Robots pack chocolate for Bosch Rexroth
February 2013
Motion Control & Drives
Motion logic control (MLC) from Bosch Rexroth’s range of IndraMotion automation solutions has helped an Italian producer of completely robotised systems for the outer packaging industry to guarantee an efficient, reliable and easily expandable production process for its client, a chocolate manufacturer. Bosch Rexroth’s solution has helped pay significant dividends to the client.
In a market where speed and flexibility matter and the packaging process needs to run smoothly without leaving traces, the Triaflex chocolate bar packaging system with the Bosch Rexroth control is the answer. This loading unit, with three integrated Delta robots (capable of integrating four), enables the machine to achieve the speed desired by the customer. These robots can reach speeds of up to 120 cycles a minute and grasp objects without interrupting the product flow, ensuring extremely precise handling.
Compared to a solution with Delta robots connected in series, each with its own control cabinet, this solution saves a considerable amount of space. The numbers speak for themselves. The required installation space was reduced by 50% and the control cabinet was 40% smaller. The IndraDrive M modular drive system with dual axis controllers has also been attributed to a 40% saving in cabling costs.
Each robot is responsible for its own section of the line and carefully picks up the scattered chocolate bars from the belt, gently placing them in the compartments of an outer pack on a second transfer belt. This belt transports the product to the next station, where it is placed in the carton.
With its Multi-Picks gripper system, the robot is able to pick up several chocolate bars simultaneously. Each of the three robots is able to place up to 300 products per minute. This permits belt speeds exceeding 110 metres per minute since the robots move synchronous to the belt, and thus synchronous to the product, during the gripping process. This also makes possible technically complex operations such as transferring individual chocolate bars in their outer packs to another packaging machine.
A single set of controls for every need
An intelligent system for visual identification detects every single chocolate bar and transmits its position and orientation on the belt to the IndraMotion MLC. The robots unerringly pick up the sweets from the belt and position them correctly in the pack. In contrast to conventional control for each individual robot, a single MLC unit makes for optimum coordination between all the robots in the system. Communication interfaces to avoid collisions are no longer necessary.
In addition, the IndraMotion MLC offers major computing capacity, scalability and modular design features. It can control up to 16 kinematics all at the same time, each with a maximum of eight interpolating axes and controlling up to four belts, including belt synchronisation. Packaging manufacturers can easily and quickly implement their own kinematic chains. Camera systems are easy to integrate and programming is enabled via robot control language (RCL) or IEC 61131 functional robotic modules.
The standardised IndraWorks engineering software simplifies project planning, parameterisation, programming, visualisation and diagnosis of all Bosch Rexroth components.
For more information contact Georg Venter, Tectra Automation, +27 (0)11 971 9400, [email protected], www.tectra.co.za
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