Motoman's modular, pre-engineered PalletWorld

Citation

(1999), "Motoman's modular, pre-engineered PalletWorld", Industrial Robot, Vol. 26 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1999.04926cad.003

Motoman's modular, pre-engineered PalletWorld

Keywords Packaging, Palletising, Robots

PalletWorld features one of the fastest available palletizing robots on the market ­ Motoman SP100 or SP70 robot ­ in addition to the MRC controller and menu-driven palletizing application software, an integrated gripper package, powered roller conveyor(s), pallet station(s), and an operator interface. Standard palletizing grippers can accommodate a complete range of bags, cases, or irregular shapes (see Plate 3).

Plate 3 Modular robotic palletizing solution with standard components (robot/gripper, conveyors, pallet stations), plus add-on modules

As a modular turnkey solution, PalletWorld is designed to handle the majority of palletizing applications while its standard components keep engineering costs low. Flexibility is not sacrificed with PalletWorld's add-on modules, which allow for customizing or upgrading system capabilities with slip sheet insertion, bar-code interface, stretch wrappers, label applicators, multiple standard grippers, and off-line programming with pallet pattern generation.

At the heart of each PalletWorld is the high-speed, dedicated palletizing robot. The SP100 can handle up to 1,100 workpieces per hour, or 2,200 when moving two workpieces per pick (moving 2,000mm horizontally and 400mm vertically). The SP70 moves up to 720 workpieces/hour, excluding time for grasping and releasing workpieces. The SP70 has a 1,950mm (76.77") maximum reach and the SP100 extends to a 3,291mm (129.6") reach so both robots can attend to several conveyors and pallet stations. PalletWorld can be configured to also handle payloads of up to 160kg (352 lbs.) by specifying the optional SP160 robot. The SPiO0 robot's reach and the SP70 robot's standard stacking height of up to 1,850mm (72.83") accommodate the majority of pallet heights.

PalletWorld reliability, especially important for "end-of-line" packaging automation, has not been sacrificed in the pursuit of high performance. These robots boast over a 50,000 hour MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) average for both the robot and controller. PalletWorld is fully safeguarded from power loss with special power failure recovery processing and absolute encoders that require no homing operation after power loss. Users can now avoid costly start-up delays after power failures, emergency stops, or planned shut-downs.

The user-friendly MRC controller features an expanded programming pendant, playback box, and dedicated palletizing application software. The programming pendant is ergonomically designed to provide easy operation. Dedicated pendant keys actuate mechanical or vacuum grippers to help simplify the programming process. The MRC controller provides special software and control features to handle simple to advanced palletizing applications. Palletizing patterns are programmed easily by using standard parallel shift.

Motoman also offers Visual Pallet, an optional off-line, Windows®-based PC programming system ­ complete with graphics and menus ­ for generating any range of pallet patterns.

Motoman has installed more than 300 palletizing robots in a variety of successful material handling and palletizing applications. For more information on PalletWorld or other Motoman products, call 937/847-3300 or write to Motoman, Inc., 805 Liberty Lane, West Carrollton, Ohio, USA 45449.