Proco, a supplier and integrator of automation technologies, has unveiled a new collaborative robotic system for the packaging industry.
The company, which specialises in blow-molding, says it is responding to the latest automation technology which is “sweeping the packaging industry”.
Siva Krish, Proco’s vice president of sales, says: “Collaborative robotic systems are seeing strong growth in the blow molding industry due to the need for greater efficiency and automation.
“These systems are being designed in such a way that they complement the production line and provide simplified operation, a smaller footprint, and enhanced efficiencies.”
These collaborative robotic systems reduce the handling of the container and provide an excellent return on investment, adds Krish.
Proco says its “breakthrough” collaborative robotic Half-Cube Palletizer system automatically palletizes blow molded containers with minimal operator involvement.
It is an advanced automation robotic system that is ideally suited for palletizing containers at a 50 per cent cost reduction compared to conventional automation solutions.
The new automation technology blends this human-like collaborative robotic system together with Proco’s industry-leading expertise in the blow molding and packaging industries, according to Krish.
The Half-Cube Palletizer can be easily and quickly adapted to a variety of packaging and repetitive manufacturing situations working alongside existing workers or working independently.
Proco has already sold the Half-Cube Palletizer systems to leading US custom blow molders of PET containers.
The Half-Cube Palletizer system is a totally integrated packaging module and is supplied with a six-axis collaborative robotic arm, infeed conveyor, pallet lift magazine and Slip sheet/Tray pick and
place magazine on a common sub-frame which in turn is fitted with leveling pads and castor wheels.
The system has a maximum height of 55-in which is the half-cube configuration that is common to most US blow molding operations.
The only manual operation occurs when an operator places the trays in the magazine.
When palletizing is complete, an alarm sounds and the operator pulls the pallet out and places another pallet in the magazine.
The Half-Cube palletizer handles both slip sheet and tray configurations in 44 x 56-in and 40 x 48-in sizes. The system can be moved into position, set up, and quickly put in production.
The Half-Cube palletizer provides maximum flexibility and efficiency and can be configured to pack all necks up or all necks down.
In situations where a standard configuration does not suit a particular application, Proco’s engineering team can develop a custom designed system to provide an efficient, cost-effective solution.
Meanwhile, Proco has launched the Robo Packer case packer, a breakthrough collaborative robotic automation system that works interactively with co-workers, requires no special guarding, and needs minimal training for teaching new tasks.
The Robo Packer is an advanced automation system that is ideally suited for pick and place, assembly, and packaging applications at a cost that is 50 per cent less than conventional automation solutions.
The system can be supplied with any one of three different robotic arm payloads depending on the application, the task to be performed, and the level of productivity that is required.
The Robo Packer Basic System is a totally integrated packaging module and is supplied with a six-axis robotic arm, infeed conveyor, and a box conveyor all mounted onto a common sub-frame which in turn is fitted with leveling pads and castor wheels.
It can be moved into position, set up, and quickly be in production.
The Robo Packer provides maximum flexibility and efficiency and can be configured to pack all necks up or all necks down either using row-by-row or full-layer packing methods.
In situations where a standard configuration does not suit a particular application, Proco’s engineering team can develop a custom designed system to provide an efficient, cost-effective solution.
For one of its customers, Proco says it recently used the RoboPacker case packer in an automation system for production of a widemouth canister at a rate of 30 bottles per minute for each line.
Proco handled the tighter space challenge, the huge changeover demands, and the need for an 18-pack configuration for each line.
The company reduced its labor needs, going from a three-person shift to a one-person shift for both lines at a major cost reduction.
Proco says the project was “a great success” and return on investment was around 15 months.
