Baking & Snack - June 2024 - 92

ROBOTICS
tion facilities, everyday repeatable
tasks will become
part of the programming norm. "
Machine-learning, along with similar tools, now offers
shorter programming times for cobots and robots.
Used properly, they can simplify what were once complex,
often expensive and even frustrating processes a
few years ago.
" The Schubert Cobot
tog.519 is able
to self-learn
product characteristics, packaging dimensions and
shapes, and thanks to deep learning and high-speed processing
data in combination with vision systems, robots
are even able to pick overlapped products, " Calorio said.
Joe Crompton, vice president of robot technology,
BluePrint Automation, noted AI and deep learning allow
for better inspection and grading of products.
" Now systems are capable of learning the subtle difLabor-saving
robotics
are used
throughout the world
to automate the
manual scoring of
baguettes and other
Old World breads.
ABI Ltd.
tasks based on real-time data, said Jamie Bobyk, marketing
manager, Apex Motion Control. AI is also being
used to enhance predictive maintenance.
" These algorithms can analyze product size, shape
and weight to ensure precise handling and packaging, "
he explained. " The result is a decrease in errors which in
turn reduces product waste and improves overall quality
control. "
Some tasks, he added, are simpler to implement than
others. In fact, once a robot or cobot learns a certain
function, it's easier to build upon an existing program
to install other automated systems to handle additional
workloads.
" When talking about strictly repeatable tasks, such as
stacking boxes on pallets or moving trays from conveyors
to racks or racks to conveyors, much of the standard
programming that goes into machine learning can be
used in many of the standard applications, " Bobyk said.
" The more that robotics are implemented into producferences
between an acceptable and unacceptable number
of defects, " he said. " This means less false rejects as
well as improving the overall quality of the product being
produced. "
Alper pointed out AMF UX, the company's global
standard for AMF's HMI systems, provides operatorfriendly,
visual recipe-management options.
" Operators can quickly select pre-programmed pattern
configurations for efficient product changeover
without tool change, ensuring precise package or pan
placement and maximum reliability, " he said.
He added that advanced sensing and vision systems
enable robots to detect variations in product size,
shape and orientation, and then easily adjust their actions
accordingly.
" Vision systems, particularly those powered by AI,
allow robots to perform quality checks and recognize
different items, enhancing their flexibility across various
production lines, " he said. " AMF's AMO software uses
preconfigured patterns and recipe selection to simplify
the operator's process for changeovers. "
Pang suggested that companies can reduce programming
time for robots through digital twinning, which is
a digital solution that implements programming changes
in a cost-efficient manner prior to deployment into
physical installations. Traditionally, programming a robot
had been a time-consuming, labor-intensive process.
" Digital twinning mitigates this by allowing programmers
to simulate and test programming changes in the
virtual environment before deploying them to physical
robots, " he explained. " It enables faster, more costefficient
deployment of robotic systems while ensuring
Bakeries can boost quality assurance by combining 3D and other
advanced vision systems with AI to better identify and reject
product defects before packaging.
BluePrint Automation
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