Method for controlling a robotic device cooperating with different storage frames

#The present invention relates to a method for controlling a robotic device according to the preamble of claim 1. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a robotic device for inserting or removing rod-like elements, like smoking bars, into or from a storage frame, the rod-like elements serving for storing sausage-like products, e.g. sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop on one end of the body for a pendulously storage of the products. The method comprises the steps of providing at least a first movable storage frame for temporary storing rod-like elements, moving the storage frame into the operating range of the robotic device, picking up by the robotic device a rod-like element on which at least one sausage-like product is hung up, and inserting or removing the rod-like element into or from the storage frame by the robotic device.

#In an already known production line for producing sausage-like products, like sausages, a filling tube is provided for feeding a packing material or tubular casing, respectively, with, for example sausage meat, wherein the tubular casing is closed at one end facing in the filling direction by a first clip. After the filling operation is concluded, the tube-like casing is finally closed by a second clip. If the sausage is later to be hung up, for example for the purposes of smoking or storage, a suspension loop is fed thereto in such a way that, when the first or second clip is attached, it is embraced by the respective clip and is thus secured to the sausage. The term loops in accordance with this invention is used to denote all at least partially flexible means, by way of which articles can be hung up.

#After the filling process, the sausage-like products can be subjected to further processing. In the case of sausages as the sausage-like products, this could be a smoking process for the purpose of which the sausages are brought into a smoking chamber. For this, the sausages have to be transported to the end of a conveyor and there taken over by an automatic hanging line, in which the sausages are hung up on a rod-like element, such as a smoking rod, at their loops one after another in such a way that, as far as possible, they do not touch each other. Afterwards, the smoking rods are transported to a storage frame which would have rollers for transporting the storage frame with the smoking rods into the smoking chamber. In this conjunction, a robotic device can be provided for removing the smoking rods from the storage frame and/or inserting the smoking rods into the storage frame.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1: is a schematically view of an exemplarily system for producing and handling sausage-like products including a robotic device, for executing the method according to the present invention; and

#FIG. 2: is a schematically diagram of the method for controlling a robotic device according to the present invention.

#The exemplarily system for producing and handling sausage-like products, according to FIG. 1, comprises as main components a schematically shown production unit 10 for producing sausage-like products S, like sausages, and storing them on rod-like elements R, like smoking rods, including a control unit 12 for controlling the production unit 10, a robotic device 20 having a control unit 22 for controlling the movement of robotic device 20, and a storage frame 30, into which the sausages S hung up at the smoking rods R are to be moved. As shown in FIG. 1, the system for producing and handling the sausages S further comprises a treatment station 40, in which any possible treatment to the sausages S can be executed before they are stored in storage frame 30. A possible treatment may be splashing the sausages S with a smoking fluid or a flavoring fluid. Alternatively, additional treatment stations may belong to the system. If no treatment is necessary to the sausages S between production and storage in storage frame 30, no treatment station needs to be integrated into the system.

#Storage frame 30 is positioned in an operating range of robotic device 20 which is illustrated by broken lined circle 60. Inside storage frame 30, tray rails or shelf rails 32 e.g. in the form of horizontally aligned bars are arranged for positioning smoking rods R thereon. An identification mark 34 is attached at an outside surface of storage frame 30.

#Robotic device 20, which, according to FIG. 1, is a so called joined-arm robot, is positioned in the centre of its operating range 60 to reach all units 10, 30, 40 and stations peripherally arranged inside operating range 60 by its pivotally attached arms 24, 25. At front end of arm 25, a gripping unit 26 is arranged for gripping the smoking rods R with the sausages S hanging thereon inside production unit 10 and moving it to storage frame 30 and/or for placing empty smoking rods R removed from an empty storage frame 30 in the production unit 10.