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InFlight AC (Autonomous Cart) Feeder for Fragile & Irregularly-Shaped Products
The InFlight AC is similar to our current InFlight FT in that it receives product at the infeed end, discharges it in time to the packaging machine, and allows the product flow to drive the operation of the packaging machine.
Autonomous carts receive a single lane of randomly spaced product and time it to the flights of a horizontal wrapper, cartoner, or other packaging machine at speeds up to 500 ppm.
Instead of travelling on a conveyor belt like other automatic infeeds, each product is received individually on a cart. This provides a tremendous advantage with regard to sanitation. The removable carts make cleaning a snap. Carts queue on the underside of the system and move to the top to receive each product on a one-to-one basis. Product can be loaded into a single cart, or for longer products a group of electronically geared carts, to handle a wide variety of product sizes. After receiving the product, the cart travels to the discharge end of the feeder where it queues with other products for delivery into the packaging machine in time with the flight chain. This cantilevered cart system eliminates 4 to 5 belts, making it much easier to clean.
Welcome to System Spotlight. In this video, we delve into some of Benchmark’s most advanced solutions and applications. Today, we are excited to introduce the latest addition to Benchmark's in-flight automatic infeed lineup: the Inflight AC. This innovative machine is ideal for loading products that require gentle handling and precise placement into horizontal wrappers, cartoners, or other packaging machines.
The Inflight AC is capable of running at speeds up to 500 pieces per minute, making it a perfect solution for high-volume production lines. Unlike traditional automatic infeeds that utilize conveyor belts, the Inflight AC uses individual carts. Each product is received on a one-to-one basis, ensuring precise handling. This system is versatile in product handling, offering single cart loading for standard-sized products and grouped cart loading with electronically geared carts for longer products, maintaining product integrity and precise placement.
The carts travel to the discharge end of the feeder, queuing with other products for seamless delivery into the packaging machine. The Inflight AC synchronizes perfectly with flight chains, overhead sweeps, or similar transfer devices to ensure smooth product flow. The length of the product queue determines the speed of the packaging machine, optimizing efficiency and throughput.
The cantilevered cart system eliminates the need for four to five belts, significantly reducing cleaning time and complexity. Quick and easy changeovers can be accomplished with a simple recipe change, and for different product sizes, carts can be swiftly replaced.
The Inflight AC by Benchmark is a game-changer in the realm of automatic infeed solutions. Its high-speed capabilities, precise product handling, and user-friendly design make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to enhance their packaging efficiency and maintain product quality.
For more information on Benchmark's capabilities and solutions, visit our website at benchmarkautomation.net. Thank you for joining us on System Spotlight. Stay tuned for more insights into Benchmark’s innovative solutions and how they can transform your production line.
Additional Videos
The InFlight FT is ideal for high-speed loading of products that cannot be backlogged or products that are sticky or fragile.
The InFlight MB feeder delivers continuous motion loading of product without backlogging. Multiple belts are used to space products into wrappers & cartoners.
The InFlight BL is an economical feeder that delivers precise, continuous motion loading of a single lane of backlogged product into the receiving flights of a horizontal wrapper or cartoner.