Goa-Linda, a confectionary company in Iceland, installed an automatic end-load cartoning line from Kliklok-Woodman in August 2005 for packing bags of chocolate covered raisins and wafers.
Goa-Linda needed to increase production levels and found that their existing vertical cartoner was both old and inadequate for the purpose. They also had limited floor space which prevented expanding their operational capacities.
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The confectionery company felt that Kliklok’s short footprint SFR end-load cartoner met their requirements as it had a compact design, facilitated easy cleaning and offered a capacity inline with their production needs. Goa-Linda needed a product handler that could accommodate one bag per carton and found Kliklok’s automatic Right Angle Transfer (RAT) system, met their requirements.
CARTONING LINE
As a confectionery manufacturer, Goa-Linda’s choice of the SFR end-load cartoner was based on its ability to provide an easy to maintain and hygienic solution, with an output capacity of 120 cartons per minute enabling higher production levels.
The body of the machine is made of stainless steel and incorporates a patented rotary carton feeder and powered carton hopper. Goa-Linda can make use of the electronic carton control and digital screen display for increasing production efficiency.
Goa-Linda contracted Kliklok to customise the SFR end-load cartoner to accommodate two different carton sizes. Further customisations included a deboss coder, manual lubrication system and a Nordson glue jetting system that allowed a bespoke glue spot pattern.
The SFR cartoner can handle cartons in a range of lengths (50mm to 250mm), widths (25mm to 100mm) and depths (110mm to 335mm). It can also be operated from both sides thereby giving optimum utilisation of the limited space.
The RAT (Right Angle Transfer) product handling system installed by Goa-Linda is servo driven and is constructed with stainless steel that meets European regulatory requirements. It can accommodate a huge range of sizes and helps transfer the products to the SFR using a three-stage belt conveyor.
PRODUCT HANDLING SYSTEM
The cartoning line accepts pre-filled bags onto a conveyer and product settling system, leading to the RAT system which helps to gap the products and transfer them to the SFR cartoner.
RAT comprises three conveyers performing different functions. The products are randomly accepted by the first conveyer, which controls the flow of the product to accommodate short queues. The second conveyer helps to gap the products into the RAT loader and the final conveyer links the RAT machine with the Product Infeed Conveyer (PIC).
The process of the cartoner starts with the rotary feeder accepting pre-glued sleeves from the powered hopper. A carton is erected along the flights of the four-chain adjustable conveyor that coincides with the product arrival.
The product is pushed into the carton with a piston and the major and minor flaps on the load-side are held back for easier insertion. The flaps on the opposite side are folded for gluing. A “vaccum interrupt feature” ensures that there are no cartons moving that do not contain the product. The load side flaps are tucked and lower major flaps have adhesive applied on them. Finally, the upper major flaps are sealed using static guides and the carton moves along an accelerator belt to the downstream equipment.
BENEFITS
Goa-Linda has restrictions on factory space and the SFR end load cartoner optimises the space with its small footprint design. Having busy production schedules, Goa-Linda benefits from the easy cleaning features provided by the high floor clearance and sloping surfaces that enable cleaning beneath the machine to clear cartons and products quickly.
Goa-Linda can use the cartoner for various infeed options and save on production time through the quick changeover of parts offered by the machine.
