Algorithm-based Handling Technology – „Robot Systems and Applications for Palletizing“

In the field of algorithm-based handling technology, we include all those robot systems in which the robot actions or movements are based on a data model or algorithm. The robot applications are mainly in the field of palletizing, model-based (offline) path planning, simulators and control stations with integrated order processing, warehouse management and load balancing.

Robotic palletizing - highest efficiency and relief for Your employees

Palletizing robots automate the process of stacking or palletizing products on pallets or in containers (e.g. mesh boxes or cartons). As their conventional relatives, automatic palletizers, the products to be palletized are provided to the robot via a feeding conveyor. However, palletizing robots do not orient the products via stoppers or pushers. Rather, the palletizing robot manipulates the products by picking them up directly from their supply orientation and placing them precisely on a pallet or in a container in the desired target orientation.

Our robotic palletizing systems essentially consist of a robot (usually a 4-axis industrial robot), a specific end-of-arm tool (or gripping system for single or multiple gripping) and an infeed conveyor together with our proprietary palletizing software PALGO mix and/or PALGO mono.

Unmixed or single-type robotic palletizing

In unmixed palletizing applications, the robot is to palletize exclusively one product of one size onto a load carrier. The robot is always allowed to rotate the products around their vertical axis.

The unmixed palletizing software PALGO mono is the heart of our robot applications for unmixed palletizing. The palletizing software only needs the product dimensions (length, width, height) as input data and generates an optimal layer pattern on this basis - even for different load carrier types and sizes. Successive layers can be mirrored. Bottom, intermediate and top layers can be defined individually. All this takes place via a graphical user interface. All the necessary information is stored in a database. A path planning module is integrated into the palletizing software so that the robot can implement the layer or palletizing pattern as required. Therefore, programming of the robot or special qualification is not required. In order to achieve high performance with our palletizing robots, multiple grippers are often used for unmixed palletizing.

For robot applications in the tire industry, we use our special software PALGO@TIRE and DEPALGO@TIRE.

Mixed or chaotic robotic palletizing

In mixed palletizing applications, the robot is to palletize products of different sizes onto a load carrier. The robot is always allowed to rotate the products around their vertical axis.

The mixed palletizing software PALGO mix is the core in our robotic applications for mixed palletizing. Just the product dimensions are needed as input. If they are not known, we measure them three-dimensional and generate an exact geometry model. Similar to the manual palletizing, in mixed palletizing applications several products are collected in a small product buffer. The mixed palletizing software then decides online which product in the product buffer will be picked up next by the robot and in which pose it will be palletized onto the load carrier. The integrated path planning module ensures that the robot correctly implements the palletizing algorithm's decision.

Our palletizing robots for mixed palletizing do not require knowledge of the entire order commission

A special feature of our palletizing algorithm: the sequence in which the products arrive at the palletizing robot is arbitrary. Compared to most other robot systems for mixed palletizing, no large product buffers are required and there is no need for time-consuming sorting of the products. This saves space and money.

To ensure that You receive the optimum palletizing system from us, we are at Your side in all phases: from the planning of the material flow to the handover of the ready-to-use palletizing system.

Even though we are closely associated with robotics, this does not mean that there is a robot at the end of the project. The decisive factor for us is a robotic automation solution that is tailored precisely to Your requirements: the system that is best suited to Your needs. Which components are required for this depends solely on Your requirements.

You can therefore be sure: The result of our work is not an isolated solution. It is a complete system that offers You all the advantages of flexible automation. A robot system or robot application that is perfectly integrated into Your intralogistics.