Robotic system for case packing of pharmaceutical products and palletizing system for corrugated boxes

To implement a fully automated production and packing line for the production of pharmaceuticals.

The major operations of the robotic system for case packing of pharmaceuticals: automatic serialization of the drug in secondary consumer package (SCP), QR code application, SCP verification and rejection, SCP stacking and aggregation into corrugated boxes, palletizing of boxes, aggregation of boxes into pallets.

The main goal of the project is to automate stacking of individually packed medicines in boxes with simultaneous automation of serialization and aggregation of products.

To solve the problem of SCP (secondary consumer package of medicines) serialization we have designed and manufactured the specialized conveyor for QR code application on SCP, code reading and production rejection. This conveyor is integrated into the factory software for drug product serialization and aggregation.

To ensure the required capacity, a unit for the preparation of the SCP layer before stacking in the box has been designed. Depending on the SCP size, box size and stacking pattern, the unit forms the SCP layer and loads the layer inside the box when ready. 

KUKA KR6 industrial robot forms the corrugated box, feeds the box to the layer former to load the SCP, interacts with the aggregation chamber and feeds the box for sealing.

KUKA KR6 robot gripper allows several box formats to be handled without having to change grippers.

KUKA KR6 robot has a box aggregation chamber integrated with the factory software. Each product layer is aggregated. The number of layers varies depending on the stacking pattern.

A second KUKA KR60-3 industrial robot labels the corrugated box and places the box on the pallet according to the stacking pattern of the selected product type. Switching between the different types of SCP is carried out without line changeover. Operator selects the desired type of products on the control panel.

Output capacity of the box stacking area is 100 units per min.