SOP for Operation & Cleaning of Strip Packing Machine

OBJECTIVE

To lay down the procedure for the operation of the strip packing machine.

SCOPE

The operations should include the following;

• Mounting and dismantling of rollers.
• Adjusting of sealing pressure
• Adjustment of cutting device (Horizontal cuttings).
• Adjustment of feeding.
• Adjustment of the dropping of the tablets.
• Adjustment of packing materials.
• Vibrator setting.
• Setting and adjusting batch printing attachment.

The operation applies to all strip-packing machines.

RESPONSIBILITY

• Operator: For proper running and handling of the machine – setting coding, lubrication and cleaning of machine accessories, sealing pressure, cutting, dropping operating temperatures and vibrator adjustments etc.
• Maintenance: For proper operation of equipment, attending to machine breakdowns and performing preventive maintenance.
• Q.C: for checking equipment status whether it is producing quality or rejecting the product.
• Supervisors: for optimum output in obtaining satisfactory results over the life of the machine.

PROCEDURE

Mounting and dismantling of Rollers

• Switch off the heater, untighten the locking rollers, and pull out the heaters.
• Untighten sealing pressure regulating stud to separate sealing rollers.
• Untighten the grab screws in the sealing roller's cavities and pull out the rollers.
• Remove back gears.
• While mounting the rollers, reverse procedure.
• Ensure that knurling on rollers interlock properly.
• The centerline of the rollers should be exactly above the centerline of the draw brushes.
• Should any adjustment be called for the left-hand roller shaft can be corrected by means of stud and nuts provided inside.

Adjusting of sealing Pressure

• Check the cavity alignment of the sealing rollers.
• Tighten the pressure setting stud for sealing pressure until the passing packing material is knurled and then tighten the stud.
• For equalization of pressure gradually tighten the setting stud until the packing material leaves the sealing rollers in a correctly sealed position of over the web.

ALSO READ: SOP for De-Stripping and De-Blistering

Adjustment of Cutting Device

• After starting the machine, ensure that both the cams for the cutting device are functioning properly, one pushing the cutter assembly downwards and the other imparting scissors action.
• Should the cutting not be exactly in the middle of cavities on the strips, the point of cutting can be adjusted by untightening the cutting gear.
• Turn the hand wheel either forward or reverse depending on the position of cut. Tighten the screw when the position of cut is established.

Adjustment of feeding Device

• Fill the hopper with a product to be sealed.
• Ensure hoppers do not touch the vibrator bowl. This can be achieved by a telescopic hopper stand, which also controls the feed rate to the bowl.
• Switch on the control vibrator switch.
• Adjust the knob of the dimmer stat to fill the product in the channels. The product will be stopped in channels by the release pin.
• Adjust the level of the bowl and chute by the 3 nos. of leveling screws.
• The release pin can be locked in position by means of a feed stopper.

Adjustment of the dropping of the tablets

• This can be affected by untightening the back cam gears.
• Rotate the cam gear in either direction depending on the tablet’s drop.
• The movement of the release pin can also be adjusted by loosening the screws in the release pin stopper and adjusting the rubber buffer.

Adjustment of Packing Materials

• The feeding of the packing materials should be proper to cover the sealing area of rollers and also give proper width.
• Adjustment of packing material roll can be done by means of screw and nut pair on packing material roll holding shaft by operating knob.
• To avoid any misalignment and prevent the formation of wrinkles the foil running shafts are given to keep the running foils in a tight position.

Adjustment vibrator

• Set the vibrator gaps relative to vibration requirements.
• Set the gaps of vibrations between the values of 140 to 160 volts for good operational values.

Batch Printing Unit

a. Installation

• Mount Roller mounting bracket by means of 4 nos. bottles on the machine body.
• Mount Batch Printing Unit with mounting shafts by means of fixing 2 nos. bolts on the mounting bracket.

b. Check up and Observe

• While mounting the unit, the stationary roller should be parallel to the sealing roller (heating Roller).
• The stationary roller should be in the right angle to the body of the machine.
• The main bracket should be in level with the top plate of the machine.

c. Stereo Drum

To mount stereos:

• Remove the stereo drum from the mounting shaft.
• Loosen the chuck nuts.
• Remove rubber tiers.
• Loosen the stereo rings (Poly Propylene) fix the stereos at the required place.

