Meow Mix robotic case loader 'roars' into action

Del Monte's robotic system from Blueprint Automation (www.blueprintautomation.com) collates and loads the Meow Mix pouches into corrugated cases. Pouches are collated at the infeed by a "smart conveyor" and loaded six-at-a-time by the robot's customized, pneumatic end effector into an awaiting pair of cases at a rate of three pouches/case/cycle. Another set of six pouches is loaded into the cases at a 180° angle to the first set before the 6-count pair of cases are released from the loading position. An arm then pushes each case onto a right-angle takeaway conveyor for downstream operations.

Read the accompanying feature, Del Monte pounces on Meow Mix pouch line, in the September 2008 issue of Packaging World