Maintaining fruit and vegetables products' quality during the packaging process hinges on the correct technology. The Dutch company Lan Handling Technologies has beautifully captured this part of the chain on film. The challenge? Loading and palletizing different crates and boxes fully automatically. That, in a small area, with enough access points for forklifts.
Automatic packaging lines
Lan Handling supplies various packaging lines. At Jansen-Dongen, where the video was filmed, these automatically pack bags of carrots and potatoes and nets of onions. How does it work? The machine feeds stacks of boxes and folding crates from a pallet into the crate erector.
Both whole (600×400 mm) and half (400×300 mm) crates are automatically unfolded. They are checked for possible defects. The machine automatically feeds defective crates out of the system. The sound ones make their way towards the robot cell.
The robot cell
In the robot cell, the products are placed in collapsible crates and boxes. That is done quickly, using different packaging patterns. Jansen-Dongen has added weighers at the robot cell's exit to the palletizer. That ensures that only correctly packaged crates and boxes are fed to the palletizing robot.
Palletizing
The crates and boxes are then palletized and fully automatically strapped onto Euro and Chep pallets. Forklifts can then collect those that are ready for transport. That is thanks to easy access.
For more information:
Lan Handling Technologies
Vera de Winkel
Tel: +31 (0) 648 506 100
Email: vera.dewinkel@lanhandling.com
Website: www.lanhandling.com
Jansen-Dongen
Website: www.jansen-dongen.nl