ROKK N5 Cobot Ice Cream Robotic Filling Machine

Description

The ROKK N5 Robotic Cobot Filler is a flexible, high-performance robotic filling machine designed for the accurate and repeatable filling of ice cream, frozen desserts, ice cream cakes and speciality products. At the heart of the ROKK N5 is an ABB 6-axis collaborative robot (cobot), rated to IP67 for washdown environments. The six-axis robotic movement provides the flexibility and precision of a human arm, allowing accurate filling across a wide range of container sizes, fill weights and decorative patterns. The modular design allows the ROKK N5 to be configured as an unguarded semi-automatic cobot filler, a guarded high-speed filling machine, or a highly automated system with conveyor and denesting. Depending on configuration, the machine can achieve filling rates of up to approximately 1,500 litres/hour in unguarded configuration or 2,500 litres/hour in guarded configuration, depending on product type, container size and filling pattern.

Key Features

• ABB 6-axis collaborative robot (cobot)
• IP67-rated robot suitable for washdown environments
• Flexible robotic movement for accurate and repeatable filling
• Suitable for ice cream, frozen desserts, ice cream cakes and speciality products
• Up to approximately 1,500 litres/hour in unguarded configuration
• Up to approximately 2,500 litres/hour in guarded configuration
• Stainless-steel construction
• Siemens PLC and dedicated Siemens HMI
• Up to 99 individual filling programs
• Wide range of standard filling and decorative patterns
• Additional filling patterns available as software upgrades
• Adjustable robot operating speed via HMI
• Quick-release dosing valve for cleaning and maintenance
• CIP-capable dosing valve
• Adjustable container guides
• Suitable for Napoli, bulk and other container formats
• Optional interchangeable inserts for round tubs, cake trays and other container formats
• Secure remote access for diagnostics, software updates and additional filling programs
• Modular design allows future upgrade from unguarded to guarded configuration

Flexible Robotic Filling

The ROKK N5's six-axis robotic movement provides complete coverage of the container, allowing product to be accurately deposited into corners and across the full surface area. The machine can produce a wide range of filling and decorative patterns, including patterns within the container and on the surface of the product. This makes the ROKK N5 suitable for conventional ice cream filling as well as more complex applications such as ice cream cakes and speciality desserts. Filling parameters, robot speed and production settings can be adjusted via the dedicated Siemens HMI to suit different products, container sizes and fill requirements.

ROKK N5 Configurations

The ROKK N5 is available in three configurations, allowing the machine to be matched to different production requirements and levels of automation.

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Version 1 – Unguarded Cobot

Configuration: Semi-automatic Capacity: Up to approximately 1,500 litres/hour Operation: Manual loading and unloading The unguarded configuration provides a flexible and cost-effective entry point into robotic ice cream filling. The operator selects the required filling pattern via the Siemens HMI before opening the dosing valve in the purge position. Once the product has reached the required frozen consistency, the filling cycle is initiated. The robot automatically fills each container in sequence while the operator removes the filled containers and replaces them with empty containers, providing a continuous semi-automatic filling process. The cobot operating speed can be adjusted directly from the HMI to optimise fill accuracy and accommodate different product characteristics, container sizes and fill weights. Adjustable container guides allow the machine to handle standard Napoli and bulk containers, while optional interchangeable inserts are available for round tubs, cake trays and other container formats. The dosing valve is designed for CIP operation and can be quickly removed without specialist tools for manual cleaning and routine maintenance.

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Version 2 – Guarded High-Speed Cobot

Configuration: Guarded automatic filling Capacity: Up to approximately 2,500 litres/hour Operation: Loading and unloading of container carrier frames The guarded configuration provides increased production capacity and represents the high-speed version of the ROKK N5. With the addition of full stainless-steel safety guarding and a sliding container carrier system, the machine can achieve filling rates of up to approximately 2,500 litres/hour, depending on product type, container size and selected filling pattern. Containers are loaded into stainless-steel sliding carrier frames which pass beneath the safety guarding and are filled automatically in sequence. The carrier frames run on stainless-steel guide rods fitted with low-friction nylon bushes, providing smooth operation and minimal operator effort. The stainless-steel safety enclosure incorporates open mesh guarding, providing excellent visibility of the filling process while protecting the operator during automatic operation. A time-elapse filling valve is mounted directly onto the robot arm and is suitable for filling ice cream and, where required, products containing inclusions. If a container is not detected in the filling position, the robot automatically moves to a bypass position until the next container is presented. This maintains product circulation and helps prevent product build-up within the filling valve.

Programmable Robot Positions

Automatic Filling Position Normal production and filling operation. End Position Used when the filling cycle or production run is completed. Bypass / Freeze-Up Position Maintains product circulation when no container is present, helping prevent product build-up within the filling valve.

Upgrade from Version 1 to Version 2

A key advantage of the ROKK N5 is its modular design, allowing the unguarded cobot configuration to be upgraded to the fully guarded high-speed version as production requirements increase. The upgrade is carried out by a ROKK service engineer and includes the installation of the complete stainless-steel safety guarding assembly, container slide/carrier system and the necessary software modifications for high-speed operation. Once installed and commissioned, the upgraded machine provides the same functionality and performance as a factory-supplied guarded model, increasing the approximate capacity from 1,500 to 2,500 litres/hour. This provides customers with a cost-effective route to increased production capacity without replacing the original machine, helping protect the initial investment while allowing production capacity to grow with the business.

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Version 3 – Automated Cobot with Conveyor

Configuration: Highly automated filling system Capacity: Up to approximately 2,500 litres/hour Operation: Automatic container feeding, filling and optional lidding For customers requiring a higher level of automation, the guarded ROKK N5 can be fitted with an optional Intralox conveyor system driven by a servo motor, together with a container denesting station. Containers are automatically denested and transferred onto the conveyor, where external guides maintain the correct orientation as they travel through the filling process. A conveyor cleaning system incorporating spray nozzles beneath the belt helps maintain hygienic operation.

Optional Automation

The system can be further configured with:

• Automatic container denesting
• Intralox conveyor belt
• Servo-driven conveyor system
• Automatic lidding station
• Vibratory ingredient doser
• Automated transfer towards the blast freezer

With the optional lidding station installed, the system can operate as a highly automated filling line, with the operator primarily responsible for replenishing the denesting station. The outfeed can be configured to deliver directly towards a blast freezer, reducing manual handling and labour requirements. The optional vibratory doser can be used to automatically deposit ingredients onto filled containers as they travel along the conveyor.

Siemens Control & Programming

The ROKK N5 is controlled through a dedicated Siemens PLC and HMI system, specifically developed for the machine. The intuitive HMI allows operators to adjust filling parameters, production settings and operating modes. Up to 99 individual filling programs can be stored, allowing rapid product changeovers and repeatable production. The original ABB robot teach pendant is securely housed inside the electrical control panel and remains available for programming and maintenance purposes. An RJ45 Ethernet connection is provided for connection to a local network, enabling secure remote diagnostics, software support, updates and the installation of additional filling programs where required.

Services

Total installed power	2.5 kW
Electrical supply	Single phase, 230V, 50HZ
Compressed Air	6 bar - 50 Nl/min

Dimensions

Production capacities are approximate and depend on product characteristics, container size, fill weight and selected filling pattern.