Beck Automation AG's Beck-Flex high-speed in-mold labeling robotic system has the flexibility to run both inside- and outside-gated parts, and stack them on a conveyor.
Beck-Flex works on injection molding machines with a clamping force up to 420 tons.
Two portal arms, located on opposite sides of the mold, are used to transport labels and as a stacker.
Two flexible servo-driven main arms handle label loading and part takeout.
Nick Lewis, director of SMT Americas Inc., a firm in Burlington, Ontario, that represents Beck Automation, gave a presentation on Beck-Flex at KraussMaffei Corp.'s open house May 19 in Florence, Ky. The concept, he said, is a flexible IML system that can accommodate a range of label styles and dimensions, products and molds.
Beck-Flex can be used for pilot tests, and also for smaller volumes and to test new products for market studies, made under production conditions, he said.
Beck-Flex is fast — the overall cycle time is under 4 seconds, and the intervention time is just one second, he said.
Changeover time is under 30 minutes for lid to lid, under 60 minutes for lid to container (inside gated) and under four hours for lid to container (outside gated).
Tel. 905-315-0541, email [email protected].