Frequently asked questions about the BOS Box Opening System
Here you will find a list of questions sent to A.L.S, with answers about the automatic parcel opener system BOS Box Opening System.
Can the BOS also process cartons chaotically?
Yes, because each carton is measured individually after it enters the BOS, each carton can also be cut individually. BOS thus differs from all packaging machines, but in addition to incoming goods and returns, it can also be used in outgoing goods to reduce volume.
What types of cut can BOS do?
Complete, partial, hinge, tape, height and vertical cut
What types of knives can be used in BOS?
ALS supplies triangular blades as well as the protected perforation blade PAM for perforation cuts, and special blades for tape cutting.
How is the cutting depth adjusted?
This is set manually on the cutting head. It is recommended to use several - up to 4 - cutting heads in the system to control them for the desired depth.
How can BOS be integrated into central ERP systems?
BOS has a Siemens PLC 7 control and an optional VPN card, which are supported by most ERP systems.
What additional products are offered by ALS?
You can get all products upstream and downstream in the value chain. E.g. depalletisers, carton testing and measuring equipment, removal and tipping robots, elevators, sealing systems, empty carton disposal systems, etc.
How can BOS move / relocate regularly in the hall?
BOS can be placed on a roller and can thus be moved. The mains cable must of course be pulled out and secured.
How is the BOS cleaned?
It is best to regularly blow or vacuum the cardboard dust and debris from cutting out of the system using air pressure or a hoover.
How is maintenance carried out?
BOS is classified as low-maintenance or maintenance-free. However, ALS offers a maintenance contract which provides for the system to be inspected once a year.
What support does ALS guarantee?
You can reach ALS all day to get support. If you have a VPN card in the BOS, error sources are analysed online and remotely maintained as far as possible. Otherwise, you receive support largely cost-optimised through telephone consultation or a customer service visit on site.
Why do cartons have to have a minimum size of LxWxH 160 x 140 x 110 mm?
Cartons are held by the BOS with clamps on both sides. These clamps have a height of approx. 5 cm. Furthermore, the cutter is not at the lower edge of the cutter head but in the middle. This means that the cutter head protrudes downwards by about 5 cm. This adds up to approx. 10 cm, plus a cutting height on the box of approx. 1 cm below the top edge gives the minimum dimension of 11 cm.
How does BOS know where one package ends and the next begins?
The parcels approach the system via driven rollers. The rollers have different speeds so that the parcels are separated and processed with a distance of approx. 5 cm.
What is the total weight in kg/m2 per BOS?
BOS weighs approx. 950 kg on an area of approx. 4 sqm.
What is the electricity consumption in KW/h per BOS?
The machine is to be fused with 16A, the theoretical power consumption is given as 4.4 kW, i.e.: If the machine were to run under full load for 1 hour, 4.4 kWh would be required. However, since all drives never run at the same time, experience shows that max. 1/3, i.e. about 1.5 kWh, is consumed.
Can the BOS (version 2.0, if applicable) automatically recognise the cardboard thicknesses of the packages and independently adjust the cutting depth to them?
So far, there is no possibility to separate the cardboard thickness from the abutting goods by measuring; however, we are working on this with partners; as soon as a solution has been found, it will be possible to retrofit it to existing systems; the cutting depth can then be controlled automatically (exchange of the cutter head), the Siemens control SPS 7 supplied by us today already includes this possibility.
Can the 4 knives of a cutter head be individually adjusted according to cutting depth?
We recommend setting each cutter head used to a different cutting depth and then controlling the appropriate cutter head depending on the cutting depth required.
Up to what cutting length does a blade last before it needs to be replaced?
Experience has shown that the cutting length of the knives depends on the thickness of the carton, the quality of the carton material, the possible adhesive tape and the type of cut; the knives can be expected to be in use for several days to several weeks, depending on the volume of parcels.
Can the system open crushed, bent or dented parcels?
An optional upstream defect detection system allows non-processable cartons to be ground out.
Is there also a pre-sorting solution for boxes that are not suitable for the BOS?
Optionally, pre-sorting of too small and too large parcels and of bags, etc. can take place; parcels with metal strapping should not be fed to the BOS in the first place.
