Motoman - palletizing in the freezer

Citation

(2003), "Motoman - palletizing in the freezer", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930fad.001

Motoman - palletizing in the freezer

Motoman - palletizing in the freezer

Keywords: Robots, Palletizing, Motoman

Motoman Inc. has introduced two new palletizing robots to meet lower cost requirements or to operate in the extreme cold of frozen food plants.

The low-cost five-axis palletizing robot, model SP80, that features an 80 kg (176.4l b.) payload capacity, with a maximum horizontal reach of 2,046 mm (80.6 inch) maximum vertical reach of 3,194 mm (125.75 inch), and a relative positioning accuracy of ±0.07 mm (0.003 inch). The economical SP80 robot provides the advantages of high-speed, high-performance palletizing, combined with a slim wrist and compact, five-axis design that satisfies most end-of-line palletizing requirements. The five- axis design does not use parallel links for the lower or upper arm, which eliminates interference zones within the work envelope.

The SP80 robot can be combined with Motoman standard palletizing modules, such as pallet locators, grippers, valve packs, and pallet conveyors, pallet dispensers, and cell controls, to meet specific robotic palletizing requirements.

The SP80 robot is controlled by the Motoman XRC, 2001 robot controller, which features an awardwinning programming pendant design, fast processing, and easy-to- use INFORM II programming language. Advanced robot motion (ARM) control provides high-performance path accuracy and vibration control. Dynamic acceleration is based on payload, so cycle time is reduced. Programmable acceleration and deceleration eliminates approach points and results in reduced teaching time. PC-based offline programming is available as an option to simplify programming of palletizing applications.

Human workers can only tolerate extreme cold found in frozen food storage for short periods of time, yet the Motoman SP100XF robot tirelessly palletizes cases of frozen products in sub-zero temperatures as low as 308°C ( 228°F) and does not even need a jacket! The four-axis SP100XF palletizing robot and XRC 2001-F controller are both specially insulated against the cold. Built-in heaters maintain their critical components within operational temperature ranges. The additional maintenance and expense associated with protective jackets is eliminated.

The high-speed SP100XF robot features a 100 kg (220.5l b) payload, a wide working envelope with a 3,291 mm (129.6 inch) horizontal reach and 3,371 mm (132.7 inch) vertical reach, and ±0.5 mm (0.02 inch) repeatability. Advanced Sigma motors provide powerful, slim design.

Featuring a 3608 work envelope, the SP100XF robot can service multiple infeed conveyors and or pallet stations. It is ideally suited for palletizing a wide variety of frozen foods such as packaged beet and chicken products, frozen entrees, pastries, cakes, etc.

The XRC 2001-F controller features an award-winning programming pendant design, fast processing, and easy-to-use INFORM II programming language. ARM control provides high-performance path accuracy and vibration control. Dynamic acceleration is based on payload, so cycle time is reduced. Programmable acceleration and deceleration eliminates approach points and results in reduced teaching time. PC-based offline programming is available as an option to simplify programming of palletizing applications.

The XRC 2001-F offers standard network options for DeviceNet, ControlNet, Profibus-DP, and Interbus-S for easy connection with an information infrastructure. Motoman offers robust, PC-based tools that further enhance the productivity of their extensive line of palletizing robots. Motoman's MotoPallet PC-based simulation software is closely integrated with MotoSim offline programming and simulation software.

MotoPallet uses a process programming approach that is optimized for palletizing. It allows the user to think in terms of boxes, pallets and pallet patterns rather than robot, cycle times and payloads. MotoPallet and MotoSim software optimize robot programs based on box size, shape, and orientation requirements.

Additionally, MotoPallet can be integrated with CAPE Systems, Inc.'s CAPEPack'99 software that automatically generates optimized pallet patterns. An alignment grid and vectored set-down capabilities ensure tight box spacing and a solid pallet load.

Highly reliable, the SP100XF robot and XRC 2001-F controller have a mean time between failure (MTBF) rating of more than 52,000 h.