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The JLS Patty Hawk is a robotic case packer built around one job: moving stacks of frozen IQF hamburger patties from the freezer discharge into cases without slowing the line. A non-vision delta robot with sensor-based product detection and pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers case-packs frozen IQF hamburger patty stacks — other round patty formats reviewed per application — proven at more than 1,000 patties per minute, product and tooling dependent. IP69K-rated delta robot, hygienic full-washdown construction, engineered and programmed in-house in York, PA. IP69K refers to the ingress-protection rating of selected components (robots, motors, enclosures) specified for an application — not a rating of the complete machine.
In action
Watch the Patty Hawk stack and pack — at full production speed.
Live Production Line
Patty Hawk — Frozen Patty Case Packing System
Case packing frozen beef patty stacks at more than 1,000 patties per minute — sensor-based non-vision delta robotics with pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers.
Why Patty Hawk
More than 1,000 patties a minute, off the frozen line.
The Patty Hawk automates high-speed case packing of frozen IQF hamburger patty stacks — running at more than 1,000 patties per minute, consistently loading stacks into corrugated or poly-lined cases while reducing manual handling. The shape, separation, and surface quality IQF delivers stay intact all the way into the case.
It holds that speed because the process stays simple. Frozen stacks arrive upright and consistent, sensor-based detection confirms each stack is in position, and pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers hold each rigid stack square as a unit through the move. Vision-guided picking earns its place on variable, randomly presented product; here the product is uniform and the environment is hard on optics — frost, condensation, washdown — so programmed positions with presence sensing are the more robust fit. Every Patty Hawk is configured around your round patty geometry, stack count, and case format.
Applications & Package Types
The Patty Hawk — frozen patty case packing.
Proven at more than 1,000 patties per minute, the Patty Hawk picks pre-formed stacks of round frozen IQF hamburger patties straight off the freezer discharge and loads them into cases; other round patty formats are reviewed per application. Non-vision delta robot with sensor-based detection. Pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers configured to your patty geometry. IP69K-rated robot with hygienic full-washdown construction. Easy to operate.
Products Handled
Case Types & Stack Configuration
Test before you commit
See the Patty Hawk run your
product before you commit.
JLS Flight Lab puts your frozen patty application on real JLS robotics in York, PA. Send product samples, or a close proxy, and — subject to scope and availability — we test gripper tooling, pick method, and stack and pack pattern during the pre-sale process to establish feasibility. Rate and performance are validated during the project FAT before shipment, with final commissioning completed at your facility.
Core Technology
The engineering behind the precision.
The Patty Hawk is engineered around one job: clearing frozen patty stacks off the freezer line at speed. Every detail — the stainless steel full-washdown frame, the sensor-based non-vision delta robotics, the pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers — is specified for cold, wet production environments, where speed and reliability decide whether the line keeps moving.
Built for washdown
Round-tube stainless steel frame with sloped surfaces and minimal harborage, hygienic cable routing, an IP69K-rated delta robot, and NEMA 4X-rated control enclosures — engineered for daily caustic washdown in USDA/FSIS-inspected cold, wet processing facilities from day one.
Non-vision delta robotics
The Patty Hawk's delta robot runs programmed, calibrated pick positions with sensor-based product detection. Because frozen stacks arrive uniform and consistently presented, the system confirms presence and picks — simple, repeatable, and fast on high-volume product, cycle after cycle.
Pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers
The Patty Hawk picks and places frozen patty stacks using pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers. A rigid stack of coin-shaped patties is best handled as a single unit — the gripper closes on the stack and holds it square through the move — enabling high volume and high reliability, cycle after cycle.
Recipe-driven changeover
Select the new recipe on the HMI and change end-of-arm tooling — by hand, without tools, where the application allows. Every purchased, validated SKU recipe is loaded before the system ships; changeover time depends on the application and which components change.
Precision case management
Automatic case indexing, programmed placement positions, and hands-free discharge — handling RSC cases as standard, with HSC and other formats reviewed per application. Case format changes happen through the same HMI as product changeover.
Operator HMI & in-house software
Touchscreen interface designed for plant-floor operators — select a validated recipe and run — normal production operation doesn’t require an engineer or robot-programming expertise. JLS engineers the controls and HMI programming in-house in York, PA, on commercially available B&R hardware. After installation, JLS’s in-house support team has direct access to JLS engineering and programming expertise.
