Changing Tech

Coupling Makes Splash with Juice Packer

After 30 years, Jersey Juice of Ewing, NJ, has steadily increased production to include more than 300 juice concentrates for national markets. Packaging for the products have changed many times in those three decades as trends evolve, prompting frequent modification in the packaging machinery, as well.

One current production line packs juice into four ounce containers that are 3-in. wide by 1.5-in. deep and seals the cup with a peel-open foil lid. Jersey Juice specified to Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Brewerton, NY, a case packing system that would load these filled containers into three tiers of 16 cups each, at a desired speed of 700 cups per minute. Schneider responded by designing a system with a novel means for accumulation and loading of the cups. Air cylinders would provide vertical motion to three independent heads that would each carry 16 vacuum pick-ups, one to a juice container. The three pick-up heads would simultaneously position and stack the three tiers into the case, after which the case flaps would be folded and sealed.

A critical element in making the system succeed was closely synchronizing the horizontal pick-and-place motion with the reciprocating and intermittent vertical motion. At the system's high speeds, stresses on the drive train would be very high. A coupling was needed between the case packer servo motor and the speed reducer/timing belt that could compensate for backlash and any offset between the motor and speed reducer. After looking at bellows-type couplings, Schneider engineers selected a Double Flex model CD coupling from Zero-Max Inc., Plymouth, MN. Although the coupling was torque-rigid, which allowed it to handle the 4000 rpm output of the 2 HP motor, the double-flex disc design provided the needed misalignment capacity to reduce reaction loads, contributing to extended operating life of the system components.

--RM

For more information

Circle 475 - Zero-Max, Inc., or connect directly to their website via the
Online Reader Service Program at http://www.1rs.com/011df-475

Circle 476 - Schneider Packaging Equipment Co, Inc., or connect directly to their website at http://www.1rs.com/011df-476