Robotic Muffin Depanners - SPI Automation
In the muffin depanning system, the process starts with the muffins being transported to the depanner on a conveyor belt. The machine then uses a specialized end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), which can be custom-made to fit exact project requirements, to pick up the muffins one by one and place them onto adjacent packaging conveyors.
The EOAT can also rearrange the position of the depanned muffins into the specific count and position needed for the packaging containers. There are typically two types of EOAT for muffin depanning: pin depanner tooling and vacuum depanner tooling. The pins or vacuum suction cups on the tooling are used to grip the muffins and lift them out of their molds or trays.
Many of our customers use the same conveyor line for multiple baked muffins to save factory floor space. One of the important features of the muffin depanning systems is the ability to quickly change the EOAT to accommodate for different shaped and sized muffins.
The entire EOAT on the machine can be changed quickly without the use of any tools or the need for a human technician to physically handle the tooling head. Each of our automated muffin depanners is equipped with a pneumatic connection ring that acts as a quick release and attachment point. EOAT changes can take place in a matter of seconds, not minutes. This Quick Change Tooling feature results in less downtime, which equals increased efficiency and revenue.
Our muffin depanning systems can depan muffins at a high rate of up to 1,440 muffins per minute, significantly faster than manual or semi-automatic systems. The use of automation in muffin depanning not only increases efficiency but also improves product quality by reducing the risk of damage or breakage during the depanning process.