Packaging

LM Diverter D12, the best solution for conveying wet wipes in packaging lines

Monday 21. March 2022 - The Modena companys application has responded to a number of special needs of a Spanish player, leader in the converting industry. A recent delivery to Spain reveals LMs ability to adapt and customise each of its solutions.

A very particular type of product, which along the line and before packaging, must retain the level of scented liquid that each wipe is soaked in. The solution selected had to therefore pay special attention and enable stacks of wipes to be handled delicately without letting them rub against the base and touching the sides. Not only: they also had to be flexible, quick and equipped with a weight control system.
To meet these requests is LM’s D12 sliding block diverter: it is the most suitable system for dividing production output from the converting and folding machine towards a number of packaging lines working in parallel, thanks to its special features such as high speed, handling suitable for delicate products and configuration flexibility.
With regard to speed, the stacks of wipes soaked in detergent are exchanged in groups of 2 and reach up to a maximum of 360 products/min. In order to comply with the proper handling requirements, dedicated inlet / outlet transfers were added to the diverter and optimised to prevent the stack from collapsing when passing through: a motorised interface had to be provided at diverter outfeed for the product, in its exposed state, without external packaging. The machine was entirely made of stainless steel, an essential material for the environment in which the divider was installed and which helps maintain the integrity of the product’s features.
Thanks to a strategic partnership between LM and a specialised supplier, D12 was equipped with a weight control system: the diverter receives a signal from the weight control system and with this input, the machine can easily, dynamically and quickly sort and divert the product towards the appropriate route. After passing the weight check, the wet wipes are sorted and directed towards the three packaging machines. If a product is noncompliant, the fault is immediately signalled by the weight control system that sends a signal to the LM diverter so that the wipe is directed towards the reject line. Lastly, a storage tank was provided and installed immediately under the diverter in order to collect any seepage of liquid.
Technical assistance for machine start-up was carried out in Spain by an LM technician who collaborated with the company’s operators, fully testing its functionality. Also in this regard, LM received positive feedback from the client.