Case Summary
Advanced Packaging Integration engineered, integrated and installed a single robotic solution for both palletizing and depalletizing jerrycans for a beverage plant.
The Industry
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
The Product
Empty and Full Jerrycans of Liquid Carbonated Beverage Concentrate
The Components
Robotic Palletizer / Depalletizer
Pallet Handling System
Pallet Dispenser
Empty and Full Container Handling System
Pail Crimper System
Services Provided
Engineering
Integration
Controls
Installation
Start-Up
Operator Training
Challenges
1. Handle 3 different size containers in a variety of weights
Each of the 3 containers could have up to 7 different products. API had to find an End of Arm tool that could handle all of the product sizes and weights, along with two different types of sheets.
The Solution:
After testing prototype tool designs, API provided a combination tool of vacuum and mechanical stabilization to handle the various size and weight containers.
2. Both palletizing and depalletizing with 1 robot
The existing manual filling and packaging line did not provide much floor space for a mechanized solution. What would typically be done with 2 machines or 2 robots had to be done with 1 robot in order to fit into this tight floor space.
The Solution:
API devised a system that depalletized empty containers and palletized full containers on the pallet left from the previous pallet of empty containers.
3. Caustic and flammable substance
Most of the chemicals where alcohol and phosphoric acid based, limiting material and design options.
The Solution:
API provided special materials on all of the conveyors including stainless steel, epoxy paints, UHMW, and other special chemical resistant and explosion proof.