快速调整

由于其模块化概念，平袋机可在三队列和十二队列之间自由调整道。队列的数量取决于所需的产量和平袋的大小。有了新的分散式配量系统，每条队列都有自己的配量腔和产品库存。

“配量单元的分离让许多区域有了灵活性。现在不同的产品，如盐和胡椒，可以在一台机器上同时包装，”博世包装系统的产品经理 Rolf Steinemann 解释道。

低温下的长时间密封保证了密封包装，从而确保高产品质量。卫生和人体工程学的设计使 Sigpack VPF 易于使用，也易于监控和清洁。“较短的清洁和转换时间有助于提高整体设备效率，”Steinemann 说。精确的配置、深袋灌装和密封接缝减少了产品损失和浪费。这使得包装过程对制造商来说更具成本效益。特别是对于制药行业，这些特性对患者的安全非常有益，因为可以避免粉末药物的过量或不足给药。

总是精确配量

灌装机构基于螺旋加料系统，以其高精度而闻名。智能趋势控制可再调整，以便进行更精确的投配。“第一次设计 Sigpack VPF 时，我们计划使用 Festo 的 MPA 阀岛，这将使我们能够通过真空和压缩空气供应为每个队列输送产品，同时还能实现两腔分离，”开发 Sigpack VPF 的项目经理 Maik Lamprecht 解释道。这将需要额外的清洁组件和用于每个队列的比例阀。

Formats at the push of a button

“The Festo Motion Terminal VTEM made product feeding so much easier,” said Lamprecht, because it allowed every lane to be adjusted individually at the push of a button. “We use only a third as many valve slices and the flat pouch machine has functions that we could have otherwise only achieved with much greater design effort,” added Lamprecht, the Project Manager for the machine.

Greater process reliability

The Sigpack VPF with the Festo Motion Terminal allows pressure and vacuum measurement for process monitoring, leakage monitoring for checking for contamination of the valve, as well as individual adjustment of the cleaning and drainage pressure per lane. “The Festo Motion Terminal has given us a significant boost in terms of process reliability,” said Lamprecht.

To cover all these functions, only one piece of hardware is needed: the Festo Motion Terminal VTEM. It is the first device to use the revolutionary concept of digitized pneumatics in automation technology. Changes in pneumatic functions and adaptation to new formats are controlled via apps, by changing parameters. The integrated intelligent sensors for control, diagnostics, and self-learning eliminate the need for additional components, reduce complexity, and simplify the ordering process.

The apps of the Festo Motion Terminal can replace up to 50 individual components while machine operators receive status information for individual machines, entire lines, or processes in real time. Costly machine downtime can thus be avoided and machine availability can be increased.

Reliable product distribution

Thanks to the fast activation of new functions via apps, machine developers
only have to create one basic machine type. “We can then quickly and easily select apps and equip machines with different specifications in line with customer requirements,” said Product Manager Rolf Steinemann. In the Sigpack VPF, the “Proportional pressure regulation” app controls the product feeding for the multi-lane dosing process. With changing pouch sizes and powder consistencies, the automation platform ensures reliable product distribution and a dependable feed process.

Individual settings

The additional functions include the adjustable cleaning and ejection pulse. The automation platform monitors the filling process and the valve performance using pressure testing. By monitoring pressure and vacuum, wear and contamination can be detected at an early stage. Leakage control ensures reliable processes with reproducible results. The cleaning and air jet pressure can be set individually for each lane.

“The Festo Motion Terminal makes pneumatics fit for Industry 4.0, as process data from the Festo Motion Terminal can be processed on our own condition monitoring platform,” said Product Manager Rolf Steinemann.

Bosch Packaging Systems AG

Industriestrasse 8
8222 Beringen
Switzerland

Area of business: Development and manufacture of packaging and handling systems for the food, pharmaceutical and other industries.

The head office of the Food division with process and packaging technology is also located in Beringen.