With the GlassFeeder series, the Spanish automation specialist Teknics has developed a flexible feeding system. Thanks to deep learning, the system adapts to different sizes, shapes and surfaces of perfume bottles and naturally fulfils the high process reliability and hygiene requirements of the cosmetics industry. Two SCARA robots from Stäubli ensure that the bottles are handled quickly and precisely.
Square, round, bulbous, octagonal, cylindrical: when it comes to perfume, it's not just the fragrance that makes the difference, but also the bottle. The development of automated handling of perfume bottles therefore requires a great deal of experience. The system must be robust, while the bottles are sometimes delicate and difficult to handle. In addition, perfumes and other bottled cosmetic products are not usually produced in quantities of millions. And each bottle design is unique in shape and finish, which can be matt, chrome-plated or polished. There are also a wide variety of very unusual cap designs. The feeding technology must therefore be extremely flexible.
Flexible glass bottle feeder with „built-in intelligence“
When it comes to the development and production of flexible automation solutions for the cosmetics, medical, food and packaging industries, Teknics, based in Barberá del Vallès near Barcelona, has a high level of expertise. A current example: the GlassFeeder series. These compact standard machines for loading trays with bottles and flacons have a modular design and can be easily integrated into customers' production lines. To ensure maximum flexibility, Teknics engineers use artificial intelligence in addition to state-of-the-art automation technology and robotics. A deep learning mode creates the conditions for handling different sizes and shapes of bottles easily and safely.
„The flexibility of the AI solution and the SCARA robots from Stäubli enable our machines to precisely locate the product to be handled and to handle it very dynamically - regardless of dimensions and colour as well as brightness and surface texture. Even bottles with chrome-plated surfaces are reliably recognised and gripped.“
Aleix Morera, Sales Manager of Teknics
The flexibility of the GlassFeeder systems in practice is also increased by the user-friendly operation: „After a short introduction, any operator can train the system for a new product in less than four hours.“ As far as the trays are concerned, the feeding system adapts quickly and automatically to different formats and sizes. Aleix Morera: „With these features, the GlassFeeder series Ideal for multi-product lines that fill both large and small batches and where product changeovers are frequent and fast. With them, the user can improve the OEE and thus reduce the overall costs of the filling process and ultimately also of the product. The introduction of new products is also child's play and gives our customers the necessary autonomy and flexibility.“
All GlassFeeder systems are equipped with a high-precision Image processing system that ensures the correct orientation of the bottles or vials. With optional modules, e.g. for depalletising or laser marking, they can be adapted to individual requirements. It is also possible to load and unload pallets with a collaborative robot.
Two SCARA robots in overhead assembly
A pair of compact Stäubli SCARA robots of type TS2-60 perform the central handling and feeding tasks. Aleix Morera explains why these robots are being used: „Stäubli robots are characterised by their long service life and high precision. They are easy to programme and they are by far the best choice for Applications in hygiene-sensitive industries. Another advantage is the simple integration of the robot's CS9 controller into the complete automation system.“ The control architecture of the GlassFeeder systems is designed in such a way that the PLC is the master of communication.
The two robots in a GlassFeeder cell are mounted upside down in order to achieve optimum reach without taking up additional space. The Stäubli four-axis robots are suitable for this type of assembly without any restrictions. Aleix Morera: „This enables an excellent combination of reach and degree of freedom. Thanks to the vision systems, they can also fill trays with irregular partitions - all in a very short time and with extreme precision. In concrete terms, this means that the cycle time is less than two seconds with an accuracy of less than one millimetre.“ The gripper developed by Teknics enables self-centring of the product and allows quick changeovers.
Source: Stäubli