• Press the stereos firmly and see that all the stereos are in the same level.
• Put back the rubber tires and tighten the chuck nuts.
• Place the stereo drum to its position to mount the flat stereos on plain stereo drum.

ALSO READ: Qualification Protocol for Strip Packing Machine

d. Felt Roller

• Remove the felt roller from the mounting
• Soak the felt with sufficient ink.
• Fit the felt roller on the mounting shaft.

e. Operation and Observations

• Pass the packing material through the stereo drum roller and stationary roller to the sealing junction (Roller).
• The stereo drum is above the stationary roller and by the help of the packing material movements, the stationary roller is being rotated and in turn, drives the stereo drum.
• Observe the printing impression.
• If the printing impression is weak, then add a few drops of “Felt Type Ink” to the felt Roller.
• If the printing is very dark then;

1. It means, too much ink is added.
2.  Wait till sufficient time for the pad to absorb the ink
3. If smudging continues, then add a few drops (5 to 6) of printing aid on the felt rollers (printing Aid thinner)

• Repeat the printing operation and if it needs pressure adjustment knob is to be adjusted.
• If felt roller-soaked inked ink – is enough, the print may last one to two hours.
• Recommended ink- felt type ink and thinner.

f. Lubrication

• The stereos drum felt drum, and stationery roller are to be lubricated with grease once a month.

STARTING THE MACHINE

Checks

• Ensure that all doors are closed, and all moving parts are covered. This prevents dust or powders from reaching the bearing surfaces.
• The product should be free from dust and broken pieces before being loaded in the hopper.
• The rollers should be cleaned using a soft wire brush.
• The feeding assembly, bowl, chute, and hoppers should be dust-free.

Lubrication

• Grease the sealing roller shaft bearings daily.
• Put a few drops of oil SAE 40 on the catch shaft and cam followers for cutting the device.
• The cutting assembly dovetail slider should be oiled daily SAE 30.

Starting

• Switch on the mains
• Switch on the heaters
• Set the TIC to the required temperature range
• The on/Off/Inch button should be in the inch position.
• When the pressure rollers have reached the required temperature, fix the feed throat (channel).
• Switch on vibrator
• Press the inch button for a trial run
• If satisfied with machine performance, set the On/Off inch button to run position.
• Continue operation and observe the performance i.e. cutting, coding, and dropping.

SAFETY

Electricals

• Ensure that pilots’ lights are functional.
• Loose wires and bare wires should be reported immediately (all cables to be covered).
• Ensure all panel instruments are working i.e. TIC, Ammeters, and Variac.
• An electrical terminal box should always be closed.

Mechanical

• All moving parts should always be covered (cutting gears, cutting Assembly).
• All abnormal noises should be reported immediately.
• Always lubricate all moving parts at regular intervals.

CLEANING

Cleaning Procedure

During Batch Change Over.

• Wear a nose mask and hand gloves.
• Remove the previous product and label and affix the label “TO BE CLEANED’’.
• Switch OFF the mains.
• Remove the adhered powder with the help of a vacuum cleaner, followed by dry mopping with a lint-free cloth.
• Dismantle the parts like the Chute assembly, hopper, vibratory SS bowl, and dust collector.
• Remove the sealing rollers, and clean them with a soft brass wire brush.
• Dedust all other parts with a vacuum cleaner followed by dry mopping with the help of a dry cloth.
• Clean the area and affix the label “CLEANED’’.

During product changeover

• Follow the step (During Batch Change Over.)
• Transfer the detachable parts to the washing area.
• Scrub the detached parts with a lint-free cloth soaked in purified water.
• Rinse with purified water.
• Clean the non-detachable parts and body of the machine, with a clean lint-free cloth soaked in purified water followed by mopping with a clean lint-free cloth.
• Clean the area, if found ok, affix the label “CLEANED’’.

At the end of the day

• Keep all the material tightly closed and ensure the presence of a status label.
• Follow the step (During Batch Change Over.)

ABBREVIATION

• TIC: Temperature Indicator Control
• SS: Stainless Steel
• SAE: Standard American Engineers

REVISION HISTORY

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