Case Study - Header LP (9)

Automated feeding and assembly of bucket handles for industrial packaging

Case Study: Automated assembly of bucket handles at 12ppm.

Our Partner

LDF develops customised systems for assembly and industrial automation, tailored to specific customer requirements. With high-precision machinery and advanced CAM software, it ensures efficient, reliable production and a full range of machining services.

The Challenge

Challenge – Flexible Connector Handling
  1. Handling plastic bucket handles randomly loaded in bulk, where overlapping and tangling make singulation and orientation difficult.
  2. Ensuring the correct assembly orientation of each handle, as incorrect assembly compromises the quality of the finished bucket.
  3. Managing frequent format changes and small production batches, without long downtimes or dedicated mechanical reconfigurations.

The Solution

FlexiBowl 800 Solution
  1. FlexiBowl® 1200 singulates and orients the handles through vibration pulses and rotating surface movement, without requiring dedicated tooling for each recipe.
  2. FlexiVision identifies the exact position and orientation of each handle and sends the coordinates to the ABB robot, which manages bucket picking, handle assembly, and unloading to the palletising line.
  3. The system is fully integrated with downstream conveyor and palletising units enabling a continuous process from injection moulding press to finished pallet.
  4. .

The Benefits

  1. Reliable handling: of tangled and overlapping handles without mechanical changeovers.
  2. Large plastic components handling: while maintaining stable positioning and correct assembly orientation.
  3. Speed and Continuity: Complete automation from injection moulding press to palletising, with cycle times of 16 seconds for single-handle buckets and 20 seconds for double-handle configurations.
  4. Compact and efficient layout: optimized integration of feeding, robotics and inspection reduces footprint and improves overall process flow.