Flow-wrapper for tomatoes ''halves packaging weight''
07 September 2010
Meet the infeed system that allows tomatoes and other round fruit or vegetables to be packed without a supporting base tray – saving up to half the weight of packaging material
It's been been developed by PFM Packaging Machinery for its established Falcon flow-wrapper. Capable of speeds up to 80 packs a minute, the machine is servo-motor driven and so can be changed over quickly between a variety of formats, from single items to 2 x 3 collations.
Products are carried into the machine on a double chain infeed belt, with pushers that can be quickly adjusted for pitch, while spring loaded vertical idling rollers provide gentle guidance at the sides.
An additional feed belt at the base of the forming box helps insert the product into the film while a flexible overhead brush conveyor maintains product position as the wrapping process is completed.
This brush conveyor was developed from PFM's On-Edge technology for handling biscuits and, says PFM sales and operations director Chris Bolton, is a key element in providing positive handling for product that is fragile and may differ in height.
"It ensures the product collation is kept closely together for efficient handling, but guards against risk of bruising," he explains.
The PFM Falcon is able to operate with heat or cold seal paper and plastic film and is built on a balcony basis for hygiene and ease of cleaning. All product contact parts are in stainless steel.
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