A pick and place machine is typically used in a manufacturing or industrial environment to pick individual items from one location and place them in another. The automated equipment is accurate and fast and can even place items in a predefined pattern, making processes such as palletising (the stacking of goods onto pallets for transportation or storage) much more efficient.

The features of a pick and place machine

Pick and place machines can be programmed to handle a variety of different products effectively, but there are a number of core features that help to consistently deliver benefits.

• Pick and place mechanism – the core of the system is the pick and place mechanism, which is often a robotic arm, or a cartesian system with a specialised gripping head that can lift and move packages securely, without any damage.
• Handling systems – configurations can vary but this may include conveyor systems to transport items to be palletised to the pick and place area in a controlled manner and pallet handling systems to position and move pallets into the correct location for loading.
• Vision system – Many modern pick and place palletisers incorporate vision systems or sensors to identify the location, orientation, and type of items being handled. This allows the system to adapt to different product variations and ensures accurate placement.

The functions of a pick and place machine

As we’ve already mentioned, pick and place robots can be configured to work with many different products or palletising patterns and this makes them useful for a range of tasks, especially in industries such as electronics, automotive, and consumer goods.

Some of the most common jobs to be carried out by the machines include:

Assembly

Pick and place machines can ensure precise placement of components and fast, accurate assembly. Parts are picked from a conveyor and put together according to design specifications to create electronics and a wide variety of other products.

Packaging

Pick and place palletisers can pack items onto pallets at a very high speed. Unlike human operatives, the machines have fewer weight restrictions and no issues with undertaking repetitive movements. They can work on multiple lines and pack items in specific patterns.

Inspection

Advanced vision systems can identify faulty or substandard items and separate them from the remaining products, ensuring only those meeting the required standard are packed and delivered to the customer.

Sorting

Parts or packages can be sorted in several ways including using vision systems, scales or numerically. Multiple items can be separated into categories to be used further along the production line or packed for onward transportation.

Benefits of using pick and place robots

There are many benefits to incorporating a pick and place robot or palletiser in your manufacturing operation. One of the main advantages is the significant increase in speed, which allows you to triple or even quadruple your production.

Speed isn’t the only consideration. Pick and place machines also improve the quality and consistency of your products and the safety of your operation. Without the need to work long hours or carry heavy items, employees are less likely to suffer from manual handling injuries or the effects of carrying out repetitive and monotonous tasks.

To find out more about adding a pick and place machine to your operation, contact us today.

Pick and place robots do exactly what it says on the tin: pick things up from one location, such as a conveyor belt, and place them down in another, for example, on a pallet. The automated machines can be programmed to perform precise movements and can handle objects of all sizes with much greater speed, accuracy and consistency than a human operative.

This makes them a popular choice for manufacturers looking to increase efficiency and productivity.

Types of pick and place robots

There are four types of pick and place machines and each comes equipped with a different type of end gripper, to handle objects ranging from boxes to bottles:

1. Cartesian Robots

• Also known as gantry robots, these systems have a gantry or structural beams and work on three or four axes (X, Y, Z and a 4th rotation axis on the gripper head) to position items.
• They are capable of handling heavy loads and precise movements but output can be slow.
• Cartesian robots are commonly used for palletising and de-palletising goods, where they can be used to form complex pallet patterns, as well as in assembly and packaging processes.

2. Robotic Arm

• These are the simplest and most common type of pick and place robot.
• They usually work on six axes, although a palletiser only needs four axis, to perform palletisation.

3. Delta Robots

• Delta robots are ceiling-mounted and operate on three axes like the Cartesian models.
• They excel in high-speed operations and are often used for pick and place tasks in the food and beverage industry, including packaging and sorting applications.
• Delta robots are ideal for handling small and lightweight objects as they offer excellent speed and accuracy.

4. SCARA Robots

• SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) robots have a horizontal arm design with rotary joints – similar to a human arm with shoulder and elbow joints.
• They provide fast and precise vertical and horizontal movements, making them suitable for assembly, material handling, and sorting tasks.
• SCARA robots are frequently used in industries such as electronics, automotive, and consumer goods.

Reasons to install a pick and place robot

Incorporating pick and place robots, such as gantry palletisers, into your manufacturing operations can provide a significant boost to your business growth. Advantages include:

• Increased efficiency
  The risk of human error is removed, and processes are faster. Pick and place robots can work 24/7 without the need for breaks or time off so production time is maximised.
• Improved accuracy
  Objects are placed accurately and consistently, every time, resulting in higher product quality, reduced waste and improved customer satisfaction.
• Enhanced workplace safety
  Automating repetitive and physically demanding tasks helps to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents in the workplace, creating a safer environment for workers.
• Greater flexibility
  Pick and place robots have different gripper heads to handle a range of packages, allowing new products to be introduced to a production line with minimal disruption and downtime.
• Long-term savings
  Although there are capital investment costs, the improvements in productivity, reduced downtime and less wastage mean manufacturers can soon see a return on investment.

A valuable asset

For manufacturers trying to work more efficiently, pick and place robots offer an effective solution. By automating repetitive and labour-intensive tasks, businesses can streamline their processes and stay ahead of the competition.

To find out how pick and place robots can benefit your operation, contact us for free advice.

As you would think, pick and place robots pick up items, and place them somewhere else. They can do this with an incredible degree of accuracy, and much faster than humans carrying out the same task. They are ideal for manufacturing environments and can really help boost production rates. What are they used for, and what are the benefits of using this kind of automation?

The three main uses of this kind of automation are for assembly, packaging and inspection.

• Assembly

Pick and place robots can play an important part in the manufacturing process in all kinds of industries. They lift a part from one area, such as a conveyor, transport it somewhere else and either place it down in an assigned location, or attach it to another part.

• Packaging

Grabbing items that are ready to be packaged, a pick and place robot can place them into a container. Also called Cartesian palletisers, they can even work on multiple lines to maximise their capacity.

• Inspection

With the help of an advanced vision system, robots can identify faulty items on a production line and remove them to a designated location.

Types of pick and place robots

Pick and place robots can come in various forms – robotic arms, Cartesian, Delta and cobots.

• Robotic arm

These are probably what you imagine when we talk about pick and place robots as they’re the most common. They usually function on five or six axes, depending on whether an item needs turning for placement or examination.

• Cartesian

Cartesian coordinates allow you to position a point in three dimensional space. As such, Cartesian robots are gantry pick and place robots which function from structural beams and work on three axes (X, Y and Z) to position items. They tend to have better positional accuracy compared to the robotic arms above.

• Delta

A Delta is a ceiling-mounted parallel robot, which operates on three axes like the Cartesian models. It performs low-skill tasks, but  can move very quickly, making them very popular for picking and packing.

• SCARA

SCARA stands for Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm, or Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm. SCARA robots move similar to a human arm, with shoulder and elbow joints which rotate around a vertical axis.

Benefits of pick and place robots

There are many benefits to employing a pick and place robot in a manufacturing setting. They include speeding up processes, relieving the human workforce of repetitive tasks, and maintaining accuracy. They’re configurable to your needs and can serve more than one line at a time. The boost in productivity ensures that the businesses not only see a fast return on investment, but that they remain competitive in their market.

Constraints

The main constraint on pick and place robots is choosing a unit that doesn’t serve the future needs of the manufacturer. This is why it’s important to fully understand and document your requirements for a machine before purchasing.

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If you’re considering pick and place robots for your business, please get in touch for free automation advice.