Robotic case packer has a small footprint, simplified wiring, and the capability of having its capacity quickly doubled.

Nuspark, Inc. (PELV Booth C2727) takes a modular approach to machine building in its Model NTL-50 case packer. A Delta-style robotic case packer, the NTL-50’s throughput can be doubled simply by adding a second robot arm to the frame and activating a new software module. No additional controls cabinet space is required for the second robotic arm’s servo drives because the Elau PacDrive iSH Intelligent Servo Modules from Schneider Electric (www.elau.com) have servo motor and drive integrated into a single unit.

The controller on the NTL-50, also from Elau, is the Model C-400. Felix Elent, vice president of operations at Nuspark, describes it as “very powerful.”

The operator interface, the Schneider Electric Magelis HMI, makes the machine operator-friendly. It also incorporates the OMAC Packaging Work Group’s PackML state model. The operator can teach the robot and collating system to handle new products with no additional programming or investment.

The robot arm, says Elent, is remarkably simple. “Compared to a gantry-style machine, it’s much simpler from a mechanical point of view. The robot is a parallel kinematics robot, which means there are two kinematic chains from the base to the end effector. Two ‘legs’ directly connect to the two servo motors through gear boxes and are linked together at the end effector.

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-By Pat Reynolds, Editor, Packaging World