New Pick and Place Technology Brings Faster Packing Speed

As the demand for manufacturers of membership-based retail companies continues to grow, robotics is increasingly welcomed by users because it can maximize packaging line productivity and adaptability. A+F Automation's case packer is using its brand new TwinLine robot picking and placing technology, and through ELAU's PacDrive automatic operating system, it has realized high-speed packing and can handle a variety of products and different packaging modes.

In general, standard robots do not handle heavy loads at low operating speeds or handle limited loads at higher operating speeds. Twin Line, a twin-axis robot, is highly adaptable to the packaged objects and can solve the above two problems that standard robots cannot solve. Driven by ELAU's PacDrive servo system, the TwinLine can pick up and place in less than 0.5 seconds and can handle up to 68 kilograms (138.6 pounds) of packaged goods in under 2 seconds. TwinLine robots can achieve such high mechanical performance mainly because their manipulators are driven by two servo drives and can perform a series of tight, simultaneous sorting, sorting, picking and placing actions. In addition, the robot is made of carbon fiber composite material that is very light but extremely strong, and has better flexibility, inertia, balance and agility than other synthetic materials. TwinLine's servo system allows the device to adapt to a wide range of products. The robot can be designed as a vacuum adsorber or as a mechanical gripper to complete tilting, steering or propulsion. In addition, the robot can also work with a vision system to ensure the accuracy of product packaging.

The main obstacle for users to use robots on post-packaging lines is that most robots use patented controllers, which increases the unnecessary cost and complexity for users. In response to this problem, A+F Automation adopted open-structure robot control technology and used the ELAU PacDrive system of the IEC 61131-3 automation programming standard. IWKA has used this system as a common standard for the automation of its packaging machinery. In this way, the hardware, software platform, and servo system of the robot can be connected to all the devices on the post-packaging line so that it can work more flexibly with the entire post-packaging line.