將麵包正確分開：適合食品行業的3D機器視覺解決方案

Orfer Oy來自芬蘭，是一家食品行業包裝與自動化系統的領先提供商。該企業與SICK攜手應用了一項3D機器視覺解決方案，確保包裝機器人能夠正確識別全部的麵包並進行正確包裝。

SICK與Orfer Oy長期開展密切合作。雙方共同努力，不斷開發出高效解決方案，幫助食品行業研發創新系統。

適用於食品行業的自動化解決方案

「Orfer是一家1970年創辦的家族企業，也是食品行業二次包裝與堆垛的自動化解決方案領先提供商。」Orfer公司市場行銷負責人Mikko Arponen介紹。他還另外補充道：「早期我們研發的系統是用於木料的處理，後來更多是搬運散件貨物，因此我們的工作重點漸漸轉向了食品行業。」

Orfer公司擁有100名自動化系統與生產專業人員。公司總部、研發部門及生產設施均位於芬蘭奧利馬提拉。此外，Orfer公司還在芬蘭凱烏魯與於勒耶爾維市設有分支機構，並在加拿大有一家分公司。截至目前，這家企業已向20多個國家及地區提供了大約1,000項自動化解決方案。

「我們的系統專為客戶需求量身打造，十分靈活且高效。」Arponen說。他還補充道：「自動化能夠節約包裝材料，而最佳裝填運輸單元能夠節省空間，提高運輸效率。所有這些都有助於提高經濟效益，而且更加環保。」

一條條麵包裝在深引伸包裝內以供出口

芬蘭麵包烘焙企業Pekan Leipä主要烘焙有機品質的黑麥麵包。在生產線終端，會將麵包切開，每兩片麵包裝入一份包裝，然後出口至德國等國家銷售。在原先的包裝線上，這種加工方式需要耗費大量人力。烤箱每小時可烘焙超過10,000個麵包——而且這些都需要包裝好。

這種工作單調乏味，很難找到工人願意完成這樣的任務——耗費的成本則更不用說。

Orfer公司提供的解決方案是由一臺包裝機器人與一臺德國Multivac深引伸加工機器進行密切協作。這臺深引伸加工機器安裝在Orfer設備內部，負責從捲筒上抽取塑膠薄膜，並用真空將麵包托盤吸在薄膜上。Orfer機器人夾起切開的小麵包並分別將上下兩片放入一個托盤中。然後，將裝填好的托盤送至封口機處，並給包裝覆上一層保護膜。最後，將一份份產品切割開來，送往二次包裝。

檢查並放置麵包

機器人單元中，有三臺多軸機器人高速拾取麵包。兩條輸送皮帶每秒鐘向機器人單元中輸送多個麵包，因此需要高速工作。機器人從皮帶上取走麵包，將其兩兩一組放入深引伸加工的托盤內。

為確保正確拾取並放置麵包，一個麵包的上下兩片在到達機器人單元時，必須正好重合。為此，輸送皮帶配備了一個檢測站，其核心是3D視覺感測器TriSpector1000。

The TriSpector1000 is a configurable standalone sensor for the three-dimensional inspection of moving objects. It generates a line-by-line height profile of the object and produces a complete view based on the movement of the object. The movement information can be obtained by measuring the speed of the object or, as in this case, using an incremental encoder attached to the conveyor belt.

At the inspection station, the TriSpector1000 generates data on the height, length, and area of each piece of bread. If only one half of the roll has been transported on the belt, its height would be too small and therefore sorted out. If, on the other hand, the two halves of the roll overlap, i.e are not lying exactly on top of each other, the result would be a too long object and would therefore be rejected. The inspection station has a pusher that pushes the rejected objects off the belt.

 

 

3D vision camera as the right solution

For Harri Vartiainen, who develops automation solutions for Orfer, the TriSpector1000 – along with numerous other SICK sensors that are used in the system – was also an obvious choice. He says: “This 3D vision camera was a good and cost-effective solution for implementing this system. The colors of the products were not an issue in this application, the 3D camera has its own illumination, and it was easy to install. A 2D camera might perhaps have been a more economical alternative, however the TriSpector1000 is very reasonably priced compared to competitor products. And the application possibilities are very, very diverse.”

 

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