StarterSET – create the finished machine more quickly

StarterSET for horizontal FFS machines

Horizontal FFS (HFFS) machines are ideal for individually packaged goods such as chocolate bars and cookies – and not just in the food industry. These machines package the products individually and separately. SEW-EURODRIVE automation enables quick, easy, and automatic format changes for this application. Manufacturers can therefore handle different products and bag sizes perfectly using just one packaging machine.

Stable temperature control is crucial to the quality of the seal on the bags, while the material and the speed of the packaging machine have a direct impact on control. The software modules contained in the MOVIKIT^® AutomationFramework can be used for high-precision adjustment and monitoring of such control processes with major disturbance variables. In combination with the MOVIKIT^® MultiMotion Camming software module, the film print image can be perfectly synchronized with sealing. The software modules contained in the StarterSET also support quick and easy automation accordingly.

The Horizontal Form Fill and Seal "standard" StarterSET (612) is available as a basic package for a very compact horizontal FFS machine with only two synchronous servo axes. The Horizontal Form Fill and Seal "advanced" StarterSET (614) is the right basic package for up to six synchronized servo drives with further automation and visualization tasks. Regardless of the controller performance required, both basic packages include the MOVIKIT^® FormFillSeal bundle with an extensive library of machine-typical functions.

Perfectly coordinated, with a great deal of scope for customized programming and high degrees of freedom, the StarterSET is the ideal introduction to SEW-EURODRIVE's world of automation.

StarterSET for vertical FFS machines

Vertical FFS (VFFS) machines are ideal for packaging bulk materials such as nuts or candy. Bag size, pack weight, and product properties are decisive factors for the automation of machine functions and movements. The function libraries contained in the StarterSET include specially developed print mark correction functions for precisely monitoring the print image of the film to be processed.

The MOVIKIT^® MultiMotion Camming software module contained in the StarterSET ensures synchronized volumetric filling in real time – using a worm, for example. This is made possible by the simple parameterization of filling variants and the simultaneous clock-synchronous control of the relevant actuators.

Almost all VFFS machines have comprehensive drive and control functions. Their scope and performance vary. Accordingly, SEW-EURODRIVE offers two StarterSET levels for these different performance classes. On average, there are six synchronized servo axes in an FFS machine. These are automated accordingly using the Vertical Form Fill and Seal "advanced" StarterSET (624) as the basic package. If further synchronized drives and complex automation tasks are to be added, we recommend the Vertical Form Fill and Seal "progressive" StarterSET (626)as the basic package. Regardless of how many axes are to be driven, and irrespective of the ultimate level of performance that is required of the packaging machine, our modular StarterSET always offers the appropriate basic configuration for the complete solution.

StarterSET for sideloader/toploader multipackers

On a sideloader or toploader multipacker,a wide variety of product formats need to be processed as quickly as possible and with as little effort as possible. This calls for automation with highly flexible program execution – an ideal application for our MOVI-C^®modular automation system.

Secondary packaging in a toploader multipacker is used for products that cannot be stacked or accumulated. The prepared cartons and trays are automatically erected and glued inside the packaging machine. One or more kinematic models place the products from above into the carton, which is then closed and transported away. The sideloader design without robot kinematic model uses curve-based synchronization of products and carton.

Pulling, gluing, forming, filling, and sealing – thanks to straightforward parameterization, the modular design of a toploader or sideloader multipacker can be described and implemented in no time at all using the correct StarterSET with the appropriate MOVIKIT^®- software modules from the MOVI-C^®modular automation system. The CasePacker "progressive" StarterSET (646)provides functions such as electronic cam for synchronized axis movements and position-dependent valve control in real time for this purpose. The CasePacker Robotics "progressive" StarterSET (656)is perfectly coordinated with the toploader version thanks to the additionally integrated robot functionality.

StarterSET for gantry palletizers / palletizing robots

Palletizers and palletizing robots are process automation systems for automatically combining packs on load carriers. There are four basic types of palletizer – articulated arm robots, layer palletizers, linear robots, and gantry palletizers. Pack size, pack weight, and, in particular, the work envelope are key factors when it comes to machine functions and movements.

Our End-of-Line StarterSET always offers the right solution for this application. The End-of-Line "advanced" StarterSET (664)is the perfect choice for gantry and linear robots with or without a two-axis kinematic model, while the End-of-Line Robotics "progressive" StarterSET (676)provides the perfect basic package for complex articulated arm robots or kinematic models with four axes.

Thanks to the StarterSET's excellent flexibility and modularity, you can carry out any automation task quickly when palletizing and depalletizing. The MOVIKIT^® EndOfLine and EndOfLine Robotics bundles contained in the StarterSET provide a versatile software solution with a comprehensive range of functions geared specifically to palletizers. Besides speed and reliability, they ensure perfect control of the robot axes for extremely gentle container handling and optimum stacking quality.

StarterSET for filling machines

Horizontal fill and seal machines are used for filling yogurt, pudding, and drinks into cups, cans, buckets and glass containers. In a filling machine, the containers that are fed in are, for example, separated, sterilized, filled, closed, sealed, inspected, and, finally, conveyed out. The automated work steps need to be very precisely synchronized so as to ensure a high throughput.

Automation with hardware and software solutions from SEW-EURODRIVE makes it possible to implement these types of machine, even when very stringent hygiene requirements apply. This comprehensive range of solutions offers machine builders of fill and seal machines exactly the product they need to be able to package goods hygienically in line with their requirements and expectations.

When it comes to processing food, it is essential for machinery to meet the most stringent hygiene standards, as laid down in machinery directives and EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering Design Group) guidelines, and these standards are directly incorporated into the hygiene risk assessment.

Depending on the setup and requirements for cleaning the machine, and the specific design of the machine itself, a whole range of different drive and automation products are used. Consequently, the StarterSET for horizontal fill and seal machines comes as a preselected basic package of two different designs.

The Horizontal Fill and Seal "progressive" – Hygienic StarterSET(637) is ideal for machines with drives that come into contact with food. Stainless steel CM2H.. servo gearmotors are used in this case.

These stainless steel servo gearmotors meet the highest standards in terms of service life and ease of cleaning. The compact stainless steel units (degree of protection IP69K), comprising a synchronous servomotor and a planetary gear unit, are resistant to high-pressure, hot-steam, and corrosive cleaning agents and equipment. As a result, they are perfectly suited for clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) processes.

The Horizontal Fill and Seal "progressive" StarterSET (636) contains servo gearmotors from the PSH.. series, which can be used in applications where there is no contact with food. CM3C.. in standard design (degree of protection IP65).

SEW-EURODRIVE has also developed software functions specifically for this type of machine. Both versions of the StarterSET contain the award-winning MOVIKIT^® AntiSlosh software module. This module can reduce the sloshing behavior of liquids considerably by adjusting the travel profile accordingly. This reduces the amount of time a liquid needs to settle after it has been in motion. These slosh-reducing motion calculations are a core element of the MOVIKIT^® FillSeal bundle.