30-01-2013, 04:50 PM
Automation of Mobile Pick and Place Robotic System for Small food Industry
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Abstract
The use of robotics in food industry is becoming
more popular in recent years. The trend seems to continue as
long as the robotics technology meets diverse and challenging
needs of the food producers. Rapid developments in digital
computers and control systems technologies have significant
impact in robotics like any other engineering fields. By utilizing
new hardware and software tools, design of these complex
systems that need strong integration of distinct disciplines is no
longer difficult compared to the past. Therefore, the purpose of
this paper is to design and implement a microcontroller based on
reliable and high performance robotic system for food / biscuit
manufacturing line. We propose a design of a vehicle. The robot
is capable of picking unbaked biscuits tray and places them into
furnace and then after baking it picks the biscuits tray from the
furnace. A special gripper is designed to pick and place the
biscuits tray with flexibility.
INTRODUCTION
A robot can be defined as a programmable, self-controlled
device consisting of electronic, electrical, or mechanical units. More
generally, it is a machine that functions in place of a living agent.
Robots are especially desirable for certain work functions because,
unlike humans, they never get tired; they can work in physical
conditions that are uncomfortable or even dangerous; they can
operate in airless conditions; they do not get bored by repetition; and
they cannot be distracted from the task at hand. This article is based
on the research project which is an autonomous robot to be use in food
industry. The robot is powerful, reliable and can be use in hot
temperature area where a human after working for so long can become
sick and exhausted [1]. This research project would also lead to a low
cost manufacturing food products as once the robot is implemented it
can work repeatedly without any cost. This project will introduce a
new era in food industry to use automated machine and robot for more
precise, cost effective and reliable work. This robot is able to work in
biscuits industry for picking unbaked biscuits tray and placing it in the
furnace after backing the biscuits it puts out the tray from furnace and
places it on the table.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The main objective for this study was;
a) To increase the manufacturing capacity for local food industries.
b) To increase the labor productivity by the redistribution of
laborers in the industries.
c) Reducing the cost factor and manufacturing time of a product.
d) To eliminate the manual based tasks and operations.
INSTALLATIONS AND TECHNIQUES
Microcontroller:
A micro controller is an inexpensive single chip computer. Single
chip computer means that the entire computer system lies within the
confines of the integrated circuit chip. The micro controller on the
encapsulated sliver of silicon has features similar to those of our
standard personal computer [10]. Primarily, the micro controller is
capable of storing and running a program. The micro controller
contains a CPU , RAM, ROM , I/O lines, serial and parallel ports,
timers and sometimes other built in peripherals as A/D (analog to
digital) and D/A (digital to analog) converters.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
In any electric motor, operation is based on simple
electromagnetism. A current-carrying conductor generates a magnetic
field; when this is then placed in an external magnetic field, it will
experience a force proportional to the current in the conductor, and to
the strength of the external magnetic field. As you are well aware that
opposite polarities attract, while like polarities repel [9]. The internal
configuration of a DC motor is designed to harness the magnetic
interaction between a current-carrying conductor and an external
magnetic field to generate rotational motion [9].
1) Stepper Motor: A stepper motor is a brushless, synchronous
electric motor that can divide a full rotation into a large number of
steps [11]. The motor’s position can be controlled precisely, without
any feedback mechanism. Stepper motors are similar to switched
reluctance motors, which are very large stepping motors with a
reduced pole count, and generally are closed-loop commutated [11].
FUTURE IMPLEMENTATIONS
We have done our best efforts to make the project feasible, simple
and reliable for the local industrial usage. There can be modification in
this robotic system that can be more efficient and effective like;
• The robotic system can be modified by implementing vision
system and artificial intelligence to avoid obstacles in between the
path.
• The vision system can also be implemented to check whether the
biscuits are properly baked or not.
• The microcontroller programming can be replaced by PLC, as a
new technology.
• Making magnetic gripper more powerful can increase the payload
property of the robot.
• The gripper can be modified for different operations in different
industries.
• Advancement can be made in the robot by implanting temperature
sensors.