Packaging equipment
What is a packaging machine? A type of machine used to cover wholly or partially individual items or a collection or group of items with a flexible material like paper, foil, plastic etc. This machinery also include the mechanism that collate and distribute the items making them ready for covering, those that prepare the materials and containers, those that fill cases and those that seal the covering.
The packaging done by using such flexible material is called wrapping-necessary for a material
To provide protection from handling, heat, contamination, odor, moisture, dirt etc.
To maximize storage time with minimum loss in quality.
To make the item look good in order to attract the consumers.
To allow use of items more easily without fear of damage.
The machines are used for packaging to reduce the time required for packing and enhance the efficiency.
Starting of Packaging Machine Industry
At first in 1875 a package filling machine was exhibited which required two people to put in the package covers and two more people to seal them. The first automatic packaging machine was made in England at the end of nineteenth century. This was invented by two brothers William and Henry Rose. The design, invention and manufacturing ability had led to the first industrially installed packaging machinery and to the formation of Rose Brothers Ltd. which was, until the death of William Rose\'s son Alfred, renowned as the world leader in the industry.
It was said that William Rose was a barber and wanted to break off cutting and shaving to weigh and wrap loose tobacco. Over a period of 15 years he conceived the idea and developed a machine to perform his operation.
Types of Packaging Machines
Wrapping machines of individual confectionary items can be broadly divided into two major categories.
First employ conventional cam operated folding movements that have developed from the original machines using the same basic principles but 50 years older.
The second major class are the form, fill, seal machines, called as flowpack or pillowpack machines, which, broadly speaking form a continuous tube of wrapping material around the items. These machines are much developed ones than the conventional cam operated machines. Of the both the former is more complex and expensive type employing cam operated technique.
Some common features of Wrapping or Packaging machines are:
The first principle is that the machine should control the item to be wrapped and the wrapping material, so that the hold of the machine on the item should not be released until the wrap is completed.
The machine should be rigid like mechanical tools. Movements will be so close that any lost motion because of vibration or deflection may affect its performance and life.
A machine should not only be perfect under test condition with some sample but the design must be robust as it has to run 24 hours a day and 7days a week when employed in commercial applications.
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