Robot picker sets new speed bar
class, its manufacturer claims.
As global competition increases, companies are looking at robotics as a means of speeding uplines, cutting costs, increasing production efficiency, and reducing labor requirements.
Fanuc Robotics said its M-430iA/2F robot is designed to withstand the frequent washdowns neededin food plants. The machine can continuously pick products at speeds up to 120 cycles/min while usingvisual line tracking.
Fanuc claims the M-430iA/2F sets a new speed record for articulated robots of 120 cycles per minute at aone kg payload, and 100 cycles per minute at a two kg payload.
"Our food customers came to us with specific needs for high-speed operation, increased flexibility, and cleanliness standards, and theM-430iA/2F robot meets those needs and more," said Sumeet Vispute, a Fanuc product manager.
Its compact design gives processors the flexibility of mounting the robot on the floor, wall, orinverted. The robot has no food particle retention areas, Fanuc claimed. It is capable of working withunpackaged foods and packaged products.
The M-430iA food robot is manufactured using food-grade grease, and has USDA-certifiable parts.It is designed with a special coating, materials and seals to withstand the caustic food industry cleaners used in food plant washdown operations.
The five-axis robot carries IP67 rating and features a hollow arm in which the air line and electric cableare protected. The IP67 rating means the entire robot can withstand the rinsing process after the causticwashdown.
In addition to food, the M-430iA/2F intelligent robot can handl beverages, candy, medical devices, cosmetics, householdproducts, office supplies, and other consumer products.
