Delta robots


For many manufacturers their first experience of robotics is the use of delta robots picking up products from the processing belt placing them onto the packaging leg at high speeds. Indeed, delta (or parallel) robots are another more recent robot innovation – consisting of three arms connected to universal joints at the base. Usually, the delta robot will be located directly above the workpieces. All the motors are integrated into the baseplate which means that the joints and arms of the robot are very light in weight, when compared to other types of robots. Solutions such as Syntegon’s fully integrated Sigpack TTMD top load cartoner showcases the potential of pick-and-place delta robots in such applications. Aided by a camera-based vision control


Cobots are designed to be able to


work alongside humans without the need for fences or guarding.


Thanks to their simple design, SCARA robots are able to move quickly while offering precision and accuracy”


count. The adjustment can be achieved during production via manual input at the machine’s human machine interview (HMI). The chocolate coated sticks transition to the new packaging system via a 860mm wide cooling tunnel belt. Within the packaging system, the products are first pre-grouped in a multi-pick fashion in layer formations of 15-17 sticks by 16 vision guided 4-axis SCARA type robots. The name SCARA stands for Selective


Compliance Assembly Robot Arm, which relates to its ability to move freely and maintain stiffness in three axes while being compliant in the final axis. This type of flexibility makes SCARA robots well-suited to tasks such as pick and place, sorting, and assembly. Usually, a SCARA robot will have four axes – two parallel arms which can


KennedysConfection.com


move in a single plane with the final axis being at right angles to the others. Thanks to their simple design, SCARA


robots are able to move quickly while offering precision and accuracy which makes them well-suited for detailed assembly tasks such as pick-and-place operations that require precision, speed, and smooth motion. On the Sweet Candy Company line,


previously erected carton bases are indexed into a transport chain and a robot loads the carton trays with the first pre-grouped layer. In the next step a wax paper is placed on top of the first layer, also executed by a robot. Then the second product layer is loaded onto the wax paper. Finally, the box is closed by another robot placing the pre- erected lid onto the filled carton bottom.


system, the robots are able to recognise randomised product arrangements on the product belt and can pick and place them directly into cartons or trays. They are able to operate at higher speeds than is possible for human operators and they also they also ensure a steady product flow that is key for maximising efficiency on a line. When assembling assortments or variety packs, the robots can package products either in flat or upright positions or both, creating maximum pack style variety at the point-of-sale. Product and format changes can be


actioned in minutes, due to the error-free changeover concept of the platform which allows packaging of varying products in different formats on one line without long downtimes, helping to improve the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of a line. Automation and robots can play an important role in helping the confectionery industry overcome labour shortages and to improve productivity and efficiency of operations. Today there is a robot suitable for pretty much every application you could think of. They work best undertaking fast or repetitive tasks or safely moving heavy products. Robots will never get tired or bored and consistency will remain the same from the start to the finish of a shift. The cost of robots is also decreasing – According to ARK Invest, the average price of an industrial robot halved between 2011 and 2022 and further reductions in costs of between 50% to 60% are predicted by 2025, which will further increase your ROI in robot solutions.


Kennedy’s Confection February 2024 27


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