RTS Flexible Systems, an integrated robotic and automation systems specialist, has developed a system based around vision-guided robots for rapid picking and packing of food products into variety packs.
Promising ROI in under two years, it uses RTS' PixCell technology to combine the “speed and flexibility” of 120 cycle/min vision-guided robots with RTS VIP line balancing software and gripper designs.
The line layout configures several feed conveyors at right angles to the main conveyor. Each robot picks one or two varieties from cases moving along the feed conveyor and places them correctly in a tray of mixed flavours moving along the main conveyor. The vision-guided software enables the robot to identify and orientate the product, and provides quality inspection of imperfect products.
RTS' proprietary line balancing software controls the infeed and outfeed to fill packs with optimum efficiency. The robots can pull products forward if more are needed to fill the variety trays and also stop the trays on the outfeed conveyor if products are still missing.
