Packaging is not the same as packing. Its diversity of surface properties is a special challenge in Pick & Place applications in the packaging industry. The reason: handling paperboard containers, Styrofoam, films and blister packages demands vacuum cups that can adapt optimally to uneven, corrugated or flexible work-pieces. Apart from the shape, the material itself plays a decisive role.
Tepuflex®: Elastic and wear-resistant
Those involved with the packaging of pharmaceutical and cosmetic items come across different materials that must be suctioned securely with short cycle times. FIPA offers the polyurethane compound, Tepuflex®, especially for the most diverse surface structures. The material is elastic as rubber, wear-resistant as plastic and can be deployed ideally for temperatures between 0 and 70 degree Celsius.
Vacuum cups made of Tepuflex® guarantee the shortest possible cycle times, long intervals between successive rounds of maintenance and ensure a firm grip. The material can be used for a large variety of packaging surfaces depending on its shape:
•Flat cups with cleats are suitable for even surfaces. They have large lateral sensitivity; the cleats prevent flexible parts from being suctioned.
•Bellows-type cups having 1.5 folds compensate for unevenness and height differences on the work-piece.
Vinyl: Fits perfectly and anti-static
Uneven and flexible materials such as sausage packages are gripped securely and firmly by vinyl cups. Their soft, cuddly and air-tight lips adapt themselves optimally to corrugated and yielding surfaces. The material is particularly wear-resistant and highly robust.
As a result, down times and shutdown times are drastically reduced on account of any replacement and maintenance of the cups.
Owing to its flexible and anti-static properties, vinyl is suitable for handling sensitive products such as CDs and DVDs – in addition, it withstands temperatures up to 80 degree Celsius. Yet another large area of application: Box aligners.
The right cup – always
The right vacuum cup for every packaging machine is the FIPA philosophy. Hence, there is the vinyl range of cups having a large bandwidth. It includes flat cups, bellows-type cups having 1.5 folds, bellows-type cups having 2.5 folds, as well as oval bellows-type cups with 2.5 folds.
However, if the standard range still does not have the right cup for you, the experts at FIPA would develop and manufacture cups customized to meet your needs.