Vaccon Company, Inc.9 Industrial Park RoadMedway, MA 02053

Phone 508.359.7200 E-mail engineering@vaccon.comWeb site www.vaccon.com

According to Victor Riveros, lead engineer on the project: “Our cus-tomer’s production line was 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away, so in order to meet their deadline for a new packaging system and to minimize our travel requirements, we (Technofoods) needed a partner who was an expe-rienced End-Of-Arm-Tooling Solu-tions provider extremely well-versed in vacuum technology for production environments. When we contacted Vaccon, they quickly designed a tool that would permit great flexibility in the items we would be handling. Their design had a very high operat-ing speed and came in at a cost well within our budget. Moreover, their so-lution featured vacuum generators that could cycle very quickly, a requirement for this application.”

Technical Issues“When we first looked at the production cell we encountered several technical issues, including arriving at the required vacuum cycle rate that was needed to operate the grippers fast enough to double the packets per cycle being placed,” says Victor Riveros. “Vaccon, in a very brief period of time, sent us a design which increased the speed of the vacuum being generated and made it possible for us to meet our delivery deadline.”

Description of Production CellThe focus of the project was the produc-tion cell located at the end of a food packaging line. The cell’s function is to pick & place individual sized packets of butter into shipping cartons for distribu-tion to restaurants, cafeterias, airlines and other similar industries. Previously a largely hand operation, and a bottle-neck in the overall production rate, the goal was to automate this function and remove the bottleneck.

Robotics Integrator Dramatically Improves Manufacturing Cell Performance with Innovative Vacuum Technology

TECHNOFOODS, a leading robot-ics integrator serving Chile, had the challenge of updating a food

packaging line to increase efficiencies in a processing cell where individual butter packets were packaged for distribution. Through the use of innovative vacuum technology developed by Vaccon Company Inc., Technofoods was able to streamline a manufacturing cell’s opera-tion, reduce manpower requirements, and increase production.

Redesigned VEOAT tooling attached to robot. Solenoid controlled Venturi vacuum pumps from Vaccon are able to cycle up to 2700 times per minute.

Vaccon Company, Inc.9 Industrial Park RoadMedway, MA 02053

Phone 508.359.7200 E-mail engineering@vaccon.comWeb site www.vaccon.com

To achieve the desired cycle rates for the grippers, Technofoods uti-lizes Vaccon’s VP Mid Series Modular Venturi Vacuum Pumps with Solenoid-Operated Vacuum and Blow-Off. Ideal for Pick & Place operations, Vaccon’s VP Mid Series pumps feature individual electrical connections to permit users to better control vacuum and blow-off duration times. Part of Vaccon’s

“Green” product line, these pumps provide instantaneous vacuum but only when vacuum is needed, minimizing air and, therefore, energy consump-tion. Although not called for in the Technofoods application, Vaccon’s VP Mid Series Pumps can cycle up to 2700

times per minute.The redesigned production cell

initially incorporated a four pick-up head fixture that was further modified into an eight pick-up head fixture. This allowed for a reduction in the previously required crew of six people, and increased the production rate for this cell in particular, and the overall line in general.

ResultsThe redesigned manufacturing cell al-lowed for the reduction in the production crew from six people to two people, and increased production by eight percent.

Initial VEOAT design for Pick & Place operation lacked stability. An easy change-out design was also desired.

Final VEOAT design features structural stability, fast change-out, and doubles the productivity of the production cell.

Vaccon’s VEOAT design utilizes lightweight, compact pumps that can be installed at the point of use, ensuring high cycle rates.

Vaccon Company, Inc.9 Industrial Park RoadMedway, MA 02053

Phone 508.359.7200 E-mail engineering@vaccon.comWeb site www.vaccon.com

Vaccon Company, Inc.9 Industrial Park RoadMedway, MA 02053 Phone 508.359.7200 E-mail engineering@vaccon.comWeb Site www.vaccon.com

AboutTechnofoods of Santiago, Chile

Technofoods of Santiago, Chile was founded in 2007 to provide manufacturers in Chile and other South American countries with integrated production systems. Today Technofoods specializes in automated machine design with special emphasis on dosing, packaging, and End-Of-Line systems.

About VacconCompany, Inc.

Vaccon Company Inc. was founded in 1972 to supply the packaging, manu-facturing, food processing, and other industries with reliable vacuum prod-ucts characterized by efficient opera-tion, rugged construction and great value. Vaccon innovations include pump designs that place the vacuum port and exhaust path inline making a straight-through venturi vacuum pump. These compact pumps are excellent for extremely “dirty” and dusty environ-ments such as food processing, packag-

ing, foundries, and bagging operations because they do not clog, lose suction, or require a vacuum filter. Vaccon’s new, modular End-of-Arm Tooling (VEOAT) components offer everything you need to create a complete “wrist-down” EOAT for your material handling operations. Vaccon’s EOAT features an innovative component design that is modular, lightweight, compact, and easy-to-connect. Using Vaccon’s EOAT you can integrate vacuum pumps, suction cups, spring levelers, fittings,

and manifolds using simple erector-set connectivity in minimum design time. Vaccon’s expanded vacuum pump prod-uct line also includes other unique de-vices such as Material Transfer Vacuum Pumps, Variable Vacuum Pumps, Air Amplifiers and Manifolds.

The intimate knowledge Technofoods engineers have of each system improves communication and understanding with customers – both on-site during installation and as factory support. Technofoods operates out of a 900 square meter facility in Santiago which houses machining, welding, fabrication,

and painting equipment.

Technofoods SA, El Roble 425, Lampa, Santiago, Chile

Website: www.technofoods.com/Telephone: 56 2 376 5140

Vaccon’s VP35 Mid Series pumps are solenoid controlled and feature a second solenoid to control blow-off air up to 2700 cycles per minute for rapid part release.