MH Material Handling: managing product accumulation at high speed

MH Material Handling presents a range of solutions for advanced line management and Bat Buffer systems at IPACK-IMA (Hall 7, booth B21).

In the context of packaging automation, product accumulation and replenishment management is a cornerstone of the production line, especially when working at high speed with packages that require precise orientation.

Bat Buffer systems: how they work

The integration of a Bat Buffer system into a line of cartons with specific orientation characteristics is a case in point that MH Material Handling has been working on. The configuration involves two track inputs, each with an independent line, feeding a single downstream machine. Under standard operating conditions, the buffer loading system works as a 2-in-1 merger, maintaining an orderly incoming flow. This is a line with low waiting time, because the elevated operator passage area brings the product quickly to the merger using a lowerator with rubber flighted belt. This condition requires very rapid reintegration times and a design that plays  close attention to spaces. In the event of downstream microstops, the aim is to return the product without blocking production upstream. The system has thus been configured so that the re-entry track from the buffer runs alongside the main track, directly feeding a long pneumatic conveyor, able to replenish a large amount of product in a very short time. Another key element is the presence of an intermediate modular mat, which connects the buffer and the phasing belt of the dynamic merger. When the line restarts, the system automatically switches from 2-in-1 to 3-in-1 logic, allowing for rapid retrieval ofcartons accumulated in the buffer. This configuration is possible because the product - since it is rigid and packaged – can withstand slight pressure between units, allowing for dense and orderly accumulation. In addition, the conveyor maintains the correct orientation required by the graphics of the cartons.

Versatility and efficiency

The result is a system that combines unification and accumulation logic to create an architecture that is flexible, fast, and able to react intelligently to temporary stops. This advanced version of the Bat Buffer is designed to increase efficiency without compromising on production continuity.