Design and Fabrication of a Vision-Guided Robotic Packaging Machine

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                One of our recent projects involved picking a part off a moving conveyor, and packaging it in various forms. The production machine, which was also built by Mass Automation, assembled the parts and delivered them onto a conveyor. The new packaging machine had to inspect and locate these parts, pick them off the conveyor, and place them into one of multiple packaging forms.

                We accomplished this task using a Cognex vision tracking system, rotary encoder, and a Mitsubishi SCARA robot. The robot uses location information provided by the vision system, and travel speed provided by the encoder, to track the part as it moves down the conveyor to the pick-up point. The vision system also inspects the parts for conformity, and rejects any that do not meet the specifications provided by the customer. The robot then vacuum-picks the good part, and delivers it to a location according to the recipe selected.

                The rest of the machine involved picking and placing blister packs or paper cards from a rack, placing a hot glue dot on the paper cards, and unloading the final product onto a cleated conveyor. The entire sequence is controlled by a PLC, which coordinates with the robot and vision systems. A large HMI was included to provide machine and alarm status, allow recipe selection, and provide troubleshooting          controls when necessary.

Robot Packaging Machine Project Highlights

Product Name

Monofilament Packaging Robot

Project Scope

To add packaging capability to an existing production machine.

Capabilities Applied/Processes

Primary:
Engineering

• Electrical Design
• Mechanical Design
• Programming & Wiring
• Robotic System Integration
  
• Vision System Integration
• HMI Programming
  

Manufacturing

• Machining
• Metal Fabrication

Secondary:
Epoxy Painting
Anodizing
Assembly
Installation and Integration

Special Features

• Rotary Indexer
• Vision Inspect and Tracking
  
• Robotic Pick and Place
  
• Hot Glue Dispense
  
• Warranty: 12 Months/2,000 Hours of Running Use

In process testing/inspection performed

Vision system inspection to endure compliance with strict tolerances.
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
Functionality

Industry for Use

Medical

Volume

9,000 Parts Per 8 Hour Shift

Delivery Location

New England

Standards Met

Customer Specifications, CAD Drawings