Customer Results
- Solved labor issues
- Company met goals by improving rate
- Automation brought efficiency & they have goals for more systems
Customer’s Challenge
A flexible plastics company wanted to free up employees who were tied up on a repetitive, time consuming, back-breaking, multi-step packaging process. The company hoped to be able to utilize the employees in more value-add jobs around the facility.
MCRI’s Solution for Flexible Packaging
The design phase included a simulation to show that the robot cell could meet rates and cycle times for each of the six product sizes that would need to run through this cell. Once completed and approved, the End of Arm Tooling was built, and testing was performed for each of the functions required. The FANUC R1000iA/80F was selected for its quick and flexible movement capabilities. Lastly, time was saved by installing safety equipment that would allow the robot to continue to operate while operators replenished tier sheets and box blanks.
Multi-Application Robot Cell Video – Flexible Packaging Robot
Watch our system video to see the robot in action and then go to Sequence of Operations below to read the full explanation.
Link to Video for Mobile
Sequence of Operations
- A pallet enters on the infeed pallet conveyor. Once the pallet is registered, the robot picks a single tier sheet and places it on top the pallet. (Vacuum Cups)
- Next, the robot starts to erect a case by picking the case blank from the bin and placing it in the case former station. The case former folds and glues the minor flaps forming the sides. (Vacuum Plenum)
- While the case former is running, the robot moves to the winder catch tray to pick a roll of film. The robot places the roll into the partially formed case. Depending on the product being run, the robot will also grab a roll of tape from the tape chute and place it into the open case along with the roll. (Gripper Fingers & Pneumatic Gripper)
- Once the roll and tape have been loaded into the case, the case former and robot work together to finish forming and gluing the case, sealing the roll inside.
- For product tracing, a laser etcher places a code onto the case after it is formed. The robot then picks the finished case from the box forming station and presents it to the case to the labeler. This device applies a printed label to the end of the case. (Vacuum Plenum)
- Lastly, the robot places the sealed, labeled and laser etched case onto the pallet. (Vacuum Plenum)
- These steps are repeated until the pallet is complete. The pallet is then conveyed through a light curtain to the end of the conveyor line and picked up by a fork truck
*Note- The roll being picked could be bad and need to be rejected. The robot is given a reject signal directly from the winder or by an operator from the HMI. The robot places the rejected roll onto a gravity take away conveyor and the roll is conveyed out of the robot cell.
The Roll Handling Robot
The robot selected for this cell was a FANUC R1000iA/80F. The FANUC R1000 is a compact robot that saves floor space and offers high-speed with great motion performance.
Models |
Payload |
Reach |
Download Spec Sheet |
| Floor Mounted | |||
| R1000iA/80F | 80 kg | 2230 mm | R-1000iA-80H.pdf |
✓ Safety Features
Motion Controls Robotics follows the ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012 Safety Standard designed to ensure employees and robots work safely together. We take full advantage of new safety technologies and innovations as they become available.
This multi-application system for Flexible packaging contains:
Loading of items outside the cell so no operator needs to enter. This also allows the R1000 to continue the cycle without interruption (if the operator selects the best time in the cycle to replenish items). The Operator:
- loads tape roll magazines/chutes outside cell (no interruption to robot cycle)
- opens a drawer to feed box blanks into robot cell
- opens a sliding door to access the tier sheet rack to replenish it
Light Curtains
A light curtain prevents operators from entering the robot cell, while allowing finished pallets to exit the robot cell without interrupting robot operation.
Other Safety Features
This system is complete with safety fencing and needed safety sensors.
Customer Results
MCRI was great to work with. The footprint for the project was small and the amount of cell functions high. Despite that, we were able to conceptualize exactly what the plant needed. We worked together to overcome all challenges during this difficult project. MCRI’s staff was responsive and helped quickly develop solutions to keep us moving forward. Upon install, debug, and training, MCRI remained highly engaged until we were completely satisfied. ~ Director of Engineering
The system was recently installed and is successfully running at the facility. As a result, the customer is happy to report that they have been able to meet rate expectations and move employees to more valuable & meaningful positions around the facility.
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