CM 400 ERGON - Combined machines up to 40 ppm
The CM ERGON series includes automatic machines gathering into a single unit the functions of a wrap-around case packer and of a shrink wrapper, for the packaging of plastic, metal, cardboard or glass containers in the following package types: cardboard case, cardboard tray + film and cardboard tray without film.
CM ERGON series machines can achieve an output up to 80 packs per minute, according to the machine model, the product kind and the selected format. The pack collations can vary according to the containers shape and dimensions; in general, the most requested collations are: 2x3, 3x4 and 4x6 for wrap-around cases and 4x3 and 6x4 for tray + film packs.
All CM ERGON packers are equipped with an electronic grouping system, manual format changeover and with the “Easy-Load” system to automatically load the cardbord blank magazine.
The blanks magazine capacity can be increased through modular expansion units.
| CM 400 ERGON | |
|---|---|
| Speed (PPM) | 40 |
| Packaging Type | Tray + film Tray only Octagonal tray Octagonal tray + film Wrap-around case |
| Lanes | 1 |
1On the machine's inlet conveyor belt, featuring low-friction chains made of thermoplastic material, a specific group of motorized oscillanting guides accurately lines up the loose containers moving towards the pack formation zone, where the containers are clustered in the selected format through electronically synchronized fingers, operating in continuous motion.
2The new Easy-Load system automatically loads cardboard blanks into the dedicated blank magazine of the machine. The new loading device is made up of a group of motorized mat-equipped conveyor belts on which the operator easily places the cardboard blanks in uniform horizontal stacks.
3A corrugated cardboard blank is picked from the blanks magazine by a newly designed picker equipped with vacuum suction cups; it moves along the blank climb and places itself underneath the group of products in transit. The products move on with the short side leading (wrap-around case) or with the long side leading (tray).
4In the tray/case former, the cardboard blank is folded and wrapped around the products by special guides. Then the flap folding devices fold the blank’s side flaps and finally the upper/lower flaps of both the front and back side of the pack. The hot melt glue sealing ensures an excellent resistance of the pack.
5If requested, the film can be wrapped around the tray and superposed at the pack base; the pack finally enters the shrinking tunnel. The unwinding of the film reels, situated in the lower part of the machine, is controlled by brushless motors, in order to ensure a constant tension of the film.
Modular design
SMI machines are designed according to advanced principles of module assembly and feature interchangeable mechanical and electronic components, which ensure a reduction of the down-times during technical interventions or programmed maintenance and the optimization of the use of spare parts on stock.Operational flexibility
These machines can package a wide range of products in several pack collations, so as to effectively meet the end user's current and future requirements. Moreover, each machine can be equipped with additional devices, which increase its basic functions and ensure a high level of customization of the final package.Motors directly connected to the drive shafts
SMI machines do not include gearboxes: the motors are directly connected to the drive shafts. The consequent advantage is the reduction of maintenance, energy consumption and noise.Continuous motion pack formation
The continuous motion packaging system ensures a fluid production process and protects the containers from strikes, thus granting more reliability, a better quality of the pack and a reduction of mechanical wear.Thermoplastic material dividing pins
In the pack formation zone, the use of dividing pins made of thermoplastic material, that last longer than those made of metal, reduces the machine noise and protects the fragile containers (such as glass containers) and their labels.Easy and cost-saving maintenance
The rounded safety doors enable to have more space inside the machine and thus to install motors externally compared to the mechanical units they drive, which allows the operator to easily perform the activities connected to the plant maintenance.Precise film unwinding with constant tensioning
Film reel with built-in motor, in order to enhance the film unwinding precision thanks to a dedicated brushless motor for each reel. Moreover, a new film-tensioning system, controlled by a piston, ensures a constant tensioning and allows to quickly and easily switch from single lane to dual/triple lane operations.Precise and automatic film cut
Film-cutting unit equipped with direct drive motorization that allows to easily carry out motor maintenance and reduce maintenance operations.Perfect cases
SMI case packers are equipped with fixed guides, which press the pack walls at the machine outlet. This system ensures a perfectly balanced, resistant case, whereas the rotary chain pressing systems can not guarantee the same quality level."User-friendly" man-machine interface
The POSYC® control panel, sliding on a boom running the whole length the machine, is very easy to use, thanks to the intuitive interface, the touch screen and the diagnosis functions and real-time technical support on the POSYC®.Easy-Load
The innovative “Easy-Load” system allows the automatic loading of the cardboard blanks magazine and features considerable advantages from an operating and functional point of view; in fact, the operator can easily load the cardboard blanks, stacked horizontally in uniform groups, because the feeding belt of the cardboard blanks magazine is positioned at the same working height as the packer's infeed belt, rather than under it.
