Palletiser aimed at high volume applications

Due to advances in servo drive and motor technology, the M410-iC/185 delivers a 16% higher wrist load and 13% greater throughput than its predecessor, the M410-iB/160, which serves over 300 customers Europe-wide. The model is said to offer 99.99% reliability.

The machine can handle a 185kg payload coupled with an average speed of 1700 cycles per hour and can stack pallets to 2.4m.

The four-axis robot is said to have highest in class wrist load inertia, which makes it suitable for handling bulky items such as nappies using very large grippers, and compact, heavy items, like tins of paint or bottle crates.

"This robot is equally at home palletising bags of sugar as it is shifting slabs of concrete,” says FANUC Robotics technical manager Darren Whittall. "It can handle anything from bags, sacks, cartons, shrink-wrapped trays and crates to cans, barrels and bricks.”

The robot’s extended reach and stack height capability create a large work envelope, which, in conjunction with high-speed operation, allows a single M410-iC/185 to service multiple lines in high volume environments.

The balancer has been eliminated from the design, improving uptime by increasing the M410-iC/185’s reliability. The life of the gripper services is lengthened by a 56mm diameter hollow wrist for running cables and hoses.

According to Darren Whittall, these features combine to make the robot particularly appealing to high volume producers and packers. "We anticipate strong demand owing to its high payload, inherent reliability and ability to stack pallets high.”

The robot’s footprint has been reduced to 610 x 806mm and energy consumption to 3kW/hr maximum.

A built-in Programmable Machine Controller enables the M410-iC/185 to act as a cell controller, thereby reducing system controls costs and simplifying integration of stand-alone palletising systems.

"The PMC eliminates the requirement for another PLC to control peripheral equipment like the conveyors transporting products to and from the cell, guard panels and light curtains,” explains Whittall.

The robot’s touchscreen pendant displays 4D graphics, giving operators a tool for viewing process information including cell layout and status, as well as providing the capability to act as the system HMI.

The robot uses integrated iRVision cameras for product location, recognition and inspection, in addition to barcode reading and line tracking.

Two versions are available: a pedestal base with integral controller or a compact base with remote controller, providing design options where ceiling height and footprint are considerations.

The M410-iC/185 is the lightest duty model in the new M410-iC generation of robots. FANUC is expanding the range to replace all four models in its previous M410-iB family and will release further details in late 2013/early 2014.

The product is available through Pacepacker Services, FANUC’s palletising integrator specialist.