Schmalz at FACHPACK: Ergonomics and efficiency

Packaging fulfills many requirements: They prevent contamination of products, protect the environment from hazardous substances and facilitate the handling of goods. At FACHPACK, Schmalz will be showing how cardboard, bags, pouches, metal and glass packaging can be moved at high cycle frequencies - from vacuum lifters to vacuum technology for robotics.

With the JumboFlex vacuum tube lifter, skilled workers can lift goods weighing up to 50 kilograms ergonomically and at a high cycle frequency. The intuitive one-finger control enables fast and safe processes. There is also an extensive range of gripper accessories that can be connected using the quick-change system. One example: the new suction cups for sacks PSSG. It reliably holds coated and uncoated bags made of paper, plastics or textile layers with different filling levels. In combination with the modular flat extension arm and the V-Chain drag chain, the JumboFlex also enables health-protective handling solutions in low-ceilinged rooms thanks to its space-saving design.

Workers handle loads weighing up to 300 kilograms effortlessly with the JumboErgo vacuum tube lifter, which has a modular design and can be adapted to the task at hand using different grippers. The necessary vacuum is provided by the directly driven SBV vacuum blowers, for example. They guarantee stable, reliable suction capacity, reduce energy consumption and minimize maintenance thanks to their simple design and direct drive technology.

If companies need a transportable tube lifter for packages weighing up to 50 kilograms, the JumboFlex Mobile is the perfect choice. The responsive articulated arm jib and the height-adjustable column make it very compact, so it can be used flexibly in changing locations. All that is required is a standard industrial socket (400 volts, 50 hertz, 16 amps). The main body is soundproofed, resulting in a low noise level.

Schmalz will be presenting new gripper solutions for automated processes, such as the PSPF bellows suction pad. With its 3.5 folds and the high-strength two-component connection between the bellows and sealing lip, it provides a safe hold for very thin and flexible bags. It shows its strength in all packaging that is completely or partially filled with liquids or bulk goods. Typical fields of application are dynamic packaging processes with delta robots or pick-and-place applications. The suction cup is made of FDA-compliant silicone and is certified for contact with food products.

The ZLW lightweight layer gripper handles various workpieces weighing up to 35 kilograms, such as packages, bags, glasses, cans and buckets. The maximum gripping surface is 850 × 650 millimetres. The system is suitable for automated end-of-line (EOL) palletizing processes with lightweight robots as well as for pick-and-place in the production process. The suction grid can be adapted to the item size. This enables companies to achieve highly efficient vacuum generation and save costs because there is no need to compensate for pressure losses.

The FQE area gripping system is ideal for applications that need to grip products of different sizes from different pick-up positions. The configurable universal gripper is available with integrated or external vacuum generation. It is particularly suitable for stationary handling tasks with collaborative robots or for fully automated applications. Integrated control valves enable minimized cycle times and interference contours. The gripping surface of the new FQE-V model is freely scalable from 110 × 230 to 400 × 280 millimetres. This allows specific workpiece geometries to be handled with precision.

The SBPG bin picker is suitable for automated bin picking. It removes freely formed parts from containers with a chaotic or pre-sorted packing pattern. Its flexible suction cup adapts perfectly to the contour of the workpiece, while it is lightweight and easy to clean thanks to the integrated vacuum generator.

Schmalz has developed the new RECBi pneumatic vacuum generators for end-of-arm (EoA) use on lightweight robots, cobots and conventional 6-axis robots. They handle air-tight and porous workpieces in processes with short cycle and evacuation times. Thanks to the adjustable PXT gripper system, they can be quickly adapted to different applications. The vacuum generators are also available for the multifunctional EoA platform MATCH, which enables automated gripper changes.

Schmalz at FACHPACK: Hall 7, Booth 571