CRATES NEVER GET STUCK
Brillopak’s innovative approach to crate
destacking has several advantages; one
problem encountered with conventional
systems is that when releasing the
bottom crate sometimes the one above
comes with it because the two are stuck
together. On the Crate DESTAKer this is
never an issue as they are automatically
separated when the bottom crate is
clamped. In addition, the clamps on the
Crate DESTAKer have PU (polyurethane)
faces to prevent damage to the crates.
This is in contrast to the metal teeth that
some rival systems use.
Servo-motion for unmatched flexibility
This design also means the process
is inherently more flexible; whereas
most crate destackers can only handle
individual crates, the bottom clamping
unit on the Crate DESTAKer is adjustable,
so factories can easily switch to
dispensing two or three crates at a time,
if required. This can be desirable for high
speed packing halls operating multiple
lines; rather than conveying crates
individually around the hall at very high
speeds, crates can be sent in stacks of
two or three at much lower speeds, then
destacked at the entrance to the packing
system, via a second ‘mini’ destacking
module.
“Food packing operations rarely give
much consideration to the crate
destacking operation, but the design
of this system can have an important
bearing on overall line efficiency. If crates
get stuck together, the line might have
to be halted and operators will have to
intervene to manually separate them
before packing can continue. Large
packing halls with multiple lines in
particular will reap the efficiency rewards
of a more flexible crate destacking
operation,” explains Peter Newman,
Technical Director at Brillopak.
DUAL STACKS, DOUBLE SPEED
In its original single stack configuration,
the Crate DESTAKer operates at speeds
of 8-9 crates per minute. By lifting two
stacks simultaneously, the new Dual
Crate DESTAKer is capable of handling
16-18 crates per minute, giving food
producers and packers a high output
option.
The Crate DESTAKer range of crate
destackers can be supplied as a standalone
system, to integrate with a
factory’s existing packing automation
system, or in conjunction with
Brillopak’s award-winning UniPAKer
robot packer, which has revolutionised
the packing of bagged fresh produce
into crates. In this configuration, crates
leave the Crate DESTAKer and are
indexed into the UniPAKer cell. The
UniPAKer checks the bale arms are fully
open before placing bags into the crate
(it can happen that the bale arms move
out of position and impede the crate
packing operation).
Check out the new Dual Crate DESTAKer
here: https: /youtu.be/CxE1ZpX5K4I
Brillopak’s new dual Crate DESTAKer
which feeds empty retail crates to
food packing lines at high speed with
maximum flexibility
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 15