Lubrication-free and maintenance-free pick-and-place robot in packaging line for food supplements

What was needed: A system for automated loading of portioning spoons into containers for food supplements

Requirements: Rod ends that can be operated without lubrication and are resistant to the fine powder particles of food supplements, lightweight components, compensation of misalignments

Industry: Packaging industry

Success for the customer: By using the KDGM double joints, RemiTech reduces operating costs and increases production reliability and efficiency. The maintenance-free spherical bearings reduce downtimes and increase overall productivity. In addition, the lightweight bearing components help to reduce the system weight, which lowers energy consumption.

The packaging technology expert RemiTech specialises in material transport systems such as belt conveyors, roller conveyors and turntables. The company also covers process automation, such as product sorters or positioners in packaging lines.

For a customer in the food supplement sector, a packaging line was to be created that automatically packs containers with the food supplement. A pick-and-place robot was to be used to load the containers with portioning spoons, which would work independently and continuously at the end of the packaging line.

Due to the hygiene standards and the fine powder particles in the product containers and in the immediate vicinity, no metallic solutions could be used as spherical bearings on the axes of the delta robot. As the bearings have to be lubricated externally, grease could leak out and contaminate the product. At the same time, particles could adhere to the lubricant and limit the service life of the bearing technology.

Instead, a completely dirt-proof and dust-resistant solution had to be found. This primarily concerns the spherical bearings, which are intended to ensure the smooth movement of the delta robot's axes.

The pick-and-place process at the end of the packaging line was implemented with a DLE-DR-0054 3-axis delta robot. With up to 60 picks per minute, the portioning spoons can be quickly packed into the containers for the food supplements.

The bearing technology installed in the delta robot is completely lubrication-free and maintenance-free. The guide of the axis movement is guided by drylin ZLW-1040S linear axes. In addition, igubal KDGM double joints are installed in the arms of the delta robot, which grip the spoons and insert them into the containers. The spherical bearings are able to compensate for misalignments and, like the linear bearings, offer a durable and maintenance-free solution. They are made of the impact-resistant and long fibre-reinforced polymer material igumid G, while the spherical balls are made of iglidur W300. The materials are completely self-lubricating. As no external lubricating grease adheres to the moving parts, the system is more hygienic and can move safely over the open powder containers without contaminating them.

The dirt-resistant bearings not only increase the availability of the pick-and-place robot during automated packing of the containers, but they are also lightweight and thus reduce the weight of the overall system.