In response to a growing requirement for stainless steel tote and crate de-stackers within the food industry, warehousing, and distribution sectors, L-A-C Logistics Automation have developed a machine that performs not only to the rapid outputs that modern industries require but also ensures consistent and reliable delivery.
Being made of a robust design, this tote de-stacker delivers a cost-effective solution for various business sectors. It can be integrated with a conveyor system to speed up the process of a tote or crate de-stacking task.
The tote de-stacker can be used in a stand-alone situation or integrated into a conveyor system and is an ideal addition to robot pick and place de-stackers, warehouse fulfilment, and parcel delivery companies. The crate de-stackers design allows for great flexibility in the way that it can be configured to work with other machinery such as paternoster systems, helping to smooth out supply lines whilst making the best use of manpower.
Not only can the L-A-C tote and crate de-stacker deal with two of the most commonly used sizes of crates in the supermarket sector:
- Maxinest Bale Arm Crate 600×400 narrow edge leading in singles
- Maxinest Bale Arm Crate 400×300 wide edge leading in pairs
It can also be configured to de-stack a variety of different sized tote boxes as well.
The de-stacker is available in two versions:
- Non-servo version supplies up to 15 full-size crates per minute
- Servo version supplies up to 25 full-size crates per minute
Whilst the tote de-stacker is in operation a further two to four stacks of crates or totes can be lined up waiting to be driven down the modular belt conveyor or roller conveyor line. Stacks of crates/totes are delivered to the unit on pallets and can be loaded either onto a static stainless-steel bed platform before being introduced onto a plastic modular belt conveyor, powered roller conveyors, or directly onto the de-stackers’ belt conveyor or roller conveyor dependent on the customer’s preferences.
By utilising sensors and automating the conveyor element of the system, manual handling requirements are reduced to a minimum.
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Crates and totes are de-stacked by using a clamping system on the bottom crate/tote whilst the rest of the stack is lifted. The released crate/tote is then driven out of the unit by a chain and peg conveyor system and the cycle repeats until all the crates/totes have been processed. During de-stacking an anti-topple arm swings across the entrance of system in order to control the back end of the stack.
The L-A-C tote de-stacker is a complete stainless-steel build system which can be operated in both high care and low care environments and is capable of full wash down if required. The de-stacker also has a positive impact on health and safety issues as it removes aspects of the heavy workload involved with de-stacking. This includes reducing chances of finger trapping and manual handling fatigue whilst ensuring rapid and accurate delivery of crates/totes into the production conveyor system.
L-A-C can supply all controls including HMI screens to operate the tote de-stacker whether it be a stand-alone de-stacker or one that is fully integrated into a turn-key conveyor system.