Further explanation:

The goal of this project is to automate hourly sampling and weight checking of chocolate bars on a high-speed production conveyor, removing the task from operators and improving traceability. Target automated process (pick → weigh → decide → place/reject) A robot picks chocolate bars from a moving conveyor (conveyor linear speed up to 30 m/min). The robot presents each sampled bar to a checkweigher (specific model to be defined later). If the weight is within tolerance, the robot places the bar back onto the moving conveyor in the correct position/row. If the weight is out of tolerance, the robot rejects the bar into a waste bin next to the line. Sampling / rate context Sampling is required every hour and the system should be able to pick the required samples without stopping the line. Bars approach the pick area at approximately 45–110 rows per minute. Row spacing is approximately 200–1000 mm depending on plant speed; conveyor speed is variable. The conveyor is approximately 1200 mm wide with roughly 20–28 bars per row depending on format. Product information Chocolate bars are typically 20–50 g, with example formats around 30 × 100 × 10 mm (20 g) and 60 × 100 × 10 mm (45 g). The top surface is mostly flat but includes a long cavity along the length. Gripping/tooling must be highly reliable; dropped bars can cause downtime and machine stoppage. Machine vision/cameras may be used to ensure accurate pickup and placement on the moving belt. Current manual process (baseline) An operator takes 10 random bars every hour from the moving conveyor (about 1 minute to take the bars) and carries them to an offline checkweigher to weigh and record results. Total manual cycle time is approximately 10 minutes per hour including walking to/from the line and workstation. Estimated sampling volume is ~120 sample bars per week, and the task is estimated to consume about ~20 operator-hours per week. Operator involvement after automation Target is minimal day-to-day operator involvement, ideally limited to emptying waste bins. Alarms are expected to be low frequency, but operators must be able to intervene if alarms occur. There is an expectation of no jams and no dropped bars in normal operation. Data & integration requirements The checkweigher must transfer weight data to a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). Protocol/interface is to be defined later. If weights are out of range, the system must alert an operator to take corrective action. Controls / standards The controls platform and applicable standards for the installation in China are to be agreed with the supplier. Food hygiene / design requirements Because the robot is positioned above a food conveyor, the design must prioritize hygiene: no oils that could drip or contaminate product and no loose fixings that could fall onto the line. Environment The area is dry; washdown is not required.