Automating a Palletizing Process

Base machine

There are two categories of palletizers:

Collaborative:

• Generally for slower ( ~ < 8 places / min), lighter boxes (< 10 KG).

• Preferred when floor space is limited. The collaborative nature of the robot allows it to run without a safety cage saving substantial floor space.

• Capable of stacking pallets up to 72” high.

Industrial:

• Generally for higher speed (~ > 8 places / min) and or heavier boxes or bags.

• Preferred when cycle time or box weight is close to the collaborative limit.

Regardless of base machine type, all of our palletizers come with the same software that allows creating and editing palletizing patterns (recipes) right on the machine. The machine will also come configured with two pallets.

What does it cost?

Collaborative: ~$95,000

Industrial: ~$150,000

Note: this is not a quoted price. Each project will be evaluated individually. The pricing shared on this page is to serve solely as a reference. Its worth noting, seemingly small process details can increase this number dramatically.

how to make it less expensive?

• Configure the machine to run a single pallet instead of two. This will require the machine to stop palletizing when the pallet fills up (instead of switching to the second pallet).

• Shorter pallet heights. If low enough, the machine can be configured without a telescoping slide which reduces cost.

What can make it more expensive?

• Slip Sheets. The base machine does not have provisions to handle slip sheets.

• Inconsistencies in box presentation to the machine. The robot will need a consistent location to pick the case up, if the case position isn’t fixture mechanically, sensors need to be added to so the machine can locate the case on the conveyor. If frequent change overs are anticipated, this can be the preferred approach because the sensors eliminate the need for mechanical fixturing that needs to be adjusted during change over. These sensors will add ~$5,000.

• Backpressure. Backpressure is the force of the upstream cases pushing/pinching the next case to be picked up against the conveyor end stop. This makes it difficult to to pull the first case out. Often mechanical pneumatic stops are needed to singulate the next case to be picked up.

• Pallet dispensing. We can optionally equip the machine with an automatic pallet dispenser. This will increase the machines unattended runtime substantially. Depending on specifics, the pallet dispenser will add an additional $50,000 to the machine cost.

• Barcode Reader. If the machine needs to scan barcode data on cases that it is palletizing and send that information to a MES, depending on complexity this can add $3,000 - $7,500.