FlexaPac has fruit packing ap-peel
The packing of netted citrus fruits into trays, crates and cartons has become fully automated with the launch of a tray-loading machine.
The patented FlexaPac technology is in response to a request made by a food process troubleshooting consultant who wanted a system that would almost entirely eliminate product waste and increase netted fruit packing throughput, says manufacturer Pacepacker Services.
The FlexaPac, which can pack in excess of 60 nets of fruit per minute, replaces the current labour intensive approach of loading netted products into crates, trays and cartons by hand via a rotary table.
Two parallel conveyor belts transport the bags of fruit from the net packing machine onto FlexaPac’s set of landing platforms. Once the correct quantity of netted product has been recognised by the system, it’s pushed onto a set of lowering plates, which then lower the product into the waiting tray below – completely eliminating product damage and waste.
The system distributes layers of fruit below the level of the tray bale arms or carton lips, until the required quantity is met.
