Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

apex

Universal and Apex set to launch collaborative robot-assisted palletising

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Universal Robots and Apex Motion Control will launch the Zero Footprint Palletizer (ZFP) at the ATX West show in Anaheim, California, USA, this February. Collaborative robots – or cobots – can now automate some of the most common manufacturing tasks in the industry.

The ZFP is for mid-rate production at a maximum load of 18 lbs. The system can be deployed throughout a facility and fits right into existing packaging lines without modification, replacing manual palletizing operations in minutes.

Universal Robots’ UR10 cobot has been integrated with the ZFP, combining the full functionality of the robot with a vertical 7th axis swing system with the ability to stack on each side, supporting North American pallet sizing.

[Read more…] about Universal and Apex set to launch collaborative robot-assisted palletising

Apex Automation and Robotics uses 3D vision to inspect food jars

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apex 3D Vision

Apex Automation and Robotics has introduced 3D vision systems to inspect food jars on production lines

A popped lid in a food jar is a serious problem. It indicates that the seal is broken and vacuum inside the jar was breached and can result in spoilage of the product. It is therefore crucial to detect these jars before they leave production and make their way to the supermarket shelf.

Inspecting the lid on every jar by an operator is not very reliable since it is not always easy to distinguish between a popped lid and a good one especially when the production rate is high. [Read more…] about Apex Automation and Robotics uses 3D vision to inspect food jars