Automated Palletizing Systems
The task of manually loading goods such as boxes or other products onto a pallet is simplistic, but it can be physically strenuous for employees and cost a company both time and money. The first palletizing systems were introduced to the realm of manufacturing around 1948 with the intent on ridding workers of the burden of loading items onto a pallet. Today, automated palletizing systems have evolved to the point where they are faster, more energy efficient, and can support features that accommodate a variety of applications and their specifications. Adding an automated palletizing system to a certain application is highly beneficial and can add more value to the manufacturing process. Therefore, since its invention, a variety of types of automated palletizing systems have been developed.
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Notable Types of Automated Palletizing Systems
One main type of automated palletizing system is the conventional palletizer. Its basic features include an infeed conveyor, a layer forming table, an elevator that lifts the layers of items, and a discharge conveyor. Conventional palletizers can be categorized into low level or high level palletizers. The components of low level palletizers are located on the ground level, while the main feed area of high level palletizers are lofted overhead. One specific example of a conventional palletizer is the in-line palletizer. The in-line palletizer is capable of guiding items and organizing them into a layer before placing them onto the pallet and carrying out this process in a continuous motion. From the beginning, this palletizer was designed as a fast-paced device to complete a palletizing process in a more timely manner, and thus, add to a company’s overall value.
The in-line palletizer is a more evolved device than the machinery that was used in the 1950s, where the most popular choice of palletizing machinery were row-forming palletizers. These palletizers sorted items into rows before placing them on the pallet. Today, conventional palletizers are faster and more efficient than ever. Low level conventional palletizers can handle up to 15 cases per minute, while the maximum amount for high level conventional palletizers can be up to 150 cases per minute. Conventional palletizers are capable of handling various products such as bags, cases, and cube-shaped items. They are much simpler in design to their robotic counterparts, making them more user friendly and easier to troubleshoot any technical difficulties.
An alternative choice of automatic palletizing machinery is a robotic palletizer. As opposed to a conventional palletizer, the robotic palletizer takes up much less space in a facility. These machines feature a robotic arm, which enables them to place products into a specific position onto a pallet, as opposed to conventional palletizers, which are limited to placing items in generalized rows and layers. The robotic arm also enables the palletizer to handle a wider variety of product types weighing up to 2,200 lbs/1,000kg and take products off of platforms of differing elevations. Robotic palletizers add value to the palletizing process because they can handle multiple production lines, they raise the pallet’s load stability, and are quick with loading items onto a pallet. Overall, the price of a robotic palletizer can be less than a conventional machine.
Benefits of Using Automated Palletizing Systems
Regardless of whether they are robotic or conventional, automatic palletizing can be highly beneficial for a company. They load items onto a pallet much more quickly than human workers can. Subjecting workers to long-term manual loading can make the palletizing process time-consuming and cause physical strain, leading to possible health risks and company liability concerns. Automatic palletizing machines have fortunately been capable of not only speeding up the process, but also alleviating employees of an otherwise daunting task and freeing them to focus their attention on other duties. Automatic palletizing systems are also highly customizable. One can program the machine to load items onto a pallet in a certain way. For example, for items that are more delicate, the machine can be programmed with certain loading options to ensure safe loading. It is possible to add other accessories to an automatic palletizer, including automatic packaging dispensers. The use of a robotic mechanism and a variety of programmable options also ensures that the products do not get contaminated. This is vital in industries such as medical or food and beverage, which has little to no tolerance for contaminants such as dust or residue in the product.
Finding the Right Automated Palletizing System Manufacturer
With the many options for automatic palletizers, you are bound to find a palletizing system that best suits your desired application. An experienced manufacturer will be able to answer any inquiries and give you thorough advice on the type of automatic palletizer and the appropriate features that will perfectly meet your needs. Find this manufacturer today by browsing the list we’ve put together on this page!
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