If you happen to’re utilizing a cobot to palletize merchandise, you may wish to make sure you’re utilizing the fitting palletizing sample!
An excellent palletizing sample helps you bundle your merchandise securely, serving to to scale back harm and returns.
On this article, we’ll talk about 7 nice patterns for cobot palletizing. We’ll additionally take a look at some elements that go into making a very good or unhealthy pallet sample, and easy methods to choose the perfect one in your job.
How palletizing sample reduces harm and returns
Many elements can contribute to wreck and returns of your merchandise, however an element individuals usually overlook is the palletizing sample. The best palletizing sample can assist to disperse weight in your cargo, minimizing friction and defending your susceptible merchandise from influence.
It is essential to contemplate the steadiness of the stack. An unstable stack is extra more likely to topple over, trigger harm to your merchandise, and even compromise your entire cargo.
There are a number of palletizing patterns you should utilize. The most effective one will rely on the merchandise you are packaging, the dimensions and weight of the merchandise, and some different elements.
Palletizing sample calculators: Helpful or not helpful?
You will discover a number of palletizing sample calculators on-line.
These calculators will be useful instruments, nevertheless it’s essential to keep in mind that they’re solely a place to begin. This calculator from OnPallet, for instance, lets you enter your pallet and field information. I’ll then let you know what a single layer can appear to be with what number of gadgets will match on it.
Past easy calculators, the Stackbuilder software program is the “Rolls Royce” of palletizing applications. It is complicated, however has all of the capabilities you may ever must create any palletizing sample possible.
Such software program instruments will be useful. However the easiest way to seek out the proper palletizing sample in your merchandise is to check numerous patterns and see what works greatest…
A easy palletizing calculator normally is not sufficient.
While you automate your palletizing, you may wish to be certain that your pallet dimension and kind work together with your palletizing resolution. The Robotiq configurator is a software that you should utilize to check this out with a collaborative robotic.
What makes for a very good or unhealthy pallet sample?
There are a number of elements to contemplate when selecting a pallet sample, together with:
- The burden of the load.
- The dimensions and weight of every field.
- How steady you want the load to be. An excellent pallet sample will distribute weight evenly and decrease friction.
- Whether or not you want additional house across the bins.
- Whether or not you’ll want to the bins to be positioned in several areas so you’ll be able to learn the labels or barcodes.
3 Ideas for a very good palletizing sample
Listed below are three pointers for making a steady pallet sample:
- Decrease prices and waste by maximizing interlocking carton utilization and pallet utilization.
- Set your pallet sample for the kind of pallets you may be utilizing.
- To enhance stability, rotate every alternate layer.
First, you may wish to take into consideration the load and dimensions of your merchandise. You may additionally wish to contemplate the fragility of your merchandise and the way vibration and influence will have an effect on them.
Subsequent, you may wish to take into consideration the steadiness of the stack. Will the association of the bins present any stability? Or will the principle stability come from additional components (resembling shrinkwrap)?
Lastly, you may wish to contemplate the benefit of palletizing and depalletizing. An excellent pallet sample ought to be straightforward to comply with, and it ought to be straightforward for a robotic to take away merchandise from the pallet with out damaging them.
7 Nice Palletizing Patterns for Your Cobot
Now you are aware of some essential elements when selecting a pallet sample, listed below are 7 nice palletizing patterns in your cobot:
1. The Interlocked Sample
When stacking containers in a vertical association, one issue is preserving the hundreds throughout transportation. In consequence, many individuals use an interlocking sample which “locks” the containers in place by staggering their positions.
This sample is ideal for merchandise that you’ll want to stack securely. It’s usually used for heavier masses.
2. The Partially Interlocked Sample
Within the partially interlocked sample, some bins overlap, however not all. It is composed of a base layer plus an interlocked prime layer that is joined by columns.
When in comparison with a very interlocked construction, this improves the power of every vertically aligned layer by as much as 45%.
Partially interlocked patterns are greatest for lighter masses and merchandise that do not require as a lot stability.
3. The Block or Cut up Block Sample
The Block Sample is a sort of column association. Your palletizer will place every field on prime of the one under it in the identical sequence. This technique works for sure gadgets, however lack of interlocking could trigger them to fall. All of it is determined by what you are palletizing.
A variation of this sample is the cut up block, which entails dividing the pallet into two sections. The primary part is a central column of bins that maintain all containers collectively. Round this column is the second part, the place the bins are stacked on prime of one another, as with the block sample.
That is helpful for merchandise of various sizes as a result of it prevents them from toppling over.
4. The Brick Sample
With The Brick Sample, you do not stack the cartons in the identical method as you’ll with a column association. Reasonably, you stack them one on prime of one other, alternating between layers, like a brick wall.
One drawback of this strategy is that it inconsistently distributes the load on the weakest level of every carton. We do not suggest utilizing this technique for heavy masses as a result of it places an excessive amount of stress on the underside layer.
5. The Row or Cut up Row Sample
That is like The Brick Sample, however we flip every layer 90 levels in comparison with the one under it. It gives additional interlocking for stability, nevertheless it’s not as difficult as The Pinwheel Sample (see under).
The Cut up Row is a variation of this sample which gives some additional stability. With a cut up row, you might have a normal row design, however you place one field in a special orientation in every row to lock the remainder in place.
That is helpful for merchandise of various sizes as a result of it prevents them from toppling over.
6. The Pinwheel Sample
A pinwheel is an interlocking sample with some gaps, forming the bins within the form of a wheel.
You need to use one of these sample when the product tends to shift throughout transportation. The gaps between the bins enable for some motion, which will be helpful relying on what you are palletizing.
It is also helpful for merchandise of various sizes as a result of it prevents them from toppling over.
7. The Column Stacked Sample
Column stacking will increase field stability by 25-30%. It evenly disperses the load over every field’s strongest level.
One drawback with this strategy is that it depends on ties or shrinkwrap for stability – the construction itself would not present any stability. They’re the one factor retaining bins from tumbling in transit since all bins are instantly on prime of one another.
How you can choose the perfect pallet sample in your job
The trail to success with palletizing is to plan. Experiment with numerous pallet layouts and see how they carry out in our Robotiq Configurator.
In case you have heavy bins, you may wish to use a sample that provides additional help, just like the interlocked or pinwheel patterns. In case you have lighter bins, you may get away with a much less supportive construction.
The dimensions of the bins can also be essential. If you happen to’re palletizing giant bins, you may want a sample that may accommodate them with out sacrificing stability.
Lastly, contemplate the contents of the bins. If you happen to’re palletizing fragile gadgets, you may wish to decrease motion to stop harm. Right here, for instance, a pinwheel sample won’t be your best option.
Do not imagine that you could merely arrange your palletizing job as soon as and go away it. It’s possible you’ll want to change your pallet designs over time, permitting for steady enchancment.
Robotiq Palletizing Configurator: Design your robotic pallet
With the Robotiq Palletizing Configurator, you’ll be able to design your robotic palletizing cell in minutes.
You simply present some primary details about your pallet and bins. The Configurator lets you create two layer patterns and change between them in every layer. This strategy gives the benefits of interlocking rapidly and simply.
Now that you recognize extra about pallet patterns, it is time to decide on the perfect one in your wants!
What questions do you might have about palletizing? Inform us within the feedback under or be a part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, or the DoF skilled robotics group.
