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MOTION CONTROL FEATURE
PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING
The installation of a robotic pick-and-place and integrated conveyor
solution has increased productivity for a pharmaceutical manufacturer while maintaining regulatory compliance. Trio Motion Technology looks into the application and how its single controller for robot and machine axes has helped optimise productivity
pharmaceutical industry. The packaging process is one example, and here the final steps for one pharmaceutical manufacturer include cartoning, stacking and palletising. Needing to increase productivity while maintaining hygiene and strict pharmaceutical sector compliance, it was found the process could be optimised with a conveyor and robot as part of a pick-and-place application. Minimising human intervention is a huge benefit in the pharmaceutical sector, and automated robotic systems can help reduce the risk of contamination while preventing human error and ensuring end-to-end traceability. Vision inspection is fundamental to optimise
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accuracy as part of a traceable packaging process, with systems including checkweigher, track & trace, and print & apply solutions. Specialising in this field, Shubham Automation has partnered with Estun brand, Trio Motion Technology, resulting in a partnership that has provided end-of-line solutions for a range of pharmaceutical manufacturers.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE “One of our well known pharmaceutical clients needed to transfer packaged bottles from a conveyor into cartons that would then be stacked, ready for shipping. The company was handling the process manually, but we could provide them with a comprehensive and highly accurate solution with Trio Motion Technology,” explained Prashant Patel, managing director of Shubham Automation. The pharmaceutical manufacturer needed to
increase the speed and efficiency of the packaging process while maintaining critical standards in
hanks to their adaptability and ability to increase productivity levels, pick-and place-robots have been embraced by the
hygiene and traceability. This was achieved with the integration of a robot provided by Trio in support with parent brand, Estun Automation, one of the largest robot manufacturers in China. The 6-axis robot achieves pick and place
throughput of 60 bottles per minute, while giving the pharma manufacturer flexibility over packaging options. The machine also enables packaging in a matrix of 4×2, 5×2, 6×5, and 6×6 at the robot infeed.
The machine includes two additional axes,
the first responsible for controlling the infeed of bottles into the line, and the second managing the outfeed of the conveyor. A key benefit of the Trio system is that a single controller manages both robot and conveyor axes, reducing the development time required to establish handshaking between the two controllers while providing greater reliability in the field for the pharmaceutical manufacturer, minimising the potential of downtime.
IMPLEMENTING THE MOTION SOLUTION “A single controller controls the infeed, outfeed and robotic systems. Typically, these systems require multiple controllers and HMIs for the robot and machine, making the system complex and expensive,” said Chirag Bhatt, application manager at Trio Motion Technology. “Using our technology, Shubham was able to provide a complete, accurate and precise solution. With this completely integrated design, Shubham could increase efficiency and output for the pharmaceutical manufacturer, while helping to decrease their total cost of ownership.” Trio’s robot motion and conveyor
coordination is based on high speed EtherCAT
communications for real-time motion control. In addition, the company’s Motion Perfect application development software enables programming via Trio’s motion-centric, easy to use, multitasking programming language, as well as industry standard IEC 61131-3 languages. Applications can also be developed and performed on Windows using a shared memory API to interface with Trio’s sophisticated Motion-iX motion core, allowing maximum application development flexibility.
STREAMLINING “Our latest end-of-line automation (EOLA) provides a complete solution to expedite and streamline the entire packaging process for our customer,” said Patel. “Our smart track & trace technology solution tracks products across the entire supply chain. The packaging solution offers zero human intervention and is fully compliant with 21CFR Part 11.” Providing they are correctly deployed to ensure
seamless coordination with the host machine, robotics can increase the productivity and efficiency of a packaging system. “Integrating robot, motion and machine
automation into a single controller allows system integrators and OEMs to design and commission machines more quickly and easily,” added Bhatt. “A single controller means less downtime for the end user, which ultimately increases machine productivity. As a result, deploying a single controller to manage the robot, motion, and machine axes, results in a cost-effective and high performance solution.”
Trio Motion Technology
www.triomotion.com
JULY/AUGUST 2023 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 19 STREAMLINING
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