Robots gain popularity in packaging

Robots gain popularity in packaging

The number of robots in packaging has grown very rapidly in recent years. Robots are popular mainly because of the flexibility they offer, and robots are more adaptable to different sizes and shapes of packaging than traditional packaging equipment. For example, a production line producing two pack sizes of potato chips requires only one robot to complete the packaging task, and the operator only needs to adjust the gripper, whereas traditional equipment requires more component adjustments.

Another advantage of robots is advanced vision technology. Robots with vision can "see" the shape of the object they are gripping and adjust their movements. In this way, the robot can adjust the placement of the product before packaging. Vision systems also enable packaging robots to learn and adapt to new products faster and to make judgments about product quality.

Choosing a robot with a vision system can solve problems that cannot be solved in traditional packaging equipment. For example, if you produce frozen foods and need to place the packaged food in a box. Traditional packaging equipment cannot recognize the direction of the bag on the conveyor, whereas a robot with a vision system can place the bag into the carton in the direction you specify. Robots with vision tracking systems can know the orientation of the object and place the object on the moving conveyor in the required direction, which is not possible with conveyor automation technology. The key to a robot's vision system is the connection of the vision system itself to the robot's motion controller. Most vision systems provide specific information about the position of the object, and the connection between the vision system and the controller is very tight, with an accuracy of up to 0.04mm.

With the increase in labor costs and the development of science and technology, the future market for robots will be even larger. The food industry, as a labor-intensive industry, has a predictable demand for robots.