At the booth, ESS Technologies, Inc. and Antares Vision are showing the Model CEL5 top-loading case packer that uses a FANUC M-20iA robot with custom, ESS-designed end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) to erect and load the RSC case.
The companies have developed this serialized case packing solution that integrates state-of-the art robotic case packing and serialization system technologies. The CEL5 can be configured as a top load, side-load, or bottom-load case packer, allowing greater flexibility in designing the packaging line that integrates easily with the Antares Vision track-and-trace equipment.
An Antares Vision 360-degree camera scans unique product codes on each bottle before they enter the case packer infeed. The product codes are stored in a serialization system PC. At the case packer infeed, the CEL5’s servo collation system creates the desired case pack pattern. The multi-axis robot picks an RSC case from the case magazine, squares the sides, folds the bottom flaps, and places the case on the vacuum loading plate. The same robot then picks the collated pack pattern of scanned bottles, holds the load over a serialization camera to record the case contents, and loads the bottles into the case. The case is then sealed on the top and bottom with standard 2-in. tape.
An Antares Vision serialization labeler prints and applies a case label with a barcode that contains the serialization data about the case contents. The CEL5 Robotic Case Packer erects, loads, and closes 5 to 6 cases/min. The custom-designed EOAT can be configured to handle a variety of products, including bottles with or without topserts, cartons and bundles.
