BOSCH – automated palletizing workcell

Citation

(2002), "BOSCH – automated palletizing workcell", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929aaf.002

BOSCH – automated palletizing workcell

Keywords: Bosch, Palletising

The packaging technology division of Robert Bosch GmbH located in Waiblingen, Germany, employs approximately 2500 people world-wide. Within this division are several smaller groups that focus on specific fields of the packaging technology industry. More specifically, a group dedicated to assembly technology comprised of 17 employees responsible for engineering and design, as well as 15 electricians and 25 fitters. For more than four years this group has dealt with the development and design of assembly and handling techniques. These handling systems are mainly integrated in Bosch's own production facilities throughout Europe to fabricate Bosch products.

With the goal of comprehensive cost reductions, Bosch specialists have designed and manufactured an automated feeding and palletization system in order to automate classic process production methods. This automated workcell with individual transfer functions can easily be adapted to different machining centers. Depending on the design of the workpiece holder in the machining center, different interfaces are used. In the palletizing workcell integrated in the Bosch production unit in Waiblingen, the Stäubli robot RX 90 L loads unfinished pump bodies (for pump- nozzle-elements) and unloads complete pump assemblies from the workcenter. Cycle time for one pump assembly is 25 seconds (Plate 4).

Plate 4

Usually Bosch uses their own Turboscara SR 6 and SR 8 robots. In special cases an additional rotation and swivelling of the workpieces is necessary. In order to achieve the required flexibility, the Stäubli six-axis robot is used. The advantages of the Stäubli six axes robot in this application are clearly based in its 5. and 6. axis which allows the direct transfer of the parts between the pallet and machining center without additional mechanical elements. The wiring and pneumatics inside the robot arm are additional advantages for this application.

Besides part handling, the RX robot carries out further tasks like pallet exchange, faulty part removal as well as output of parts to be inspected.