What do you do if you receive 20,000 sample vials of milk each day which need to be sorted according to complex regimes? Order a specially designed high speed robotic sorting system from rml engineering that utilises RFID tag data.

Thatrsquo;s what independent testing laboratory SAITL did to relieve the pressure on the staff and systems following the conversion from barcode identification to RFID identification for their sample vials.

SAITL were already familiar with rml engineering solutions, having installed a number of machines for other areas of their business.

While it presented rml design engineers with a tough criteria, rml did solve the challenge and mounted a high speed flexi-picker robot from ABB on a 5th axis gantry rail. In this way, we could utilise the high speed operation of the flexi-picker robot with the additional reach provided by a 5 metre long gantry rail. The sorter compares data found on the base of each vial in an RFID tag with a LIMS database which decides where each sample should be directed. It then carries each source tray over each destination tray, transferring the vials as required.

The RFID reading array is made up of 3 x 10 head RFID readers so that 30 tags can be read at once. The tray is then indexed 5 times to cover the 150 tags in each tray. Laser over-height scanners detect if any of the vials are sitting proud in the tray, potentially indicating that they may be orientated incorrectly. The specially designed gripper developed for this project is able to pick up to two vials at a time, further increasing the capacity of the sorter. One of the bigger challenges which needed to be overcome for this system, was the very fine accuracy required over such a large working area. The frame had to be very rigid and accurately machined, then precision aligned.

The sorting system has been installed now for almost a year and is performing to SAITL expectations. rml continue to support them with ongoing service.

Click here to see the rml Engineering Vial Sorting Robot in action. 

For more information, visit the website www.rmlengineering.com or email Kevin Gearon on kgearon@rmlengineering.com