Pharma end-of-line installs vial-packing cell with two robots within limited space

Italy’s FM Vision has created a system that loads rows of vials or bottles in cases, with picking heads that will adjust automatically to the number and the spacing of containers.

In the Full Palletising System (FPS), two robot arms operate in a highly space-restricted layout, which posed severe challenges in terms of engineering and programming, says the company. The system can be applied to bottles or vials in the pharmaceutical or beverage industries.

One of two robots inserts rows of containers into reusable crates or cases, while the second supplies empty crates for filling and places completed ones on the output pallet. The specially-designed crate-gripper is symmetrical and force-controlled to ensure the most secure grip on both full and empty crates, says FM Vision, stacking them where appropriate. There is a dedicated feeding system for empty crates, and the entire cell can be managed by a single operator. 

With an input accumulation table for vials or bottles, the complete system measures just 3m x 4m, says FM Vision. A vision system inspects each filled crate. If an anomaly or defect is detected, the robot automatically places the affected product in the reject area. 

Vacuum cups fitted on to telescopic pistons integrated into the gripper allow the robot to complete the palletising process by placing a lid on each crate. RFID tags on the reusable crates allows for the serialisation and aggregation of the contents of each crate and pallet, says FM Vision. 

The gripper on the robot arm handling bottles or vials will automatically adjust to suit the number of containers being picked and the spacing between containers.

FM Vision is an Omron Solution Partner and is represented in the UK by Packmatech.

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