Case Studies

Swiss Pretzel Maker Chooses the FlexPicker™ Solution

The FlexPicker™ beat the competition, winning the order because the delta robot could pick and place pretzels at high speed whilst reducing the scrap rate from 12% to 4%. The motion control technology is appropriately named QuickMove and TrueMove.

High performance results from advanced motion control. In planning the movement of the manipulator, the controller creates a loop that takes into account its dynamic behavior, thereby reducing mechanical stress. The benefits of advanced motion control were illustrated when the FlexPicker™ robot was chosen for the order placed by a pretzel manufacturing company in Switzerland.

The FlexPicker™ IRB 360 was developed using the second-generation QuickMove and TrueMove motion control systems, resulting in significant cycle-time improvements. On average, the IRB 360 is 20% faster, with payloads of between 1.5kg and 3kg producing the best results.

Product relocation can cause problems for a robot, resulting in unexpected collisions. The lightweight arm system on the FlexPicker™ is designed to detach during a heavy collision. The arm system is held in place by a spring unit that protects the arm from damage during a mechanical impact, even when fully accelerating. This safety feature protects the robot, customer feedback suggesting that a robot that stops moving when the arm system falls off would further protect the product and the conveyor. The new QuickMove and TrueMove motion controller can now detect a malfunctioning arm system and automatically stop the robot.

This is just a sampling of the features that are unique to ABI Automation and the FlexPicker™ delta robot, justifying our claim to be front-runners in high-speed pick and place technology.

Canadian Bakery and Pastry Company

Awarded in August 2009 for January 2010 delivery, ABI Automation won the competition to supply the first robotic packaging line to an expanding Canadian bakery. The large scale installation includes automatic tray de-stacking, specialized tray handling, unique PickMaster vision systems, specialized tooling, several robotic pick & place systems and a specialized control package. ABI Automation was awarded this contract thanks to the unbeatable combination of the extensive food and bakery equipment manufacturing background of the parent company, ABI Ltd., and the world-class robotic integration capabilities of ABI Automation. In consultation with the satisfied customer, ABI Automation are already planning an icing and cake decorating automation project as a planned second phase of the robotics initiative taken by this visionary bakery and pastry manufacturer.

ABI Automation - Trade Show Spectacular

ABI Ltd. is a world leader in the design and manufacture of bagel production equipment. It was therefore only natural that ABI Automation would work closely with its parent company to develop the world’s first raw bagel dough inspection robot. Premiered at an international trade show in Germany in the fall of 2009, the robot inspects and automatically screens out improperly formed dough products, enabling almost immediate return dough sequencing. This capability prevents jamming and eliminates the added costs associated with malformed product entering the baking process. Additionally, the robot automatically creates bagel placement patterns that optimize available board space and maximize efficiency, outperforming all previously available solutions.

A portable demonstration cell housing the ABI Automation robotic inspection technology is installed in our “Tech Centre” located in Toronto, Canada. It will be on display at the 2010 International Bakery Industry Exposition in Las Vegas from September 26 to 29.