What is disclosed is A pick and place
system (100) for manipulating non- rotationally symmetrical products (110, 110', 110'') within a defined
workspace, the
system comprising: a
conveyor belt (120) for transporting the non-rotationally symmetrical products; at least one
robotic arm (130, 130') equipped with an end
effector for manipulating the products; a vision detection
system (140) for identifying
product characteristics including shape, size, and quality; a
control system (150), configured to: (i) analyze the products (110, 110', 110'') on the
conveyor belt (120) to identify
product characteristics and occupied and available spaces; (ii) determine optimal groupings (210, 211, 212, 213) of products based on their identified characteristics to minimize space usage when packaged and to optimize for downstream handeling; (iii) optimize product handling order on the
conveyor belt in a two-step process for the packaging and optimization at downstream handeling, comprising the steps of: (a) an initial step (161) of clearing space by selectively shifting or removing products to create buffer areas on the conveyor belt based on the identified occupied and available spaces; (b) a subsequent step (162) of forming patterns by grouping (210, 211, 212, 213) and arranging products into a predefined configuration selected from stacks, rows, or staggered formations; (iv) control the at least one
robotic arm (130, 130') to execute the two-step optimization process and form the determined grouping (210, 211, 212, 213).