Optimizing palletizing in the food industry

Project Description

The goal of this project is to automate palletizing operations for a major agro-food company based in Quebec. The project includes various stages such as pallet and slip sheet distribution, product palletizing, packaging, and labeling.

This turnkey solution addresses multiple client needs integrated into a single comprehensive system. Clients benefit from full support throughout the project lifecycle, with streamlined management through a single point of contact and ongoing assistance.

System Overview

A robotic arm places a pallet on a conveyor using an integrated fork. Boxes of products are directed to the robot, which palletizes them according to a predefined pattern while adding interlayer sheets if needed. The full pallet is directed to an automated packaging station and then to a labeling station where traceability labels are printed and applied on multiple sides using a turntable. The pallet is then picked up by a single operator using a forklift, without disrupting production.

Advantages

• Fast Return on Investment (ROI).
• Reduced reliance on manual labour.
• Improved quality and safety.
• Lower production costs.
• Increased productivity.

Operational Specifications

• Complete pallet assembly without human intervention.
• Access to the packaging machine and pallet storage without disrupting the robotic arm.
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of 95%.

Robotic Tool

• Palletizing of different box formats for various products.
• Handles various types of 40x48-inch pallets.
• Inserts slip sheets.

Palletizing Schemes

The system supports various palletizing schemes based on product format and positioning, and allows them to be saved.

Labeling

An automatic label printer applies production data labels for traceability. A rotary table enables labels to be applied to several sides of the pallet.

Slip sheets

Slip sheets are placed between boxes based on the palletizing scheme to ensure stability and protection during storage and transport.

Pallet Storage

The pallet storage can accommodate various types of 40x48-inch pallets and can store up to 10 pallets simultaneously. It features a presence sensor and a low-level sensor.