The customer required a container handling system capable of combining three lanes of different flavored beverage cans into a single lane and then dividing the product back into two lanes for the pack out. The system needed to track product flavors so the final output maintained a consistent repeating pattern. The equipment also needed to handle both full, sealed 12 oz beverage cans and sleek beverage cans moving through the production line.
Managing this lane combining and dividing process while maintaining product order and high-speed can handling presented a complex container handling challenge.
To address this requirement, the solution combined three incoming lanes of beverage cans into a single controlled lane and then divided the flow into two lanes while maintaining product sequence. Morrison developed SmartShift , a servo-driven flow divider that split the single product lane into multiple controlled lanes while maintaining the required repeating flavor pattern. This proprietary component is currently patent pending and served as a key element of the can handling system.
Morrison provided the complete equipment solution including machine components, guarding, and controls, while the customer supplied the conveyor system.
The container handling equipment was designed for an input rate of 160 cans per minute per lane, resulting in a combined throughput of 480 cans per minute. The system discharged product into two lanes operating at 240 cans per minute per lane. Product backlog was incorporated into the system design to support consistent can flow and flavor pattern management.
The beverage can handling system was constructed using stainless steel timing screw bracketry mounted on a welded and painted stainless steel base frame with all required mounting hardware. Stainless steel and Lexan perimeter guarding surrounded the equipment, and AB NEMA 12 servo controls managed system operation. Product handling was performed using three infeed timing screw drive units, three transfer star units, and one discharge timing screw drive unit equipped with a common timing screw. Motion control was powered by  AB VPL servo motors.
To accommodate both 12 oz beverage cans and sleek cans, the system included two change part sets. Each set contained  timing screws, along with the required guides, stars, and vacuum stars for each container style. The machine also incorporated Morrison’s custom servo-driven flow divider to control the transition from a single can lane into two discharge lanes.
As a result, the completed container handling system allowed the customer to combine three lanes of beverage cans into a single lane and then divide the product flow into two controlled lanes while maintaining the required repeating flavor pattern. The system handled both 12 oz and sleek beverage cans at the specified production rates, supporting a combined throughput of up to 480 cans per minute with dual-lane discharge. Coordinated operation of the timing screws, transfer stars, and SmartShift maintained organized product flow as containers moved through the lane combining and dividing process.
If you are evaluating solutions for lane combining, lane dividing, or high-speed beverage can handling, contact Morrison to discuss your application.
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