Automated handling of different delicate perfume bottles

With the GlassFeeder? range, Spanish automation solution provider teknics | Advanced Engineering and Assembly has developed a feeding system that is unique in its flexibility: Thanks to deep learning, the machine adapts to different sizes, forms and surfaces of translucid perfume bottles (or caps) with strict cosmetic requirements, allowing for effortless fast handling of any size of batches. The fast and precise handling is achieved by two State-of-the-Art SCARA robots supplied bei their technology partner St?ubli Robotics.

Square, round, bulbous, octagonal, cylindrical… When it comes to perfumes, it's not just the fragrance that makes the difference, but also the bottle. Packaging designers put a lot of intelligence into creating bottles that match the fragrance, offer a high-end appearance, and in the best case, a “wow” effect.

The aim: Highly flexible automated feeding of perfume bottles

Engineering any feeding machines for perfume bottles requires a great deal of expertise and effort to ensure highly adaptable and robust automation. Furthermore, perfumes and other bottled cosmetic products are not usually produced in the millions. And every bottle design is unique in shape and surface finish (frosted, chrome-plated, polished), not to mention the cap design and requirements. Flexibility is a must. ?

In this field, automation specialist Teknics, located in Barberá del Vallès near Barcelona, has a high level of expertise. Within 30 years, the innovative company which today employs about 150 people, has gained a high reputation for designing and supplying flexible automation solutions for international customers in the cosmetics, medical, food and packaging industries.

New: An intelligent versatile glass bottle feeding system

A great example of Teknics’ expertise is the current GlassFeeder? solutions range. This compact standard machine comes in a modular design and can easily be integrated into the customers' production lines.

In order to ensure the highest level of flexibility, the Teknics’ engineering team apply state-of-the-art technology: Thanks to a deep learning mode (AI based software), multiple sizes and shapes of bottles can be easily and securely handled. As Aleix Morera, Sales Director of Teknics describes, “It is a great tandem: The flexibility of ?AI solutions and the St?ubli SCARA robots allow our machines to precisely locate the product within a short cycle time, regardless of its dimensions, colors, brightness, surface finish and different heights - even with chrome-plated surfaces.

Furthermore, it allows a “user-friendly” quick and simple introduction – by any person after a basic training -of a new reference in less than four hours.”

With respect to the trays, the feeding system quickly and automatically adapts to different formats and sizes, whether they are made of cardboard or plastic, with or without separators, incorporated or thermoformed. So, all in all, the GlassFeeder? provides maximum flexibility to the users – and a perfect solution for handling and feeding perfume bottles and other cosmetic products.

“With these characteristics, the GlassFeeder? solutions range is ideal for multi-reference lines with both large and small batches, where frequent changes must be quick. This allows the user to improve OEE and therefore reduce the final cost of the product. Introducing new part numbers is also a “walk in the park”, giving our customers the necessary autonomy and flexibility within their organization,” says Morera.

All GlassFeeder? solutions have an integrated quality control employing a high-precision vision system which assures the proper orientation of the bottles. They can also be equipped with different optional modules to suit the customer’s needs, such as a laser marking or depalettizing system, or a system for loading and unloading trays from pallets with a collaborative robot.

Two SCARA robots in upside-down mounting

The main handling and feeding tasks are executed by a pair of compact St?ubli TS2-60 SCARA robots . There are several reasons why Teknics opted for the TS2-60 as the preferred option for GlassFeeder?. ?Aleix Morera: “St?ubli robots are very durable and precise and can easily be programmed. ?They are also, by far, the best choice for many of our customers in hygiene-related industries like food processing, pharmaceutical and medical. Another advantage is the easy integration of the robot’s CS9 controller into the complete automation system.”

In each GlassFeeder? solution, the PLC is the master of communications, filtering the coordinates that the vision system sends to the robots.

A cycle of two seconds with an accuracy of 1.0 mm

The two robots in each GlassFeeder? cell are mounted upside-down, enabling the best reach without occupying additional space. The St?ubli SCARAs can be mounted on the ceiling without any restrictions, giving us an excellent combined reach and degree of freedom. Vision systems guide them to fill trays with irregular cardboard spaces. All this happens in a very tight time frame and with utmost precision and repeatability: “We need a cycle of less than two seconds with an accuracy of 1 mm, considering vision, gripper error and robot error. Our grippers allow for product self-centering and quick changeovers,” Morera explains.

Due to these unique functions and qualities, Teknics’s GlassFeeder? solutions have quickly become a success story in the cosmetic industry and in the portfolio of Teknics machines for flexible automation: Demand exceeded Teknics’ expectations since the beginning, proving that with this machine, the company has succeeded perfectly in making the users' wishes a reality.

Text by: Industrie Kommunikation H?gel

About St?ubli Robotics

St?ubli Robotics is a leading global player in robotics, consistently delivering engineering as effective and reliable as our service and support. A complete solutions provider for digitally networked production, St?ubli offers a broad range of 4- and 6-axis robots including robotic arms designed specifically for sensitive environments, autonomous mobile robots, driver-less transport systems (AGVs) and cobots for human-robot collaboration.

Website: St?ubli Robotics

About teknics

teknics is an innovative company in production technology, assembly and testing systems. Design and construction of tailor-made solutions to automatize production in automotive, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, medical, food industries and Packaging solutions. From complete FMS lines to robotic stations or manual posts. We use the latest technologies in our solutions. We have undertaken projects in various countries and we are ready to carry out installations anywhere in the world.

Website: teknics