Krones showcases technologies at BRAU Beviale 2003

Krones​ is to highlight a number of technologies for the first time, including an inline machine for sleeving applications at the forthcoming BRAU Beviale 2003 in Nuremberg, Germany.

The company will present what it terms as a number of "pathbreaking innovations". A new generation of software has been created to optimise the firm's monitoring technology, the compact-size Linatronic empty-bottle inspector is on show in an enhanced-hygiene design, and a sleeving labeller is now available as an inline model. A rotary-column robot swivels by 360°, and a screw-capper uses servomotors for ultra-accurate torque adjustment.

Sleeve labeller as an inline model​

For special dress ideas of this kind in the lower speed range, the company has expanded its labeller portfolio centred around the Sleevematic DS (Direct Sleeving) to include the Sleevematic Inline, available as an inline machine fitted with either one or two cutting units.

One of the advantages of the company's sleeving technology is that there is no need to clean the machine after every shift. The machine doesn't have to be run empty when there's a halt in production. Since no glue is needed, there is consequently no glue heater either. The shrink-sleeve can simultaneously serve as a tamper-evident seal.

Premiered at the BRAU Beviale 2003, the Sleevematic Inline achieves speeds of up to 20,000 bph with one cutting unit, and twice this output with two cutting units.

Compact-size Linatronic​

Krones also claims it has progressed its development work in the field of empty-bottle inspection. Companies in the brewing and beverage industries need a modularised, affordable and compact-size inspector model. In response the company has developed the Linatronic K735 by simultaneously improving the electronics and the mechanical construction.

For the first time, an inspector has been constructed in an enhanced-hygiene design. A new software package is said to reduce erroneous rejection of good bottles thanks to better detection of objects such as water droplets on new PET containers, plus automatic monitoring of the camera image. If soiling phenomena occur repeatedly and at the same position on the containers being inspected, they are recognised as faults being caused by the containers' surroundings, and the operator is alerted.

In its compact, downsized version, too, the Linatronic K735 can still be fitted with all available inspection units. And its output remains just as high, at a maximum of 72,000 bph.

Panoramic robot​

Robots are a particularly attractive option in the brewing and beverage industries when they possess multifunctional capabilities. Krones' triple-axis rotary-column 3A robot is proven technology, however, its operating range was restricted by a swivel movement of 2 x 110°. At the Brau Beviale, the company will be presenting the new version with a rotary column: the Robot 3A-R can now utilise the full swivelling range of 360°, and can thus move to different pick-up and set-down positions at any point of the entire circle.

The 3A-R robot can handle a multitude of different applications. As a palletiser for non-returnables, it uses a shutter-type head to reach speeds of up to 300 cycles an hour, while as a palletiser for returnables, featuring a hook gripper head, it can even manage 500 cycles an hour. A combined version for palletising/depalletising returnables achieves 200 layers an hour for the loading and unloading functions, making 400 cycles an hour in total.

Aseptic capper with servo-control​

Mid-2003 saw a world premiere for a radically new design of the screw capper. This concept, which restricts machine components above the bottle guides to the absolute minimum, optimises the microbiological conditions involved so as to ensure aseptic closing. By incorporating servo-controlled closing head drives, the company says it has responded to closing-related requirements. Besides an ultra-precise closing force, this system can also cope with different closure sizes, tightening torques and thread configurations. Complete-coverage monitoring of all closing functions, with concomitant documentation, offers a maximised level of quality.The servo-controlled closing head drives are also available for non-aseptic plastic-closure cappers.

New software systems for monitoring​

Krones has developed a new platform called DART (Distributed Architecture for RealTime), which will gradually replace the existing generation of control technology systems in inspectors and monitoring units. DART is initially being installed in the monitoring equipment for Checkmats in the wet end and the Sekamat.

DART will be used wherever conventional control technology like PLC is not a viable option, because either the real-time requirements are too stringent, because the units cannot be built in a sufficiently compact size, or because they would quite simply be too expensive.

With DART, the company claims that users are able to have all monitoring applications maintained and adjusted via teleservice - an option hitherto available only with the IRIS technology in inspectors like the Linatronic.

The company will be showing all its latest technologies in Hall 7, Stand 620, during the BRAU Beviale 2003​, to be held 12 - 14 November.

For further information about the company's processing solutions please contact Hermann Graf Castell​.