• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power

Grote automates sandwich production using Stäubli robot to make one per second

June 24, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

US-based company Grote specializes in automating production lines that slice, fill and cut sandwiches. Until recently, the upper and lower halves of the sandwich were put together manually. Now, Grote has managed to automate this process as well, using a Stäubli TX2-60 HE six-axis robot with wash-down capability.

Filling a sandwich is not a particularly arduous task. That is, unless it is being done on an industrial scale with a throughput of thousands of sandwiches per hour.

The raw materials – slices of sausage, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce – can be difficult to handle and the assembly process consists of many steps that can vary for each product.

For these reasons, often only some steps, such as feeding bread to the line, adding condiments, dosing wet salads, applying sliced meats and cheeses and cutting the bread, fillings, and end sandwich are automated.

One American business is making a determined effort to further automate the process. Founded in 1972, the family-run Grote Company of Columbus, Ohio has established a global reputation as a specialist in the mechanization of sandwich making.

The Stäubli TX2-60 HE six-axis robot is prepared to withstand sprayed water, and is protected by additional modifications. These variants are designed for applications subject to strict hygiene standards, in which the robots undergo regular cleaning processes with aqueous media.

Their range of machines includes slicers for fillings such as sausage, ham and cheese, as well as bread feeders and cutters, depositors for semi-liquid condiments and wet salads, and cutters for the final sandwich product.

Grote sees itself as a technology leader in this area of food processing. The systems it supplies are always tailored to the individual requirements of the user, which means its engineering department is heavily involved.

At the same time, Grote’s innovative designers test new ideas and develop them to the series-production readiness stage. For example, their latest innovation – the “Robotic Sandwich Assembly Line”, a name that speaks for itself, is attracting a lot of attention in the industry.

Sandwich production at a rate of one per second

At the heart of the assembly line is a six-axis robot, the Stäubli TX2-60 HE. A conveyor belt delivers the sandwiches to it as two halves – the bottom slice, already buttered and filled, and the top slice, which is only buttered. The robot picks up the top slice and places it on the filling on the bottom slice. The sandwich is now whole.

Next, the robot rotates the sandwich 45 degrees and positions it diagonally on the conveyor belt. It then proceeds to the last station, where the sandwich is cut in half or quarters in the desired configuration, i.e. horizontal, diagonal, etc. Now the snack is ready for packaging.

Up to 60 sandwiches per minute, per lane can be produced in this way – with twin lines available to double production up to 120 sandwiches per minute. An operation that was previously performed manually is now automated.

The robot gripper is guided to its target using 3D image processing. The gripper itself was developed in-house by Grote. It enables reliable handling of the sandwich’s top slice, which is pliable in nature and thus difficult to grasp firmly.

The entire production line complies with the principles of hygienic design. All edges are rounded, so there are no dead spaces where debris can build up, and the sandwich production line can withstand even the harshest cleaning procedures.

To ensure maximum availability, Grote opted firmly for a Stäubli HE (Humid Environment) robot. The TX2-60 HE complies with protection class IP 67, with all cables being routed inside the housing, from pedestal to gripper.

Fast robot in hygienic design

Bob Grote, CEO of Grote, explains why the management team chose the Stäubli robot: “We have already had good experiences with Stäubli on other projects, both in terms of support during the project planning and with the robots themselves.

“The hygienic design of this robot series was also a requirement. The entire cell is regularly sanitized with hot water and chemical cleaning agents.”

Whereas this routine would soon push a conventional standard robot beyond its limits, the Stäubli TX2-60 HE six-axis robot takes such rigors in stride. As an HE version, it is optimally prepared to withstand sprayed water, and protected by meticulously implemented modifications.

These variants are designed for applications subject to the strictest hygiene standards, in which the robots undergo regular cleaning processes with aqueous media.

In addition, all Stäubli HE robots can be ordered and supplied to operate with food-grade NSF H1 oil. One special advantage is that even with the use of this lubricant, the robot achieves optimal performance, which is undiminished over time.

The combination of HE and H1 capabilities offers the perfect solution for robots that come into contact with unwrapped food.

The dynamics of the TX2-60 HE, in particular the high speed on the sixth axis, were another decisive factor in selecting the robot.

Grote says: “60 sandwiches per minute, per lane was the target. The robot is reaching its limits here, because it is performing multiple motion sequences.

“Straightforward programming was also a requirement. After all, Grote used its own resources to develop, build and program the robotic cell.”

A future market for robotics

Grote’s “Robotic Sandwich Assembly Line” can be integrated into existing production systems or operated as a stand-alone cell. In either case, the user benefits from a high degree of automation combined with high flexibility.

The robot can take on additional tasks and produce various types of sandwiches with a quick program and gripper change.

Using a variety of pneumatic and mechanical grippers, the system achieves an impressive level of flexibility and is capable of handling both rectangular and round sandwiches as well as wraps.

Grote says: “We are convinced that robotics will play a major role in automated food production in the future. We see ourselves as pioneers in this regard, and we intend to apply this principle in other areas, for example in the topping and handling of frozen pizzas.”

Main picture: Plant overview – The “Robotic Sandwich Assembly Line” can be integrated into existing production systems of operated as a stand-alone plant.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Features, Industrial robots Tagged With: assembly, gripper, grote, production, robot, robots, sandwich, sandwiches, slice, staubli, tx

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Reader Interactions

You must log in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Choosing the Best Magento Ecommerce Development Company: A Guide to Success
  • How to Promote Your Homemade Food Business Online
  • 3 Best Site to Buy Instagram Followers UK (Real & Cheap)
  • Email Marketing Automation with Retainly
  • Top 10 Amazing Tips to Transport Your Car in 2023
  • Maximizing Profit on Amazon: Utilizing the Amazon FBA Calculator and Analyzing Price History
  • North America Becomes the Fastest-Growing Regional Market for New Battery Facilities in 2022
  • The Ultimate Guide to Artist Alley: Con Prep and the Magic of Acrylic and Custom Keychains
  • Choosing a Robotic Spindle for Deburring
  • The Future of Modern Application Development with .NET

Most Read

  • Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
    Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
  • Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
    Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • How to Track a Phone Number on Google Maps
    How to Track a Phone Number on Google Maps
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
    The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
    What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Choosing the Best Magento Ecommerce Development Company: A Guide to Success
  • How to Promote Your Homemade Food Business Online
  • 3 Best Site to Buy Instagram Followers UK (Real & Cheap)
  • Email Marketing Automation with Retainly
  • Top 10 Amazing Tips to Transport Your Car in 2023
  • Maximizing Profit on Amazon: Utilizing the Amazon FBA Calculator and Analyzing Price History
  • North America Becomes the Fastest-Growing Regional Market for New Battery Facilities in 2022
  • The Ultimate Guide to Artist Alley: Con Prep and the Magic of Acrylic and Custom Keychains
  • Choosing a Robotic Spindle for Deburring
  • The Future of Modern Application Development with .NET

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

June 2020
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« May   Jul »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT