FANUC Robotics introduces first articulated food robot

Citation

(2004), "FANUC Robotics introduces first articulated food robot", Industrial Robot, Vol. 31 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2004.04931bad.003

FANUC Robotics introduces first articulated food robot

FANUC Robotics introduces first articulated food robot

Keywords: Robots, Food

FANUC Robotics America, Inc. has introduced the new LR Mate 200iB/5WP robot designed for primary and secondary food handling.

The LR Mate 200iB/5WP food robot is the latest in the popular LR Mate series of mini robots, which has an installed base of over 10,000 units worldwide (Plate 3). Developed to meet the stringent requirements of the food industry, the new robot features an enclosed, rust-free construction that can withstand sanitizers used in the food industry and prevents food contamination.

Plate 3 The LR Mate 200iB/5WP

“Food manufacturers require a robot that can survive chemical sanitizing without the risk of bacteria growth or rust,” said Laxmi Musunur, manager of packaging and palletizing for FANUC Robotics. “We designed the new food robot using electro-less nickel plated and stainless parts so it can easily handle wipe down and low-pressure rinsing with sanitizers. This is the first articulated food robot of its kind.

“The robot envelope is equivalent to a human arm, making it the ideal choice for many labor- intensive and repetitive tasks,” added Musunur.

The new LR Mate 200iB/5WP food robot offers a wide range of benefits, including:

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  six-axis motion to maximize application flexibility;

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  capable of working with primary (unpackaged) and secondary (packaged) food products;

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  designed with no moisture retention areas to resist bacteria growth and rust; and

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  manufactured with food-grade grease and USDA-certifiable parts.

The LR Mate 200iB series of robots are equipped with the standard R-J3iB Mate mini controller that includes a variety of options including single phase power input, auxiliary axis support, line tracking, I/O communications, and FANUC Robotics' visLOC and visTRAC vision packages. By leveraging the system architectural advancements of the larger R-J3iB controller, the R-J3iB Mate offers significant improvements in its servo performance and connectivity capabilities. As a result, its new acceleration/deceleration servo algorithm results in reduced vibration and the world's fastest motion performance in its class for the standard evaluation cycle (25-300-25 mm round trip motion). The R-J3iB Mate controller's enclosed cabinet allows high reliability in a factory environment and supports several unique features such as a built-in digital I/O port and a FANUC I/O link connector. The FANUC I/O link connector allows the R-J3iB Mate controller to be connected directly to any other FANUC controller (robot, CNC, or IMM).

For further information, visit the Web site: http://www.fanucrobotics.com