Page 39 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2019

ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
components, accessories and flexible software options that enable operators to rapidly generate pallet patterns, accommodate product changeovers, handle multiple SKUs and monitor the status of the palletising system.
They possess payload capacities that range from 80 to 1000kg to suit most needs. They can perform as fast as 2050 cycles per hour with loads of 130kg, depending on stacking patterns, requirements, product weight, and if the robot is picking a single product, rows of product, or full layer of products.
The high payload capabilities and flexibility of modern palletising robots allow for multiple product picks and complete pallet layer handling, resulting in fewer cycles per completed pallet.
As retailer demand for mixed product pallets increases, the capabilities of robotic palletisers are more readily realised. Robotic palletising systems can be programmed and configured to incorporate mixed product pallets at the level of the individual product.
There are now advanced process controllers, such as vision systems that enable the robot to make real-time picking, placement, and stacking adjustments. That is, they can build each layer with a mixture of products and can source these layers from multiple in-feed conveyors.
The high vertical reach capability of some palletising robots, like those from Kawasaki Robotics, are ideal for tall pallet creation and multi-lane applications where the robot is required to reach over incoming and outgoing production lines. The extra- long horizontal reach allows for one robot to be used in applications where five or more outgoing pallet lanes are required.
And in a final coup for food manufacturers, robots can now be programmed to perform a variety of functions, rather than just one predefined task. With the ability to store a number of programs in each robot’s memory, it can move between different tasks and perform different processes quickly. Alternatively, the advent of off-line programming and development of interfaces enables operators to effect programming changes without having to reach out for support from the robotic
✷ ROBOTICS LENDING A ‘HAND’
system integrator.
✷
ROBOT ARMS
Robotic palletisers can be enhanced with a range of end of arm tools (EOAT).
2-Jaw Gripper: A parallel motion gripper utilises two ‘fingers’ to compress, grip, and manipulate an object through pneumatic or electrical actuation. Best suited to single case picking execution, typically with rotary functionality, and high throughput.
Vacuum Gripper: Uses vacuum gripping to precisely handle SKUs that aren’t rigid enough for conventional compression gripping. Can handle multiple SKUs at once with high precision and throughput.
Suction Gripper: Utilises a range of vacuum cups to handle SKUs. Favourable for large SKUs with
uniform surfaces with which to grip, and can handle multiple SKUs at once via dual-gripping functionalities.
Finger Gripper: Two parallel rows of tines or ‘fingers’ horizontally secure the SKU top and bottom. Single case picking capabilities, moderate throughput, and ideal for fragile SKUs.
Fork Gripper: One row of tines or ‘fingers’ extend the entire horizontal length of the EOAT. Single case picking capabilities, moderate throughput, and ideal for SKUs that need to be supported from the bottom such as open-top containers or oversized bags. This type of gripper may also use a stripper plate to correctly position SKUs onto pallet stack.
✷ ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ê ELECTRICAL admin@efinow.com.au | 1300 EFI NOW (334 669) | WWW.EFINOW.COM.AU
Jack Bain is a senior
project manager and
automation technician
with Robot
Technologies-Systems
Australia, one of the
DiverseCo group of companies. RTA and its sister company AccuPak have released The Ultimate Guide to Palletising Automation. Some of its contents have been referenced here.
✷ ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
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www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | April 2019 | Food&Drink business | 39