Robot systems: workpiece handling with vision

It started with a blank. But how does the workpiece get onto the line or into the machine? Depending on the state it is delivered in, this task can quickly become very complex. Reliable 3D object detection systems optically capture and evaluate data. Liebherr works with a variety of 3D vision systems to match the requirements and smoothly handles the supply of every haphazardly stored part with process precision.
Video Liebherr-Robot-Cell (LRC): Bin Picking with new Vision System
The automation at the beginning and end of a line depends on how the workpieces are fed and stored. If the delivery just involves removing a single layer of goods from a pallet, contour or feature recognition is sufficient for enabling automated gripping and transfer to the follow-up process. If the workpieces are in several layers, such as stacked blister packs or tablet packages, the robot requires a 2½D or 3D system. In the former case, the third dimension is extrapolated using contour distances or gray-scale values. For a real 3D process, the system measures using points in space.

Flexible loading and unloading

The same is true of positioning. The more accurately the workpiece has to be placed, the more demanding the requirements put on the vision system.
Placement on a conveyor belt is simple; positioning within a machine tool is challenging. The more flexibility required for loading and unloading a workpiece (into and out of the machine), the more complex the system.
A robot removes unsorted parts from a deep box
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