The system combines two or more lines into a centralized, automated palletizing stretch wrapping station to accommodate lightweight, unstable loads and conserve floor space.
Schneider engineered the palletizing system to include a Fanuc robotic arm between two Lantech Q-600 stretch wrappers. Lantech’s distributor, xpedx, identified how the machines should interface and initiated the collaboration between the companies.
An automatic pallet dispenser and conveyor system delivers an empty pallet to each stretch wrapper, while product is delivered from two production lines to the palletizing cell. The robotic arm builds layers of product on each of the wrappers. Once a predetermined number of cases are loaded onto the first pallet, the first wrapper stabilizes the load layers by applying stretch film. At this point, the robotic arm begins building a load on the second stretch wrapper. This process repeats as the wrapper and robotic arm alternate building and wrapping the load in predetermined increments until the load is complete and product is discharged to a conveyor transfer system. The system is designed to handle two different products simultaneously.
The Lantech Q-600 includes specific logic and hardware for the design, as well as the company’s Pallet Grip load containment system to lock the load to the pallet. For this application, the film is stretched at 250%. So, 10 inches of raw film becomes 35 inches when applied to the load.
The stack and wrap palletizing cell is can simultaneously palletize different lines with different size and type products, according to Lantech.
