The two TX200 robots in DERO´s innovative
derinding cell are the flagships of Stäubli´s
six-axis robot range – in hygienic design .
IDM ¦ Technology/IT
Operation is easy as it can be:
The operator only has to choose the type,
weight and age of the cheese.
Having completed this task, the robot arm moves to a transfer
position in the air, where a second robot grips the other side of the
cheese which is then be derinded in exactly the same way. And
since both robots can work simultaneously, cycle time is about 30
seconds for each cheese. The machine is very open and hygienic,
because the waste falls directly into plastic bins that can easily be
removed.
Recipes for cheese of many types and ages
Apart from its speed and productivity, the machine’s flexibility is
equally impressive. According to Joop Bouman: “Operation is really
easy because we have programmed recipes adjusted to the
form, type and hardness of the cheese. Whether it is six-weeks-old
Gouda or 100-weeks-old Edam – the robots know what to do.”
After the first prototype was built in 2020, several machines
were built and sold, running to the utmost satisfaction of their users.
Now the derinding robots are being presented to the market.
DERO is optimistic about attracting more customers because the
advantages are obvious: “The companies save time and costs, they
improve hygienic conditions, they can deliver consistent quality,
and they minimize waste, which is proven by the weighing systems,”
says Bouman.
The machines can also be equipped with an inline vision system
for controlling the process of derinding. After processing of
each side, the cheese is checked by cameras to control whether all
the rind is removed. If not, the robot can move the cheese to the
derinding tool again or to a separate rework station. In this way
the quality of the process is guaranteed.
An easy choice: Stäubli HE robots
Asked about DERO’s robot selection criteria, Joop Bouman names
quite a number of them: “First, we often use Stäubli robots because
12 · September/October 2022 ¦ international-dairy.com
they meet the tough hygienic requirements of cheese processing
and food production in general. In HE design, they can be
cleaned with water or chemicals every day without affecting their
lifetime.”
Apart from that, the complete Stäubli TX range offers high
precision and accuracy. Programming is easy, too: The complete
derinding cell is driven by only the robot controller – no extra PLC
is used.
The DERO engineers chose the flagship of the TX six-axis robot
series because of the range of the arms, and because a very rigid
construction is required due to the contact pressure of the rotating
cheese against the derinding tool. And, of course, the massive
stainless-steel motor enabling the cheese´s rotation adds weight
to the arm.
Apart from presenting the derinding cell to its main customers,
DERO is also driving forward the development of automated
derinding solutions. Joop Bouman: “The next step will be a similar
machine for rectangular cheese blocks.” For both types of cells,
market demand should be rising: “Derinding is employed when
the cheese is packed and sold in slices, and this is a clear trend in
the food industry.”
/international-dairy.com
