Automated Bottle & Preform Measurement, Now with Robotic Handling

Agr International is introducing its Gawis 4D laboratory measurement system enhanced with robotic handling of bottle or preform samples. Agr notes that as production speeds increase, bottle/preform weights are reduced, and use of recycled material is becoming a significant factor, regular testing and measurement of production samples is more essential than ever to manage quality. But shortages of personnel make lab throughput a challenge. Agr is addressing this with its new automated measurement system.

Agr’s Gawis 4D system automates quality checks by consolidating numerous dimensional and thickness-measurement operations into a single hands-free operation completed in a matter of seconds. Addition of the Gawis AF robotic handling system takes this to the next step. With the robot, Gawis 4D can not only measure individual parts, but also measure complete sets of bottles or preforms on a continuous basis without operator intervention.

The Gawis AF robot interfaces seamlessly with Gawis 4D. The robot can be purchased with a new measurement system or retrofitted to existing systems. Robot setup and control are handled through the Gawis 4D user interface.

Samples are held in a multi-level carousel with rotating tiers designed to positively position samples for robot access. Tiers can be configured to hold parts from single or multiple mold rounds or a complete mold set of preforms. Each tier has spring-activated sample grips that provide positive bottle control and positioning for the robot, yet allow fast loading by an operator. After testing, the robot can either discard samples or return them to the sample carousel for further analysis.