Extruded Plastic Sheets Palletized by a Robot

FLINT, Mich. - Nov. 6, 2023 - PRLog -- SOLUTION

Alliance Automation developed and integrated a robot system at the end of the extruder line to automatically unload and stack the sheets onto two pallets.

The system consists of a custom conveyor, robot system, scrap conveyor, two pallet stations, and safety devices. The conveyor is 120" wide and designed to reach the back end of the extruder right against the shear mechanism. At the end of the conveyor is a pop-up mechanism to stop the sheet and scrap pieces. Presence sensors are integrated on the shear and in the conveyor to track the sheet as it moves through the system.

A Fanuc M-900iA/260L robot with a 3.1m reach and 260kg payload is located on the side of the conveyor. On the end of the robot is a custom end-of-arm tool equipped with multiple rows of suction cups, 13 individually controlled valves, laser sensors, and a retractable failsafe mechanism.

There are two pallet stations that the robot loads. This allows the robot to continually stack one side while the other side can be unloaded and loaded with a new pallet by a forklift driver. Sensors built into the pallet stations verify that a pallet is loaded and when a pallet is full.

ABOUT THE INTEGRATOR

Alliance Automation, LLC is a robot systems integrator located in Flint, MI USA and specializes in various automation applications. For more information about robotic plastic sheet stacking, please contact us. https://www.allianceautomationllc.com/