摘要 |
<p>A packaging machine (10) having multiple modules (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) each performing a separate function in a packaging sequence. The modules (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) are building blocks that are assembled to define a packaging machine. An infeed conveyor/lane divider module (12), a blank magazine and infeed tray module (14), a collation and synchronization module (16), a gluing and closing module (18), a turning module (28), a stacking module (20), a film cutting module (22), a film wrapping module (24) and a heat shrink module (26) are selectively assembled in various combinations to define machines that pack articles into trays, wrap the articles with heat shrink film, turn the packages, stack the packages for multi-tier packages, or any combination of these functions. The modules (12, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 28) each have an independent conveyor (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 100) driven by an onboard servo drive (54, 62, 96, 122, 156, 162, 106). The servo drives (54, 62, 96, 122, 156, 162, 106) are coordinated to provide controlled flow of articles from module to module. The servo drives (54, 78, 62, 96, 120, 122, 138, 154, 156, 162) are all connected to and controlled by a supervisory computer (200) such that no mechanical connection between modules is required.</p> |