LCM 30 ERGON - Combined packers up to 30 ppm

 

The new ERGON range of automatic packers is based on design choices inspired by key concepts such as ergonomics, technology, sturdiness and modularity, masterfully blended to mark a new, significant evolution in the history of SMI products.

You can point out the new ERGON packers rather quickly due to the rounded profile of the movable safety guards, which allow to house all the motors on the outside with respect to the mechanical units they run, facilitating line operator access when performing maintenance.

The new heat-shrinking tunnels of the ERGON range boast cutting-edge technical solutions that allow reducing energy consumption and ensure the utmost environmental compatibility of the processes as well as the improvement of the final quality of the packaged pack.

LCM ERGON series automatic machines combine in one system the functions provided by wraparound packers and shrinkwrappers, for the packaging of plastic, metal, cardboard and glass containers in closed cases, on cardboard pad + film, on cardboard tray + film and on cardboard tray only.

Trays can be octagonal or rectangular, with same or different height edges.

LCM ERGON series packing machines run up to 30 packs per minute, depending on the product handled and on the packing pattern.

Different pack collations can be formed according to the container’s shape, capacity and dimensions; the most popular formats on market are 2×3, 3×4 and 4×6 in closed boxes, 4×3 and 6×4 on tray+film.

LCM ERGON packers are equipped with mechanical product-grouping system and can be configured with either in-line or 90° in-feed conveyor belts, depending on the customer’s requirements. The format changeover is manual.

 

LCM 30 ERGON
Speed (PPM) 30
Packaging Type Pad + Film
Film Only
Tray only
Tray + film
Size (mm) 12060 x 1820 x 3000
Lanes 1

 

* The stated values are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the user’s production conditions.

 

  1. At the machine infeed a motorised oscillating sorter lines up loose containers along a conveyor belt featuring low-friction chains made of thermoplastic material. In the pack-forming unit products are grouped in the chosen packing pattern by means of an alternate-motion pneumatic device.
  2. In case of packaging in closed case, on pad or tray, a sheet of corrugated cardboard is picked from the blank magazine by an alternate-motion picker with vacuum suckers; the carboard blank is then carried up along the blank ramp and positioned under the incoming pack collation with short leading side (wrap-around case) or long leading side (tray).
  3. Depending on the packaging features, in the case/tray forming unit the cardboard blank is folded and wrapped around the products by means of special guides. Later on flap-folding devices fold first side flaps and then upper/lower flaps on both the front and the back of the pack. Hot-glue sealing makes the case highly resistant.
  4. In case of packaging in film only, or whenever required, film is wrapped around and overlapped under the pack in transit towards the shrinking tunnel. The unwinding of film reels – positioned in the lower part of the machine – is adjusted by a progressive brake which provides constant film tensioning.

* The stated values are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the user’s production conditions.

  • Machine bearing frame made of sand-blasted and powder-painted steel
  • The machine is equipped with sliding protection doors in anodised aluminium featuring a rounded shape which let all the motors (featuring low energy consumption) be placed externally if compared to the mechanical groups they activate.
    The closing system of doors is equipped with a slow-down device, which accompanies the door smoothly in its final phase of closure
  • Absence of gearboxes and prevailing employment of ICOS brushless motors equipped with digital servo-driver integrated into the motor
  • For life lubricated pads
  • Infeed conveyor with chains made of thermoplastic material featuring low friction coefficient and a motorized system of oscillanting laning guides
  • Cardboard magazine situated beneath the infeed conveyour, adjustable according to the blank size
  • Alternate motion cardboard blank picker, equipped with suckers
  • Film reel unwinding electronically controlled by brushless motors
  • Before the pack enters the shrinking tunnel, the film is cut by a knife equipped with motorised blade and then wrapped around the group of containers and overlapped on the bottom of the pack.
    The adjustment of the film length is electronic
  • Automatic centring system for printed film provided with marks
  • Brush antistatic bars with carbon fibre
  • Machine electrical cabinet with air conditioner
  • The shrink tunnel features state-of-the-art technical solutions reducing energy consumption and ensuring an eco-friendly working process.
    The tunnel conveyor belt is made up of fibreglass bars, driven by side chains (®SMI).
    Thanks to the precise analysis of thermodynamic phenomena generated by the shrink process, the tunnel distributes hot air flows in an efficient and homogeneous way on the pack, thus ensuring its excellent quality at the end of the process.
    Shrink resistances are positioned on the side walls of the tunnel
  • Heat-shrinking tunnel with forced air ventilation
  • POSYC® control panel mounted man-high and running the whole length of the machine (fixed on LSK ERGON models)

* The stated values are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the user’s production conditions.

Modular structure

SMI machines are designed according to advanced principles of module assembly and feature interchangeable mechanical and electronic components, which ensure a reduction of the down-times during technical interventions or programmed maintenance and the optimization of the use of spare parts on stock.

Operational flexibility

SMI machines can package a wide range of products in several pack collations, so as to effectively meet the end user’s current and future requirements. Moreover, each machine can be equipped with additional devices, which increase its basic functions and ensure a high level of customization of the final package.

Motors directly connected to the drive shafts

SMI machines do not include gearboxes: the motors are directly connected to the drive shafts. The consequent advantage is the reduction of maintenance, energy consumption and noise.

Thermoplastic material dividing pins

In the pack formation zone, the use of dividing pins made of thermoplastic material, which last longer than those made of metal, reduces the machine noise and protects the fragile containers (such as glass containers) and their labels.

Multi-pitch configuration

SMI machines are pre-arranged to control up to three different machine pitches, without replacing the mechanical components. Therefore, it has been possible to increase the product dimensions range of almost 20%, as compared to the previous machines generation. The working parameters of each pitch are stored in the POSYC® control pc; the operator can select the required machine pitch directly from the touch screen.

Easy and low-cost maintenance

The rounded protection doors of ERGON models allow broader space inside the machine and thus the motors can be mounted externally on the machine side edges. Therefore, they are easily accessible and reachable for maintenance. Actually, the operator doesn’t need to enter the internal parts of the shrinkwrapper when carrying out manual interventions.

Precise and automatic film cut

Film-cutting unit equipped with direct drive motorization that allows to easily carry out motor maintenance and reduce maintenance operations.

User-friendly man-machine interface

The POSYC® control panel, sliding on a boom running the whole length the machine (fixed on LSK ERGON models), enables even less expert operators to easily and effectively run the packaging machine, thanks to an intuitive interface, a touch screen display and diagnosis functions and real-time technical support available on the POSYC®.

* The stated values are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the user’s production conditions.