System and method for the assembly and collection of non-filled spouted pouches

System for the assembly and collection of non-filled spouted pouches to be transported to a remote filling device, comprising:

• an assembly line having one or more stations where spouts and pouches made out of foil are assembled into spouted pouches, and wherein the non-filled spouted pouches are discharged out of the assembly line;
• a conveyor adapted to receive the discharged non-filled spouted pouches from the assembly line;
• multiple storage rails embodied to hold a plurality of spouted pouches which storage rails are positioned at a collection location adjacent the conveyor;
• a pick and place robot provided at the collection location, comprising:
• a camera system operable to perform visual observations on the conveyor, identifying the spouted pouches,
• a gripping device adapted to pick up one or more spouted pouches, and to place each of the spouted pouches into at least one of the multiple storage rails,
• a robot arm connected to the gripping device and adapted to transport the gripping device,
• a controller adapted to control the gripping device and robot arm on the basis of a stacking program and the observations from the camera system;
• a retainer provided at the collection location, adapted to retain at least one row of storage rails side by side, wherein the storage rails are each provided with a longitudinal slot, which storage rails are retained with their slots parallel and vertically orientated and all facing the same direction in one row;
• an unloading device operable to move the multiple storage rails stacked with pouches closer together, and adapted to remove the multiple storage rails with the stacked spouted pouches from the retainer, to form and obtain a compacted assembly of stacked spouted pouches and of multiple storage rails.