Automated Cartoners Aren't Just About Speed And Reliability Anymore

By Sam Lewis

Consumers’ needs continually evolve, which means food and beverage packagers’ equipment must become more and more flexible in order to keep a competitive edge. Fortunately, there are simple and affordable solutions to address packagers’ flexibility issues.

Though an automated cartoner may be one of the last machines of packaging line, it is one of the most important parts of keeping the line efficient. These machines form, erect, fill, and close food and beverages into containers ready for transport. This technology allows companies to save time and money, improve production, and it accelerates the product’s delivery.

Reliability and speed have always been sought-after characteristics of automated cartoners, but now, in a highly-competitive market, flexibility is a significant issue to consider. This is due to today’s broad range of packaging types and sizes, as well as them being equipped with elaborately designed labels with vibrant colors and unique textures. These features are used to increase product visibility, capture the consumer’s interest, and ultimately aim to create a sale. However, these unique packaging features create obstacles for packagers, which have led to more importance regarding flexibility.

Historically, automated cartoners’ sensors have had trouble responding to changes in packaging materials, colors, and sizes throughout operation. The issue grows more complicated as packaging becomes more and more complex.

Luckily, there are solutions to this problem. There are sensors, and other technologies, available that offer dependable detection of a wide-range of packaging types, sizes, colors, textures, and shapes. These technologies are also available at costs that allow packagers to remain within the confines of their budgets.

One of the most-effective means of rectifying the problem is background suppression. This allows the automated cartoners’ sensors to disregard any reflected light and background data that is irrelevant to the packaging and detect its intended target.  This method works unlike standard sensor technologies — which focus on a specific area at a set distance — in that it uses light triangulation to find and recognize objects within the detecting area. This area includes both the target as well as the background. By using light triangulation, the sensors can see behind the background behind the target and ignore it as the product passes through.