Precision high speed picking, packing and palletizing solution from ABB

With the following, picking, pakcing and palletizing application, ABB is demonstrating a factory automation solution, integrated industrial productivity and energy efficiency, for the solution we are using a complete portfolio of discrete automation and motion components from ABB. These components include robots, drives, AC500 PLCs, PROFINET I/O, Motors, Jokab Safety systems and low voltage equipment's. These components can be combined to satisfy the requirements of many varied and complex automation applications. One such application is the pick, pack and palletizing operation in which products of varying size and shape are presented for packaging at random intervals and in random orientations. Human operators are generally fast as well as versatile when it comes to picking and placing items such as biscuits, chocolates, electronic components and pharmaceuticals. It is precisely because of this dexterity, combined with the need for high line productivity (average throughput rates of several hundred packs per minute are quite typical) that such huge demands are made on the agility and capability of automation equipment for this kind of work. A typical high-speed picking application involves locating, inspecting, picking and placing products in boxes or into an in-feed of another machine. To optimize system throughput, high speed picking generally occurs "on the fly," allowing a robot to seamlessly move from one pick sequence to another without wasting precious time. While advances in robotic technology have offered the flexibility needed to cope with these variations, true success lies in the selection and interaction of all system components. The following paragraphs outline a recommended ABB solution that can effectively perform this task.