Baking & Snack - June 2005 - 89

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY

ᮡ The use of proprietary compression technology allows users to re-configure current bread
patterns and fit more bread into the basket or
box, maximizing their distribution systems.
COLBORNE

population of robots in bakeries and
snack facilities. Other forces encouraging the adoption of robots include
declining prices, faster performance,
greater reliability and a growing
number of purpose-built systems
for functions such as palletizing or
environments such as freezers.
One bakery equipment supplier
uses a gantry robot as the focal point
for a bread basket loader, as well as
for case packing. The former improves basket loading efficiency and
flexibility; the latter automates a previously labor-intensive process.
Switching from a traditional mechanical turntable with slide-type feed
to a gantry robot boosts basket loading
speed, hastens changeover and allows
baskets to be packed more tightly
while handling product gently.
The robot can create tighter pack
patterns because it doesn't need to
leave room around the perimeter
of the basket to slide loaves in. A
quick-change end effector on the
robot enhances flexibility because

94 / BAKING & SNACK / June 2005

it makes it practical to change basket
sizes to suit the product or customer
requirements. "With traditional
systems, bakeries tended to keep
the same basket size for all products
because changeover was so intense,"
said the company's director of product marketing.
Delta robots, which also are mounted overhead, perform pick-and-place
functions. Applications include loading bare products into the flights of a
wrapper or top loading wrapped or
bagged product into trays, cartons or
cases. "Before, this was done by either
dedicated automation or people,"
recalled the senior sales engineer for
a Midwestern supplier of robotic
equipment and wrappers.
One manufacturer of automated
makeup and handling systems recently
introduced a fully automatic robotic
bread basket loading system ideal for
positively loading breads, buns, rolls
and other bagged products into route
baskets and corrugated boxes.
The unique robotic manipulation
of product allows the loader to form
patterns as the product enters the
work cell. This pattern is then gently
compressed and stabilized in order
to achieve higher throughputs and

greater package density. The use of
proprietary compression technology
allows users to re-configure current
bread patterns and fit more bread
into the basket or box, maximizing
distribution and achieving throughputs up to 130 loaves per minute.
The design allows fast changeovers through the operator interface.
Typical changeovers for this system
are done without tools and in less
than two minutes, according to the
manufacturer. Downtime and maintenance is minimized through the
use of robotic technology.
Featuring a compact footprint,
the loading system uses a minimum
amount of floor space because of its
ability to handle multiple wrappers and
form patterns and pack in one step.
The system can be supplied with
basket stacking, un-stacking or box
forming and sealing capabilities.
PORTIONED PACKAGES. With the
obesity issue on everyone's mind and
an increase in on-the-go snacking,
there's a growing demand for portion
packs. The interest in portion packs is
also spurring demand for multipacks
of single-serving products. "Instead
of buying a 1-lb bag of chips, consumers want 16 1-oz bags," explained
the regional sales manager of an
international supplier of bakery and
snack packaging equipment. To help
meet the demand for single-serving
packs, a rotary triple-jaw machine
has boosted vertical f/f/s packaging
speeds to 250 bags per minute, about
100 bags per minute faster than existing equipment. Already installed for
chewy fruit candies, the system is also
well-suited for products such as pretzels or peanuts.
Although single-serving bags are
sold individually, particularly in
convenience and food service channels, these products are also merchandised in mixed or single-flavor
multipacks for supermarket sale.
These multipacks often rely on
paperboard trays and clear or printed overwraps. A new option, which

Baking & Snack - June 2005

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baking & Snack - June 2005