Gefran Packaging Solution

         

Precious objects or everyday products, foods, drinks, powders, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals all share a common need: the right packaging. An elegant package offering total safety and hygiene can contribute to the success of consumer products.

Vertical and horizontal packaging machines, dosers, fillers, formers, cartoners, hot melt, and hot air are just some of the machines used for this purpose. Packaging machine automation has to satisfy demands for cycle speed, precision checking, and repeatability, plus careful attention to aesthetics of the packaged product.

All aspects of system control must mesh perfectly to achieve these goals. Gefran offers a complete range of products for packaging machine automation, including industrial sensors for the acquisition of physical variables, plus actuators such as solid-state relays and SIEIDrive drives.

These instruments perform the following functions:
    • Supervision
    • Control of remote I/Os
    • Complete automations based on PLC and Soft-PLC structures

Gefran's new "GF_VEDO" operator panels completely control the machine, and can be programmed with the PLC languages approved by IEC-61131-3 and with on-board or remote I/O boards. Integration of sensors with control, supervision and actuation to field is standard practice for Gefran, which has always integrated its products in turnkey solutions.


Applications
Vertical packaging machines
The main functions of vertical ("form-fill-seal") machines are:
    • Forming container to required dimensions by sealing heat-seal film on bottom and longitudinal side
    • Precise dosing of product
    • Closing by sealing top of bag
    • Final cutting

Gefran's measurement, control, and actuation devices optimize the packaging process, which demands speed, precision, and accurate control of variables.


 Longitudinal seal
Continuous longitudinal sealing of film with high dynamics and low thermal mass is managed by PID loops in series GFX4 4-channel controllers. The solid-state relays with on-board heatsink are equipped with a "fast cycling" control.

 Positioning, Change, Format
The sealer / cutter group is positioned according to the formats to be produced. Position is read with series PZ linear potentiometers or with a PC. GILOGIK II remote I/O modules feed the potentiometers and read position with 16 bit resolution.

 Transverse seal
The discontinuous transverse seal is managed by GFX4 controller loops.

 Machine cycle and operator interface
The machine cycle is managed by the Soft-PLC functions of the GF_VEDO industrial terminals, programmable with languages approved by IEC-61131. The graphics pages are available on TFT screens with 3,5" to 15" touch screen.

 Inputs/Outputs control
GILOGIK II modules control all of the machine's digital and analog inputs/outputs, including direct signals from potentiometers, load cells, and pressure sensors.

 Diagnostics, Alarms, Protections
Any breaks in heating resistances, temperature sensors, and power junctions are diagnosed by the processor in the controllers and immediately generate alarm messages. The GFX4 controller houses fuses and fuse holders.

TC1M / TR1M
     • Platinum thermocouples and resistance thermometers
     • Mineral oxide isolation
     • Thermoelements are isolated from the outer sheathing with compact powder in continuous metal sheathing

TC1 / TR1
     • Platinum thermocouples and resistance thermometers
     • Stainless steel sheathing soldered at one end
     • Single or double element with hot junction isolated or massed

ADV200
     • Inverter with field vector control
     • Power range: 0.75kW to 1.5MW
     • Programming in IEC-61131-3
     • Communication: Modbus RTU (Standard on board), CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus

ADV20 / ADV50
     • Inverter with V/f control and Sensorless
     • Power range: 0.4kW to 11kW
     • Communication: Modbus RTU (Standard on board), CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus

XVy-EV
     • Brushless drive
     • Power range: 0.75kW to 500kW
     • Programming in IEC-61131-3
     • Communication: Modbus RTU (Standard on board), CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus