Application Brief

Robotic Infeed for Flow Wrapping Machine

• Printer Friendly Version
• Custom Medical Device Assembly Systems

Product Used: Robotic loading of the infeed conveyor for a flow wrapping machine using a FANUC M-430iA  TaskMate Robotic System with custom EOAT, and integrated vision. 

The Challenge: In conjunction with automating the assembly of diagnostic test kits, the manufacturer of diagnostic test kits needed to specify a packaging line that automated the infeed of a flow wrapping machine in order to maintain the desired production speed of 40 pieces per minute. To further add to the design challenge, the machine’s infeed consisted of a continuous motion conveyor that required the diagnostic test kits to be placed at precise intervals, indicating a solution that included vision and line tracking.

The Solution: ESS engineers designed a robotic infeed loading cell that integrates a FANUC Model 430iA multi-axis robot and an ESS-designed vacuum-style end-of-arm tool for product handling. The robot incorporates FANUC’s integrated vision and line tracking capabilities to pick assembled test kits from a tray and place them into the continuous motion flow wrapper infeed. The system design also integrates gravity rollers, which allow the system to automatically present full trays of diagnostic test kits to the robotic cell and discharge empty trays.