Storage line for products with challenging contours
Task
A manufacturer of high-cost pharmaceutical products transports plastic ampoules on a belt conveyor from the filling and labelling stations to a system for testing the fill level and leak tightness. The ampoules are transported horizontally in strips of five in their primary packaging.
In the event of a standstill of the test system, abrupt stoppage of the previous production is to be avoided. Otherwise, the products on the belt conveyor and those following behind would be rejected as NOK parts and would not be able to be used.
Given the high value of the preparations and the need to maintain the sequence and batch assignment, the ampoule strips need to be buffered accordingly in the event of a standstill of the test system.
Solution from mk
The solution was to develop an attached storage line that stores the product while the machine is down and returns it once operation resumes. To this end, a Versaflex A06 plastic chain conveyor system was connected to the main line as a circuit without having to make any modifications to the main line.
The conveyor was adapted to the spatial conditions in order to make optimum use of the limited space. mk designed compressed air-controlled switches for transferring the ampoule strips to and from the storage line. These ensure that the delicate product is handled reliably and gently.
Benefits for the customer
- Expert advice for a customised solution
- Large storage area for parts allowing extended, problem-free operation of the system
- Flexible adjustment for different product formats
- Easy integration in tight spaces
Products used
