Project: The customer needed an automated end of line palletising system. Individual boxes needed to be collated, wrapped and then stacked on a pallet.
There are 3 different sized boxes running on the line, with various stack formations onto the pallets required.
Further upstream on the customer’s existing line they also needed to integrate a date code system that also aligned the individual boxes.
As an OEM for robots and linear transport systems, we have to pick the right supplier carefully. We have to understand what the customer needs, what robot manufacturers are supplying and what their capabilities are, so we can offer the best solution.
AMP Automation project managed the end of line solution for the customer, which included sourcing, comparing and liaising with other manufacturers to see what they can add to the line in areas we do not cover, like shrink wrapping. We are able to synchronise our machinery with other manufacturers’ equipment; our programming team can have all the machines singing from the same control panel.
A common requirement with automated palletising is the ability to pick and stack boxes with different sizes and weights. This cobot system needed to pick 3 different sized boxes from a conveyor. This is a standard solution in that the line would run one box size at a time, before moving to a different box size.
A more complex, but very achievable, scenario is to have lots of different box sizes coming through on the same run. The operation is achieved using vision systems that will detect what the box is and where it needs to be placed.
Vision systems are able to scan graphics, barcodes or other identifiers, which relays information back to the cobot. The cobot will then determine where and how the box will be stacked on the pallet, or even decide which pallet it will go on.
We are one of the market leaders when it comes to safety with cobots, whilst we have already done a lot to make cobots safe, we are continuously looking at how it can be improved and learn from the needs of our customers.
“What if” scenarios are an important part of making a cobot safe, we have implemented many of these scenarios into our systems using the latest in light/vision scanners. This is demonstrated in the video to the right, it is a small sample of what can be achieved.
Since this video has been made we have made further developments on the safety features, which includes incremental zone areas and scenarios that involve Autonomous Intelligent Vehicles (AIV).
