New digital technologies for more flexibility

Packaging machine manufacturer Schubert will respond to the increasingly complex market requirements of greater product diversity and smaller batch sizes by demonstrating the flexibility of its high-performance technology with its new cooperative robots – the cobots – at interpack.

With the cooperative robots, which work without a safety cage, packaging processes of small batch sizes can be automated and significantly optimised.

Schubert is developing a comprehensive system for its new cobot modules. It includes an intelligent and easy to configure control system, a vision system that allows it to perceive its environment, feed belts, format parts and much more with the help of artificial intelligence.

Each Schubert cobot requires no more than the space needed for a table with boxes and one or two people. The cooperative robots are fast andrelieve workers of monotonous tasks in the packaging process. For example, they can pick up jumbled products without prior separation and place them onto a conveyor. Working with them is also very safe: when a worker approaches a Schubert cobot, the robot initially slows down and finally stops completely. A prototype of the cobots can be seen live and in action at the exhibition stand.

Pick & place robots for higher output density

If you need to accommodate higher performance in a small space or require more mobility in product handling, Schubert offers specialised T4 and T5 robots. They complement the proven F4 robot, which is used in numerous picker lines from Schubert. The design of the new pick & place robots is based on the delta robot type. Their compact rectangular working area makes them perfect for high performance in the smallest of spaces: up to six of the new four-axis T4 robots can work simultaneously in a single TLM frame.

The T5 variant has a fifth axis with which products can be pivoted and tilted. At the booth, a compact picker line will show how effective and flexible the new robot type can be.

Virtual parts warehouse with 3D printing on demand

3D printing is revolutionising not only machines but also warehousing, as electronic design data can be retrieved on demand in seconds anywhere in the world. Schubert is now making this access possible. The virtual warehouse is fast, reliable and economical, and represents a major step towards secure, flexible production.

A total of four packaging machines with real customer applications from the confectionery industry can be seen in action at the exhibition stand. Two of them, a Flowpacker and a Cartonpacker, are among the preconfigured systems in the lightline family.

Schubert will be demonstrating various format changes live on several machines, which can be carried out even faster for customers, especially because of their easy-to-change format parts.