More Automation, Less Packaging: Servo Drive Technology Synchronizes Packaging Machine

If you order goods online, you often get a package that is much larger than the actual product. The semi-empty packaging is then usually filled with air or paper cushions. Neopost, a specialist in solutions for mail processing and transport services, came up with a remedy for this. The company developed a fully automatic packaging machine for packages up to 15 kg. It only uses as much cardboard packaging as necessary for the goods; filling up with “air” is therefore superfluous. The advantages are obvious: the shipper can reduce the variance of the standard boxes in stock because the Neopost machine works almost to size. The amount of filling material can also be significantly reduced.Thanks to the size-optimized outer packaging, the carriers can transport more goods in containers of the same size without the need for additional trucks on the streets.

With the aid of a 3D scanner, the packaging machine calculates the volume of the later package and the pattern of the outer packaging. A portal robot unfolds the package around the goods; a pick-and-place robot encloses the invoice. Servo drive technology from SEW-Eurodrive is used in this new process. Using the Moviaxis servo inverters, the "Flying Saw" application controls the cutting knives that "in-line" cut the required boxes from continuous cardboard material. SEW-Eurodrive also controls and moves the entire process, the portal robots in the X, Y and Z axes for erecting and repacking the goods and transporting the parcels via the connecting conveyor belts. The Movi-PLC Power motion controller and servo geared motors from the CMP.. series are used here.with PS.F servo planetary gear units, BS.F type bevel gear units and standard bevel gear units. (ud)

SPS IPC Drives 2016, Hall 3, Stand 420