Tray Spacing and Recipe Setup
How tray spacing is set using recipes and checked against tooling.
Tray spacing is set by the active recipe.
Correct spacing aligns trays with the tooling impressions.
2. What a recipe is
A recipe is a saved set of machine parameters.
Each tray format should have its own recipe.
3. What a recipe stores (typical)
A recipe can store:
Tray pitch (tray-to-tray spacing).
Number of tooling impressions.
Conveyor and transfer timing.
Film feed length and tension.
Seal temperature and seal time.
Registered film enable (if fitted).
Gas/vacuum options (if fitted).
4. Tray flow and where spacing happens
Tray movement is normally:
Infeed conveyor → spacing conveyor → transfer into seal station.
The spacing conveyor sets a fixed pitch.
This pitch is used by the transfer system.
Tooling impressions are the pockets in the sealing tool.
Each cycle loads trays into these pockets.
Tray pitch must match:
The pocket-to-pocket distance.
The timing of the transfer arms.
If the pitch is correct:
Trays sit centrally in the tooling pockets.
Film cutting stays inside the tool perimeter.
6. What happens with incorrect tray spacing
Incorrect tray spacing can cause:
Do not run at full speed after changing tray pitch. A collision can damage tooling and transfer parts.
7. Operator procedure (simple check)
Select the correct recipe.
Verify the tray spacing parameter.
Run the machine at slow speed.
Confirm trays align with the tooling pockets.
Adjust spacing if required.
7.1 If adjustment is required
Change tray pitch only in the correct recipe screen.
Save the updated recipe if authorised.
Re-check alignment at slow speed.
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