Troubleshooting Flow Wrapping Machines
Flow wrap machines create packages from barrier film that is fed through the machine. A forming shoe guides the film around the products and paired sealing wheels create a lengthwise fin seal.
Flow packaging increases product shelf-life by protecting it from air and moisture. It can also help manufacturers save resources, time and space.
Benefits
Flow wrapping machines offer a number of benefits that can improve your packaging process. For one, they can help you reduce product contamination caused by manual handling, and increase your product shelf life by sealing them against intrusion from air and moisture. They can also help you improve product presentation, which is important for increasing brand recognition and maintaining customer loyalty.
Another benefit of using a flow wrap machine is that it can help you save money by cutting down on the use of printed labels. Flow wrappers can apply codes and other variable information to the film before it enters the master package, making it easier to maintain accurate coding and labelling standards.
This is particularly important for products that require a high level of accuracy and consistency, such as candies and baked goods. By reducing the amount of labelling you need, you can save money on printing and production costs.
ULMA offers a range of flow wrappers that are suitable for many different applications. These machines are easy to set up and operate, and can accommodate a wide variety of formats. They also offer a number of safety features, including “No product – No Bag” and “Misplaced product” functions. They can also be used to run both BOPP and shrink film, as well as barrier laminates (OPA/PE or similar). Several types and lengths of in-feed conveyor designs are available.
Types of Packaging
Flow wrapping machines offer a range of packaging options for different products. This versatility helps meet the needs of businesses across a flow wrapping machine variety of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and tool and hardware companies. Moreover, the machine can easily switch between multiple packaging requirements to minimize downtime and increase operational efficiency.
Depending on the product, the flow wrapper can use a film that is either heat or cold sealed. This is important because the type of seal used affects the shelf life of the packaging. Heat sealing uses a film that is heated with pressure to create the seal on the edges of the bag/pouch/wrapper. It is usually cheaper than cold sealing, which uses an adhesive to seal the packaging.
The infeed of the flow wrapper consists of a stainless steel tray with side guides that confine the products. The product can be positioned in the tray manually or with an automated feeder. The film is fed onto the product, and a dancer roller maintains the correct tension. After the film folds under the product, a forming shoe places it around the items and the paired seal wheels create a lengthwise fin seal. The cutter then separates the finished packages.
Flow wrappers provide airtight seals that help prevent product contamination, which is especially useful for produce packers that want to increase their customer base and extend shelf-life. Moreover, the automation of the process reduces manual handling and eliminates packaging waste. The final result is an attractive, high-quality package that stands out among the competition.
Maintenance
As the UK’s sole distributor of Fuji flow wrap machines, we receive a steady stream of maintenance queries. These range from simple cleaning to identifying and addressing mechanical issues. As a result, we’ve developed this Greener Tech Bite to help production teams get the most from their packaging equipment.
Quantitative analysis takes a prominent role, providing the sheet music for the symphony of preventive maintenance. Regular inspections, timely lubrication and meticulous calibration harmonize to reduce wear and tear, mitigate the risk of major breakdowns, and extend the operational life of flow wrapping machines. Amid this quantitative symphony, the narrative becomes an aural testament to the economic benefits of longevity and reliability, highlighting the positive financial impact of avoiding unexpected breakdowns.
Another important practice is keeping a stock of spare parts for your machine. Having these in place will ensure that you have the necessary parts when needed, saving you time and money. You can purchase these from your machine manufacturer or online. You should also keep a supply of lubricant in the event of an emergency. Always use a lubricant recommended by the machine’s manufacturer to avoid over-greasing, which can lead to splattering and dirt accumulation in other areas of your machine.
One problem associated with flow wrapping machines is product cuts, which can occur if the level adjustment of the material is wrong. This can be solved by adjusting the material level handle accordingly.
Trouble Shooting
Flow wrapping is an efficient way to package a variety of products. However, this type of packaging is not without its problems. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to trouble shoot a flow wrap machine and keep it running smoothly.
1. Cause: The folding plates may be sticky or obstructed. Solution: Clean and line up the folding plates. 2. Cause: The paper (film) stops may be set too close for the size of the film cut-off length. Solution: Check and reset the paper (film) stops.
3. Cause: The no-paper or film detector may be closing too soon or out of time. Solution: Retime the no-paper or film detector.
4. Cause: The dancer roll may be set incorrectly. The web will be marked and puckered on the corners of the former if the dancer roll is set too high. Solution: Check and adjust the dancer roll.
5. Cause: The first end folder may small paint sprayer be dirty or out of adjustment. Solution: Clean the first end folder and reset it to the correct position in relation to the product.
ULMA’s latest development in the bottom film rotary jaw family is the FR 305, an automatic machine designed to shrink or film-wrap a wide variety of products in a three sealing pillow pack format with overlapping longitudinal seal. This machine can be used with either a hot or cold tunnel and has a number of features to improve productivity and accuracy.