FANUC Robotics America offers intelligent bag palletizing and de-palletizing with its new R-1000iA/80H robot. The FANUC R-1000iA/80H robot can palletize one layer of bags from a conveyor and then use iRVision to de-palletize the bags and place them back onto the conveyor. DCS Speed and Position Check Software restrict the travel of the robot to the exact area in which it works.
"The R-1000iA/80H can provide bag palletizing at 31 bags per minute, which is the fastest for an industrial robot," said Wes Garrett, Product Manager, FANUC America.
The R-1000iA/80H with an 80 kg payload is a high-speed, 5-axis robot with a compact design and a strong wrist that makes it useful for bag and case handling in a compact work environment.
The R-1000iA/80H is the third in the series of R-1000iA robots, which includes the 6-axis R-1000iA/80F (80 kg payload) and R-1000iA/100F (100 kg payload) robots.
"The R-1000iA is more energy efficient than robots with larger payloads," said Garrett. "Manufacturers using fewer or smaller work cells requiring less conveyance equipment, sensors and tooling will realize an additional energy advantage provided by smaller automation systems. This equates to a greener facility using less energy."
R-1000iA features and benefits:
- Small footprint reduces size of automation system
- Secondary food option available
- Single-robot work cells can be designed to fit in tight spaces
- High-speed operation minimizes robot cycle times
- All three R-1000iA models are available in either an upright or invert mounting configuration
- Strong wrist load ratings support up to 100 kg payload.
- IP67 rated wrist allows operation in wet conditions
- Right-sized (slim and compact) for 80 kg or 100 kg applications reduces energy usage.
FANUC's iRVision is an integrated, plug-and-go vision system that runs on the standard CPU of every FANUC R-30iB controller without any additional hardware. iRVision offers easy set-up and operation for factory environments requiring 2D and 3D guidance, error proofing, visual tracking and quality control.
The FANUC R-30iB Controller uses high-performance hardware and the latest advances in network communications, integrated iRVision and motion control functions. The R-30iB Controller features FANUC's iPendant with 4D graphics. The iPendant displays process information and the actual process path directly on the iPendant screen, enabling easier set-up and troubleshooting.
The R-30iB Controller is compact and also energy efficient, requiring less power consumption than previous models, and available with an optional power regeneration feature.
"Prior to the application of safety rated robot software, all safeguarding of the robot needed to be external, and required a safety rated limit switch or cam system, safety rated area scanners or other devices to limit robot travel or enhance protection," said a company spokesperson. "DCS safety rated robot software allows the safety design of the robot system to use the robot itself for some of the safety functions.
"The most significant benefit of DCS Speed and Position Check is in applications where the travel of the robot needs to be restricted due to floor space or process limits that are less than the full reach of the robot. Restricting the robot motion in Cartesian space means the robot can be restrained to exactly the area in which it works - something that is not possible with the current systems that limit robot motion externally using limit switches."
"By moving some of the safety functions to within the robot, customers will realize significant savings in floor space, flexibility in system layout, reduced hardware costs and improved reliability," said Garrett.
In addition, safe "zones" can be enabled and disabled from an external source, such as a safety PLC (based on the cell design). Designing a system with multiple zones and appropriate guarding means an operator can safely enter and leave the workspace of the robot.
"This streamlines the design of robot cells because it prevents the robot from entering the load area when an operator is present," added Garrett. "This type of application is possible with existing technology, but it is typically difficult to set up, expensive to implement and requires more floor space than a system using DCS."
For more information contact:
FANUC America Corporation
3900 West Hamlin Rd.
Rochester Hills, MI 48309-3253
888-FANUC-US (326-8287)
www.fanucamerica.com