Positioning Pallets for Unloading by Robot Arms

A factory needs to unload parts from large containers, which are placed on pallets. A forklift driver delivers the pallets to a roller conveyor, so that an automated robot arm can pick the parts out of the containers and individually place those items to go on to the next phase of the production process. However, a method is needed to detect the position of the pallet on the conveyor, so that the robot arm can be instructed to begin extracting parts.

By installing high-precision Q20-2 photoelectric sensors along the rails of the conveyor system, factory personnel can run accurate leading-edge detection to receive signals about the pallet’s position. If multiple Q20-2 sensors are installed, their signals can be combined and used to calculate the pallet’s exact location and speed. With this information, once the pallet reaches the correct spot for unloading, the robot arm can be notified immediately to begin its task. The empty container can then move on down the conveyor, allowing the robot arm to work on the next incoming pallet.