Fully automated receiving, sorting, cleaning and provision of empty containers

Task

To destack and sort dirty empty containers and convey them to the container washing machine. After cleaning, the empty containers are transported to a type- and size-specific buffer. The empty containers are conveyed to the production system as needed.

Solution

Upon arrival, the pallets of empty containers are handed over to the two-stage depalleting system by means of a manual lift. The depalleting is performed by a robot. It is able to grasp multiple layers of containers as well as individual pallets. A destacker then separates the multilayer block of containers into individual containers. The containers are then fed to the washing machine via 2 lines. When the containers are dry, they are stacked and conveyed to a type- and size-specific container buffer with a capacity of 1,500 containers. The containers are then ready to be conveyed to production.

Scope of supply

• Receiving area for pallets of dirty containers

• Robot destacking system
• Container stacking machine
• Container buffer facility
• System control

Result

Automation of this facility achieved a performance capacity of approx. 4,000 containers/h. The regulations pertaining to hygiene were fully met.