The Marchesini Schmucker MSP560 is a vertical packing machine, at intermittent motion, proper to form stick pack sachets from a reel of heat-sealed material, fill them with product automatically fed, heat seal on the three sides, cut on the length and discharge them in orderly manner.

Main Features

• Machine basement built with sturdy anodized aluminium plates. The working area is a balcony type layout, separated from the mechanical movements by means of aluminium plates covered by stainless steel sheet. All drives are enclosed in the machine internal structure and so there are no motors visible in the working area. Easy access to the parts in contact with the product for service and cleaning purposes.
• In the design, GMP norms have been strictly followed and the machines is delivered with the CE mark.
• Machine control and all operator interface display functions are achieved by an industrial PC Siemens placed on machine right side on a swivelling arm.
• On this machine all size change operations are accessible from the outside. For size changeover, the operator has just to accomplish the following operations:
• to recall an existing size, previously set and saved
• to introduce a new size, due to different sachet length only and different stacking number in case of connection to a conveyor. Stacking number control is one of the control functions of the Stick pack machine.
• to position transversal cutting tools (stick pack length) by means of a hand wheel with digital indicator to reach a new cut position. The position of cutting tools for longitudinal cut (stick pack width) is adjustable with a contrast roller equipped with a graduated scale. A hand wheel is available to adjust contrast roller only, without affecting cutting tool position.
• All main machine drives, from film pulling to stick pack discharge, are controlled by servo motors (Parker) or pneumatic actuators.
• Operations that do not require any changes such as vertical and horizontal sealing are of pneumatic type, thus making size changeover very easy. Thanks to the mechanics employed for movement motorization there is no need to lubricate moving parts.
• Instead of classic pulling with transversal sealing tools, a special group to pull stick pack is applied, which makes all machine working area more accessible.
• The solution to pull stick pack through pincers up to the position where the robot picks them up permits: (1) to keep the product in perfect position; (2) to transfer and place the stick packs on conveyor accurately and safely; (3) to carry out different product collations, which are accurately positioned and stacked, ready for the following stick pack packaging.
• Being a machine appointed for a use within pharmaceutical industry, particular attention has been paid to achieve mechanic function schemes, protection of electric connections, processing and finishing of all parts in direct contact with product.
• Machine stops always in phase at the end of the sealing cycle, whilst immediate stop is provided in emergency mode only.

Product Feeding

• The basic machine has to be equipped with a product feeding unit, based on product features. Product feeders for free flowing or granulated powders, liquids and cream are available. All available feeding units are manufactured with accuracy for a gentle and hygienic product handling with simple and accurate adjustment, easy to access.
• The feeding unit can be easy removed for cleaning and/or service operations.
• All parts in contact with product are manufactured in stainless steel or other FDA approved material. Product is always isolated from mechanical parts.

Film Feeding

• Housing for film material reel holder with pneumatic expanding shaft for a max. reel diameter of 550 mm. Reel unwinding unit equipped with motorized roller. Splicing plate complete with holding clamps during reel splicing.
• A manual axial reel adjustment by size changeover is provided. Upon request, as option, servo assisted automatic adjustments.
• Longitudinal rotating cutting tool activated by the film itself provides to divide the film into stripes. Each rotating blade is independent and it is possible to adjust cutting pressure according to the used kind of film material.
• Film pulling through pincers driven by servo motors with electronic constant control of “stick pack length”. Each forming/pulling channel is provided with a device to make film pulling tension uniform as well as to assure forming homogeneity.

Sealing Section

• Vertical sealing plates commanded by a pneumatic movement with a spring-loaded device to assure a uniform sealing pressure per each sealing bar. Horizontal sealing plates commanded by pneumatic movement. Sealing pressure is applied by a force multiplier. Vertical and horizontal sealing bars to be manually opened for cleaning and service operations.
• Automatic opening of both vertical and horizontal sealing plates after a pre-set time at each machine stop, to remove sealing plates from product thus avoiding product overheating.

Cross Cut Section

• Cross cutting tools fitted on a dedicated holding structure are located outside the sealing bars. They are placed in the next step beyond the horizontal sealing plates to facilitate cleaning operations and to assure the maximum sealing surface.
• Stick pack cut can be made in a linear or indented manner, or according to customer drawing. The working position of the cutting unit is adjustable through hand wheel complete with proper digital numerator.
• It is possible to supply (upon request) a second set of additional “cutting modules” for a quick replacement at each size changeover and without machine standstill.

Stick pack Discharge

• Before the pincers release the lower lap of the stick pack, a robotized pre-elevator, equipped with suction cups, takes the stick packs and discharge them orderly and accurately in the foreseen position out of the axe of the stick pack forming area, to assure that just good products are discharged.
• Driven by servo motors the robotized pre-elevator moves itself and discharges products following automatically trajectories that are predefined from software. The machine operator has just to introduce or vary size data, being a worker provided with the right qualification.
• The robotized elevator is able to eject not conforming products (rejected pieces) in a predefined area dedicated to the discharge. It is able to execute counting operations, stick packs collation and stacking for further packing purposes.

Installed Controls and Safeties

• Safety Guards in Methacrylate integrated in the machine structure, safety micro switches on all doors and machine stop in emergency mode and release of air pressure.
• Emergency circuits and protections with safety level “PLd Cat.3”.
• Reel splicing presence control. If a splicing is detected, stick packs are automatically ejected until the full restore of the control phase of machine cycle.
• Reel end control with machine stop.
• Machine stop after three consecutive errors.
• Machine stop if missing product is detected.
• Machine complete with basic machine complete in all parts equipped to handle only one stick pack size, without dedicated product feeding groups.