Cost reduction is often cited as the major reason for investment in robotics, which lowers the need for labour. Most small and medium sized enterprises cannot afford the huge investments need for buying robotic and automation equipment.
Yet these are the very businesses that need the greatest flexibility to respond to consumers' changing demands quicker than their rivals, according to a recent study by Frost & Sullivan.
Schneider Packaging Equipment's Robox Vi will identify, pick up and orient random bottles or other randomly oriented items off a conveyor, arrange them into a pattern, then pack the items directly into corrugated cases.
The company claims the Robox Vi provides an economical and portable means for beverage, food, plastics, paper, pharmaceutical and personal care products manufacturers.
The Robox Vi uses a FANUC robotic arm with integrated vision intelligence technology in a case packer. The combination eliminates the need for product orientation prior to arrival at the case packer, Schneider stated.
The Robox Vi can also be configured to divert blow molded objects travelling down the conveyor to a quality control area prior to case packing.
The Robox Vi can be used on different jobs at the same plant. The 6' x 8' footprint machine can be transported by fork lift to any line at any time. It can packs up to 60 bottles or products per minute.
The top loading Robox Vi runs with or with out plastic bags in the case and with or without inserting layer sheets.
The new machine will be on display at Pack Expo in Chicago, 29 October to 2 November.