Expert Insights Blog

Go Behind the Scenes Inside Booth C-1651 at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2023

Written by Mia Stevens | 8/21/23 12:00 PM

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2023! Make sure to visit us at booth C-1651 and discover the cutting-edge systems that Morrison Container Handling Solutions has in store for you.

To make the most out of your Pack Expo adventure, we have prepared a comprehensive guide showcasing what we will be showcasing at the event this year. In our booth, we showcase a variety of ideas and applications that can solve challenges on your line. 

Don't forget to add us to your Show Planner for easy access and to remember to stop by to discuss how we can help improve your throughput.

Machine #1: Pick and Place with Alternate Inverter

To kick things off, our inverting showcase loop demonstrates two types of container inverting: Pick and Place and Alternate Inverting.

Possible Applications on Your Line:

  • Case packing 
  • Inverting for rinsing
  • Inverting for code dating
  • Creating multi-packs
  • Inverting to reduce packaging sizes

Pick and Place Breakdown

Our innovative approach follows the linear speed of the screw, smoothly picking containers along the way that have been inspected by vision to not be the correct orientation. By embracing continuous motion, we not only extend the machine's lifespan but also significantly reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO).

With our advanced positive control system, we maintain absolute control over the timing screw, ensuring a precise and seamless container positioning at every moment. This eliminates the necessity for complex vision and robotics systems, simplifying your operations while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy and reliability.

Alternate Inverter Breakdown

The alternate inverter uses continuous motion and inversion of containers, creating an alternate inverted pattern of containers. Other approaches you may have seen require an indexing motion to create the alternate inverted pattern, or significantly more conveyor space to divide, invert one lane, and combine into one common lane downstream. This alternate inverting system is servo driven, allowing for the most robust and positive container handling. Morrison’s approach of a standardized design, allows for easy length modification for future machine designs, minimizing potential future engineering time.

When it comes to the conveyor, it’s preferred for Morrison to supply a new conveyor, but it can be mounted to existing conveyor if required.  Morrison’s zero-gap conveyor side transfer design and approach eliminates gaps and dead plates creating a smooth transition between conveyor chains and allowing for efficient container handling.

The perimeter guarding on the entire system is a small overall footprint. The gull wing door design allows for full access to the machines without being invasive to the greater line layout. It also features safety interlocked doors that allow for full visibility inside the machine's operation. 

Machine #2: Smart Changeover Machine

Possible Applications on Your Line:

  • Label placement on a different side of a container
  • Inspection of different sides of the container
  • Presentation of containers to the end of line equipment
  • Inspection of a stable product
  • Weighing of a container over a scale
  • Applying a label
  • Dropping glue onto containers
  • Pressing a cap or plug onto the containers

Our Smart Changeover Machine is a versatile system that efficiently handles multiple container sizes. Equipped with A.I. Operator Assistance, it ensures correct setup by analyzing color sensors on change parts and loading the appropriate recipe. This automated process adjusts centerlines, vertical and horizontal positions, and speed settings, minimizing changeover time and operator errors.

This system automatically times the timing screws during changeover or line setup, eliminating the need for manual inspection and adjustments. Say goodbye to time-consuming visual checks and let our Smart Changeover Machine streamline your operations with precision and ease.

There is a low total cost of ownership of the system, as the drive bracket reduces parts, minimizing preventative maintenance needs. It also offers easy inspection of the belt and pulley for quick maintenance. Destaco clamps are used on the idler end to remove the screw, making changeovers completely tool-less.

Additionally, the conveyor loop features two types of conveyor rails that provide quick adjustment. 

  1. Morrison Auto Adjust Rails®: With a simple push of a button on the HMI, and no tools needed, you can effortlessly change over the rail locations to accommodate a wide variety of container sizes. This allows for infinite adjustment of rail position for many container sizes to run on the same line.
  2. Morrison Quick Change Rails: These rails are mounted onto core plates and most often used as corner rails. They provide a quicker changeover time since there is no adjustment needed between container sizes, especially in cumbersome corners. Simply swap the change part with the different rail and you'll be up and running in no time.

The loop features two operations depending on the container run.

  • Square containers are turned 90 degrees as they pass through the set of timing screws before going around the loop to run through the screws again.
  • Round containers are dwelled in the timing screw for a split second at a consistent location while the screw continues to run, which in time adds life to the machine.

Machine #3: Smart Combiner and Divider Loop

Possible Applications on Your Line:

  • Combining 2 lanes into 1
  • Dividing 1 lane into 2 
  • Creating variety packs 
  • Creating multi-packs 

This dynamic system divides containers on the fly based on the product demand downstream. This system allows you to take an upstream process that’s running at a faster speed and release the product into two lanes for a downstream operation that requires multiple lanes. It can also be used in a scenario where the downstream operation requires two machines to keep up with the upstream operation, like a filler upstream that can run faster than the downstream labeler.

The design of the system implements a tool-less changeover to allow for multiple container sizes to run on the system. With four servo motors, this system allows for automatic phasing of the timing screws to divide the containers accordingly into the appropriate lane. The system also utilizes an inspection station to look at the color of the containers to divide them into the appropriate lane.

        • Runs speeds over 1000 containers per minute.
        • Maintains positive control of the container.
        • Can lower maintenance costs.
        • Compact footprint easily fits into existing lines.
        • Can be implemented into an inspection/rejection station.
        • Robust eccentric drive bracket minimizes spare parts required.

Overall, this Smart Divider system allows for ongoing and dynamic production with the ability to automatically shift containers to the appropriate lane.

This dynamic timing screw system combines round or oval containers from two lanes into one common lane. The combiner can run each lane independent from one another, instead of relying on both lanes requiring a backlog of containers. The system works by releasing containers 180 degrees out of phase and railed together on the discharge of the system. This system is even offered with an upgraded design that allows for containers to be fully combined in the timing screw.

  •   Able to mount to existing conveyor.
  •   Minimizes maintenance.
  •   Robust eccentric drive bracket minimizes spare parts required

Machine #4: Twist Block and Code Dating Loop

Possible Inverting Applications on Your Line:

  • Rinsing
  • Code dating  
  • Sanitation of cap
  • and more!

This cost-effective inverting solution is designed to flip containers from one side to the other within a UHMW plastic block that mounts to your conveyor. Utilizing the back log on your line, the Twist Block is a great solution for rigid and semi-rigid containers.

This loop is highlighting two types of twist blocks:

  1. Quick Change: Blocks are mounted onto core plates and equipped with quick change clamps to make it easy to swap blocks to run different container sizes.
  2. Standard Mounting: We can also provide a block with simple, standard mounting to plug into your existing conveyor layout.

With the ability to run at a variety of speeds the benefits include:

  • Reduced footprint as our models ranges from 12 to 18 inches.
  • The ability to customize to meet your production. requirements.
  • Simple Maintenance: Our design features minimal parts, making it easier to take apart and clean compared to other products on the market.
  • Simple Mounting: Light weight and easy to maneuver, this block features quick change clamps, making changeover and cleaning simpler.

Additionally, we are showcasing a Leibinger Code Dating application on our loop to simulate a possible use case of twist blocks.

See these systems in action at Pack Expo Chicago Las Vegas 2023. Add us to your Show Planner and schedule an appointment to meet directly with our experts while at Pack Expo.