Automation systems are often viewed as large static units used in production and process facilities; however, this is not always the case. Automation can just as easily be transferable between different areas of a company.
Our client required a robotic unloading system with the ability to move it between different workstations within their facilities.
Automotive-related industries are at the forefront of automation. On this occasion, the system was required to interface with existing equipment and have the ability to be moved between workstations. A further objective was to design a system that could adapt to current configurations and future changes. The client also required a system that could be easily configured by personnel with limited machine or robot programming knowledge.
A Division of SP Automation & Robotics, called SP Elements, specialises in using Universal Robots. These robot arms are easily programmed even by personnel with no previous robotic or coding experience, which fits in ideally with the client’s requirements.
The system was designed to interface with a moulding machine. An existing robot was used to unload moulded components and place them onto an output conveyor. At the ends of the conveyor, a sensor detected the component and sent a signal to the unloading robot. Using a specially developed vision system, the robot then inspected the component.
On completion, the specially designed robot end effect tooling then picked up the product. Depending on the results from the inspection, the component was either dropped into a reject bin or loaded into a client-supplied rack. The system was designed to interface with an existing moulding machine using its current configurations. The robot and control system were mounted on a framework and castors to allow them to be portable for moving between workstations.