More in detail, the new system patented by SMI is made up of a series of conveyor belts, fitted with motorized mats, which feed the packer's cardboard blanks magazine; the cardboard blank stacks are carried on these belts up to the area in which they are translated and then continue up to the collection system at case/shrink packer infeed.
Thanks to specific sensors, the layout and feed of the cardboard blanks on the conveyor belts fitted with the motorized mats and their loading into the packer's magazine is, in fact, fully automated.
Therefore, the innovative solution devised by SMI eliminates the disadvantages related to the traditional loading of the cardboard blanks magazine, which force the operator to bend his/her body continuously to place the blanks in the bottom part of the machine.
The technology used in the "Easy-Load" magazine also features the great advantage of ensuring fluid and constant picking operations with a wide range of cardboard blanks having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.
TS – Tray stacker
The TS stacks on two or more layers clusters of plastic, metal , cardboard or glass containers both clustered in cardboard trays or pad and loose (this latter solution solely for fit-in type cans). This device can be installed on all SMI packers, with the exception of MP series.
It consists of an electronic stacking device operating in continuous motion, which achieves an output rate up to 60 packs per minute according to the machine model and to the product handled.
Pack collations can vary according to the container shape, capacity and size; in general, the most requested collations are: 4x3 and 6x4. It is available both for single and for double lane production.
After coming out of the trayformer, two or more packs are stacked by means of a Cartesian coordinate system.
Before the pack enters the shrinking tunnel, the film is wrapped around the products and overlapped at the base of the pack.
PID SBP
The PID SBP® inserts stretched board pre-assembled partitions into cardboard boxes, in order to protect fragile products (such as glass containers) and save their labels from abrasions.
This device can be installed on the WP wrap-around case packers and on the CM combined packers.
Compared with the traditional inserting systems of non-preassembled partitions, the PID SBP® allows to:
The PID SBP® and the pre-assembled partitions magazine are mounted at the machine inlet, on top of the pack-forming section. The maximum operating speed is 40 packs/minute (1-head model) or 60 packs/minute (2-head model).
A mechanical arm equipped with vacuum suckers picks a stretched board pre-assembled partition from the partition magazine, opens it and lowers it between the products that have just been grouped in the required pack collation.
Finally a cardboard blank is wrapped around the products by means of special guides, thus forming a case.
Easy-Open
The Easy-Open system can be installed both on the SK shrinkwrappers and on the CM combined packers. It consists of a device piercing the film during the cutting operation, in order to create the required mark.
It can pierce two types of marks, “I”-shaped and “H”-shaped, and is available both for single and double lane production. Thanks to the Easy Open system, the customer’s level of satisfaction is definitely improved, because of the easier opening of the pack.
Moreover, this application does not require any specific packaging materials and, therefore, allows to obtain eye-catching packs without additional costs.
Film welding device by heated blade
SMI customers can now upgrade their SK and CM packers with an innovative film welding device. The “film welding device by heated blade” joins the edge of the film reel about to end with the beginning of the new reel while the machine is running, with no need to stop production. The machine slows down and the film (printed or neutral with reference mark) is automatically joined; the machine is immediately back to running at full pace.
The new system allows dramatic cuts on energy and maintenance costs compared to traditional hot sealing method, as there are no more sealing rollers to be kept at a consistent temperature. The sealing precision of printed film or neutral film with reference mark is higher, with +/-10mm margin from the reference mark. The "film welding device by heated blade" can handle also no-collant film.
Images are for illustrative purposes and data are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the machine user's production conditions and technical specifications.
