Automatic Handle Applicators from SMI Packaging

When a consumer has to make the decision of purchasing a package in the shop one of the major aspects is a convenient package handling. Easy to carry handles that are attached to the top of the package, e.g. a sixpack or whatsoever are one of the major elements in packaging design that are used for easy package handling...

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When a consumer has to make the decision of purchasing a package in the shop one of the major aspects is a convenient package handling. Easy to carry handles that are attached to the top of the package, e.g. a sixpack or whatsoever are one of the major elements in packaging design that are used for easy package handling. These handles are applied to the package within the packaging line, usually right after the packaging machine itself. The well known packaging machine manufacturer and supplier SMI from Italy can deliver two kinds of handle applicators within various packaging speed ranges.

1. Automatic Package Handle Applicators, Type HA

The HA automatic handle applicators from SMI can apply handles on shrink film packs, cardboard cases, bricks or any type of rigid packs. The HA automatic handle applicator is available at 3 different sizes and speed ranges: The HA 35, the HA 50 and the HA 70 as being the largest and fastest model available.

Handles can also be applied on pack collations having an even number of products as leading side: 2X2, 4X2, 4X3, 6X2 and so on.

In addition products can pass through the HA handle applicators without any handle being applied on them.
The HA series can apply three different types of handles, joined to a transparent adhesive tape and made from:

- precut cardboard labels
- polypropylene reel fed labels
- Kraft paper reel fed labels

Principle of Operation of the HA Series Automatic Handle Applicators

Products, e.g. packages are conveyed by infeed conveyors and laned through special guides, adjustable in accordance with the relevant pack width:

- If precut cardboard labels are being used, the adhesive tape unwinds and runs in front of the label magazine where a mechanical system joins the cardboard labels to it to form the handle.

- This is applied first on the front of the pack and then on the back; in this latter stage, the handle is cut according to the length preset by the operator.

- If reel fed labels are being used, they are cut in accordance with the required length and joined to the adhesive tape to form the handle.

- This is applied first on the front of the pack and then on the back; in this latter stage, the handle is cut according to the length preset by the operator.

Features and Benefits of the HA Handle Applicators from SMI

- Safety guards made from steel nets and sliding doors equipped with see-through lexan panels;

- Bearings lubricated for life, with special protections;

- Rubber-coated infeed conveyor, with chains made from a thermoplastic material providing a high coefficient of friction (optional);

- Handle central support magazine for cardboard labels, with capacity of 3,000/5,000 pieces, positioned in the upper part of the machine;

- Possibility to handle polypropylene or one-side coated Kraft paper reel fed labels, with capacity of 12,000/17,000 pieces (optional);

- Reciprocating mechanism for cardboard label picking;

- Reel mandrils with mechanical locking;

- Adhesive tape reel unwinding controlled by progressive braking action to ensure constant tension of the adhesive tape;

- Handle length control system, to adjust the length of handles on packs with an even leading side: 2X; 4X; 6X (optional);

- Digital programmable multilingual control system, based on microprocessor and equipped with an alphanumeric LCD display.

Main Functions of the HA Handle Applicators from SMI

- Pack size programmable from the console;
- Handle detection system on tape;
- Handle detection system on pack;
- Electronic adjustment of the handle length;
- Adjustable handle positioning;
- Handle positioning system, adjustable in accordance with different product heights and complete with position indicator;
- Adhesive tape reel located in the front of the machine;
- Reel for polypropylene labels located in the front of the machine (optional);
- Automatic machine stop when reel ends;
- Automatic machine stop when handles end;
- Control of the machine functions from the LCD console. E.g.:
- machine status in real time;
- operations setting and programming;
- storage of up to 15 different pack collations;
- selection of operator's language

Available Machine Accessories for SMI HA Automatic Handle Applicators

- Rubber-coated infeed conveyor, with chains made from a thermoplastic material providing a high coefficient of friction;

- Device to handle polypropylene or one-side coated Kraft paper reel fed handles, with capacity of 12,000/17,000 handles;

- Handle length control system, to adjust the length of handles on packs with an even leading side: 2X; 4X; 6X;

- Second adhesive tape reel ;

- Device for machine height extension to 900 mm + 130 mm / - 70 mm

- Device for machine height extension to 1100 mm + 100 mm / - 70 mm

2. Pre-shrinking automatic handle applicator type PSHA 60

The HA automatic handle applicator from SMI always should be the best solution for a packaging line. However sometimes there are restrictions in the bottling hall, due to lack of floor space for example. A clear task for the PSHA pre-shrinking automatic handle applicator from SMI.

The PSHA series of handle applicators is employed when, due to space lack, it’s not possible to install a HA model at the outlet of a shrinkwrapper.

PSHA handle applicators, in fact, are positioned beside the packaging machine as they are small-sized equipment. Handles made from paper or plastic materials are combined with transparent adhesive tape and applied directly to the film before it gets cut, wrapped around the products and heat-shrunk.

PSHA series handle application machines run at the maximum speed of 60 packs per minute, in accordance with the kind of product and of the format chosen.

Furthermore, the installation of two pre-shrinking handle applicators allows the achievement of a running rate till 120 packs per minute, so that they can basically fit into almost every packaging line, nearly regardless of space availability and line speed.