ROBOTIC PALLETISING

Geku Automation of Rochester, Kent, have recently installed a number of palletising systems into the agricultural and aggregate industries.

Each cell normally consists of a high payload robot picking a product from an input conveyor which is then stacked on a pallet station either to  the left or right hand side of the robot. Once a pallet is complete, a fork truck is able to enter the cell through a light curtain to remove the finished stack while the robot safely loads the other side.

To compensate for the changes in product orders, the robot is completely flexible and pallestisng patterns can be very quickly and easilly changed.

Geku Automation have developed a number of gripping solutions to cope with variable bag types. A mechanical claw gripper can be used for fast pick and place, or a powerful vacuum head can be utilised for more delicate picking. A unique combination gripper is also available which uses vacuum for an initial delicate pick, after which a pneumatic side clamp system is operated  to stabilise the sack, allowing fast transit into the placement area.

Depending on the product and gripper type used, a Geku Automation palletising cell can stack over 34 Tonnes per hour. Cycle times of 2.6 seconds have been fully proven on aggregate sacks weighing 25kg.

A specially designed Geku gripper can also handle the most delicate of products.