjustments are needed to the Innopack Kisters tray packer (a machine well established on the market). “In this case, we’ve simply re-engineered the process module for folding and


wrapping,” explained Karl-Heinz Klumpe, packaging product manager at KHS. “The standard components such as tray separation from the magazine, gluing or can feed, are identical to those on the hundreds of proven KHS machines already on the market.” This allows beverage producers to have the tray packers already in operation at their plants converted simply by adapting certain modules. Not only is wrapping cans in paper kinder to the environment, but fewer packaging materials are used.


Instead of a sturdy wrap-around carton or film packs on trays, packaging cans in thinner paper only needs a flat, stable corrugated card pad as a base – with identical results regarding stability. Costs are also cut by the new paper pack: compared to a wrap-around carton by up to 15%, with outgoings about the same as for film. Overheads are also considerably reduced by the low energy consumption of about 14 kWh an hour at 80 cycles a minute. The folding process is such that the pack is also fully enclosed.


The KHS Group 22 www.khs.com/en SEPTEMBER 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS / DESIGNSOLUTIONS


have a sensing range up to 30m which is adjustable via a teach button or via IO-Link, accommodating a wide range of machine geometries. Sensitivity parameters are stored on the sensor’s inbuilt memory and may be retrieved or updated remotely via IO-Link, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and so unplanned sanitisation is avoided.


PLUS Automation www.plusautomation.co.uk


CARDBOARD TOPPER FOR MULTI-PACK CANS


Heineken UK has rolled out a 100% plastic-free recyclable and compostable cardboard topper for its multi-pack cans. ‘Green Grip’, and the removal of shrink wrapping on consumer packs, will eliminate over 517 tonnes of plastic annually. Due to recent travel restrictions, the


company used virtual technology to partly help install the machinery at its brewery in Manchester. Smart glasses were used to collaborate with Italian engineers on the installation process and receive virtual training on safe machine operation.


Heineken UK www.heineken.co.uk


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