Lot #24: 2013 Palamides Alpha 500 Plus Stacker

2013 Palamides Alpha 500 Plus Stacker

Retail Price: $68,000.00

The alpha was designed as a universal delivery for processing folded brochures, especially signatures. 

The products are collected by the machine, stacked and the neatly jogged stacks are delivered to a buffer table. The operator removes the ergonomically convenient jogged stack from the delivery table and no longer has to knock-up the products. This means that, even after several hours of production, the folding machine can still run at full production without tiring the operator. 

The alpha delivers free of markings, i.e. no smearing of freshly printed products. In order to reduce set-up times the machine sets itself up pretty much automatically. The pressing unit can be opened at the press of a button, which greatly simplifies press roller cleaning and removal of double sheets. 

As the alpha was mainly designed for signatures, the pressing unit is equipped with 3.5 t of pressing force. As with all palamides‘ deliveries, the alpha identifies waste and automatically ejects it. Alongside this delivery technology, which has been established for years, palamides have designed a further essential component, “the intelligent output module”, which only forwards book blocks that have been checked for completeness to the subsequent finishing unit (e.g. adhesive binder etc.). 

It makes no difference whether it is dealing with a very small edition or mass circulation. Barcodes or registration marks are read and evaluated with the aid of a camera. These codes contain all important information such as: the book title, the number of signatures and which signature is currently being processed. Once the book block is recognised as complete, it is transferred for further processing. If the book block is incomplete, then it is redirected, transferred separately and ejected. Using this top-quality inspection and monitoring technology guarantees that only absolutely perfect book blocks are automatically transferred for further processing.

Equipment:

- Automatic format recognition and waste sheet ejection for continuous production.

- Automatic shutdown of the folding machine by successive waste sheets.

- Selective inspection sheet ejection during a production run. Inspection sheets are not included in the count. Automatic format adjustment in running direction.

- Pressing unit can be opened pneumatically so that pressing rollers can be cleaned and double sheets can be removed quickly and easily.

- Pre-press and main pressing rollers have up to 3.5 t pressing force to neatly press out the product without creases.

- Air blast device for processing products which remain open.

- Variable production mode for the shaft infeed: Shingled stream for reliable processing of the high performance sector or single sheet mode for processing sensitive products without marks.

- Quick set-up mode through semi-automatic set-up without tools to limit set-up time to a few minutes and eliminate operator error.

- Product stability device for reliably processing difficult, uneven or thin products.

- Jogging device with shape jogger in order to be able to knock-up large stacks of uneven products to form precise edges.

- Automatic stack transport to the buffer zone to allow the operator quick access to the stacks.

- Large format range min. 80 mm (3 ¼“) infeed width x 95 mm (3 ¾“) infeed length, max machine width x 330 mm (13“).

- Product output to the left or right is automatically detected by the machine.

- Suitable for inline processing automatic transfer of the stack possible e.g. to shrink wrap tunnels or inline book-on-demand lines.

- Stack removal which is ergonomic and kind to the joints for fatigue-free operation even at full running speed.

- Rotating operating controls for operating the machine from all sides.

- Mobile can be used for a quick changeover, e.g. from a folding machine to a mailer.

Advantages at a glance:

- Delivery without marks, even with very sensitive products.

- Automatic format recognition and integrated waste sheet ejection.

- Improved pallet stacking due to very good compression of the signature at the spine.

- Increased productivity due to perfectly jogged stacks.

- Ergonomic working height for removing stacks.

- Integrated operator aids such as a knockup table, storage compartments and drinks holder.

- Product output to the left or right.

- Very short set-up time due to semi-automation.

- Pressing unit can be opened pneumatically.

- Set-up for multiple up-work.

- Barcode/DataMatrix reading system can be used.

- Suitable for inline processing, automatic transfer to shrink wrap tunnel or perfect binder for book on demand lines.

Format / Infeed Width / Infeed Length

min. Infeed width: 80 mm (3 ¼“) 95 mm (3 ¾“)

1 up max.  510 mm (20“)  330 mm (13“)

2 up max. (optional)  235 mm (9 ¼“)  330 mm (13“)

3 up max. (optional)  150 mm (6“  330 mm (13“)

Max Stock Height: 160 mm 

Min Stock Height: 3 mm 

Speed: 15 – 205 m/min 

Performance: 900 stacks per hour per up-work 

Electrical Connection: 16 A, 400/230 V, 3,5 kW 

Compressed Air Consumption: 100 l/min net, 6 bar (with air blast device 250 l/min) Dry filtered air on site