Options & Add-Ons
More ways to fit your line.
Application Engineering & Integration
Configured for your product.
Scalable across your line.
Frozen patties are one of the most consistent products in food manufacturing — which is exactly why the Patty Hawk works so well. Every system ships from the same proven platform architecture, with gripper tooling, infeed, and case handling engineered to your patty geometry, stack count, and case format. Frozen IQF hamburger patty stacks are the proven application; other round patty formats are reviewed per application. JLS engineers its scope in-house and coordinates the agreed interfaces with your upstream and downstream equipment.
Fits your line. Day one.
The Patty Hawk picks frozen IQF hamburger patty stacks off the freezer discharge and places them into corrugated or poly-lined cases; case sealing and labeling follow downstream on coordinated third-party equipment. Sensor-based, non-vision detection suits uniform frozen stacks in a cold, wet environment where frost and condensation are constant. It handles stacked patty loads and configures around your case format — RSC as standard, HSC and other formats reviewed per application. Pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers close on each stack and hold it square as a unit. Designed and programmed in-house by JLS in York, PA, and backed by JLS’s in-house support team.
Specs & Configuration
Patty Hawk technical specifications.
Configuration snapshot
The Patty Hawk is proven at more than 1,000 patties per minute — product, tooling, and configuration dependent — and ships in single- or dual-head configuration, scaled to your line throughput and floor space.
*Rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration. JLS confirms the right setup during a line assessment.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Throughput — single head | Proven at more than 1,000 patties per minute* |
| Throughput — dual head | Higher rates — confirmed per application* |
| Operating environment | Cold, wet environments — operating conditions confirmed for your facility during the proposal process |
| Robot type | Delta robot (4-axis) |
| End-of-arm tooling | Pneumatically actuated mechanical grippers, tool-swap capable |
| Product detection | Sensor-based, non-vision — no camera-based vision system |
| Control system | B&R Automation |
| Electrical supply | 480V ±10%, 3-phase, 60Hz |
| Air supply | 80 PSI, clean, dry, lube-free |
| Sanitation | IP69K-rated delta robot; hygienic full-washdown system construction* |
| Frame construction | Round-tube stainless steel frame (standard); open-channel frame available as an option |
| Electrical enclosures | NEMA 4X-rated control enclosures; UL/cUL listed |
| Reliability | Factory-tested reliability — rate and performance validated during the project FAT before shipment |
| Lead time | Contact JLS — varies by configuration and scope |
*Estimated rates vary by product, tooling, and configuration. Specifications may vary by configuration — contact JLS for your specific application.
Where should we send it?
By submitting, you agree that JLS Automation and Robert Reiser & Co. may contact you about your inquiry.
Patty Hawk vs. the field.
| Feature | Manual Packing | Competitor case packers | Patty Hawk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throughput | Varies by crew size | Varies by system | Proven at 1,000+ patties/min* |
| Cold, wet operation (conditions confirmed at proposal) | Not suitable | Varies — cold duty must be engineered in | Purpose-built for cold, wet duty |
| Detection method | N/A | Typically camera-based vision | Sensor-based — no cameras |
| Washdown capability | N/A | Varies by configuration | IP69K-rated robot; hygienic washdown system |
| Labor required | Multiple packers per line | Varies | Automates repetitive packing tasks |
| Changeover time | N/A | 15–30 min | Recipe-driven, application-dependent |
| In-house programming | N/A | Varies by supplier | Programmed in-house by JLS |
Illustrative comparison based on typical frozen patty line installations; competing systems vary by configuration. *Throughput proven in operation at more than 1,000 patties per minute; actual rate depends on patty size, stack pattern, tooling, and configuration.
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* The Patty Hawk’s delta robot is IP69K-rated and the system is full-washdown construction; component ratings vary by configuration. IP69K refers to the ingress-protection rating of selected components (robots, motors, enclosures) specified for an application — not a rating of the complete machine. Throughput of more than 1,000 patties per minute is proven in operation; actual rate depends on patty size, stack pattern, tooling, and configuration. Contact your JLS representative for details on your application.