A palletiser is a system that stacks products onto pallets. There are many different types of palletiser on the market but the most common and versatile for different types of application is a robotic palletiser.
How do they work?
All palletisers are equipped with a gripper for picking product and an actuator or robotic arm for moving the gripper and product. An infeed conveyor feeds product into the palletiser and then products are picked by palletiser from the infeed conveyor and stacked onto pallets automatically. The pallets can be automatically fed into the system with a pallet feeder or they can be manually fed into the system with a forklift or pallet truck. Finished stacked pallets can be manually removed from the system, or automatically fed out of the system on conveyors. Automated pallet wrappers can also be included if required.
Example grippers
Example grippers used on a palletiser include:
- Foam pad gripper – a foam pad gripper lifts product using vacuum
- Bag gripper – a bag gripper has tines that close around the product.
- Underneath gripper – an underneath gripper had a plate or tine that the product is slid onto and then clamped
- Parallel Gripper – a parallel uses two plate to grip either side of the product.
More information on griper types and their suitability for different products is available here.
Application examples
There are many different applications in which a palletiser is used. Some of the more common applications are listed here:
- Box Palletiser
- Bag Palletiser
- Bottle Palletiser
- Sack Palletiser
- Carton Palletiser
- Tray Palletiser
- Crate Palletiser
- Can palletiser
- Drum Palletiser
- Barrel Palletiser
- Pail Palletiser
Software
All palletiser systems will have some form of software controlling them, there is a wide range of software available from hard coded robot paths and stack patterns where every move is individually programmed by a skilled robot programmer, through to fully automatic software that any person that is familiar with computers can easily use to automatically generate stack patterns in less than 5 minutes. One of the fastest and most flexible software options on the market is the GA15 Palletising software.
Hardware
There is a wide variety of hardware needed in palletising cells such as conveyors, robots, actuators, grippers, control gear and much more. Some of the better palletiser systems on the market have modular systems that enable easy re-deployment and re-configuration of the system layout, along with very fast install. The GA15 Palletiser has a patented modular system that enables very fast install, modification, and accommodates almost any layout requirements, it is known as the Lego of palletisers.
Some key factors to consider when installing a palletiser include:
- Palletiser speeds required
- Product type and structural rigidity
- Size and weight of products
- Stack patterns
- Integration requirements with upstream equipment
- Types of pallets
- Layout and available space requirements
- Scanning and barcode reading for sorting products
- Pallet wrapping requirements
More information on factors that need to be considered when installing a palletiser is available here.
Planning a palletiser install?
There are a lot of factors to consider to ensure you achieve successful palletiser installation, see below for a link to a guide to palletiser installations and downloadable template URS. https://www.granta-automation.co.uk/news/palletiser-buying-guide/
Support
Having good support is a key to a successful palletiser install, both for ongoing training of new users and quick fault recovery. A good support contract will include 3 site maintenance visits per year and remote support availability.
Further information on palletisers
For further information on palletisers see https://www.granta-automation.co.uk/types-of-automation/robotic-palletising . You may also wish to download our free robotic automation resource pack https://www.granta-automation.co.uk/resources
If you would like to discuss this in more detail, or would like further information on the Granta GA15 Palletising system, then please do get in touch on 01223 499488 or helpline@granta-automation.co.uk.
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