Robot solutions neatly wrapped up

Many integrated robots lack the flexibility of those manufactured by robotics companies. Also, for small to medium sized enterprises or businesses that have many variants with medium volumes, large, expensive dedicated lines are inappropriate.

The solution is to deploy standalone, flexible robots that can be very simply integrated into systems made up of several disparate machines, from different makers. There are many machine integrators capable of creating fast, flexible and simple to operate automated packing solutions. For this group, Toshiba Machine has a complete range of standalone and modular robots that can be used to handle any packaging requirement.

The range includes a comprehensive array of Scara machines that can be mounted in any orientation for fast pick and place and manipulation; for heavier demands or larger work envelopes, there are six-axis machines that are both inexpensive and easy to program; finally for bespoke complex handling requirements there is a modular gantry type machine that can be configured to suit any application.

TM Robotics offers some Toshiba Machine Scara robots – such as the latest THP range – that are now fitted with especially large servo motors that will not overheat whatever the duty cycle. However, it is not simply a case of increasing motor sizes. The THP robots meet continuous duty requirements through a number of new mechanical and electrical engineering designs. The ballscrew spline for example has been reduced in size substantially reducing inertia at the point where there is the greatest mechanical advantage. There is a new reduction gear applied to the machine’s first axis, which naturally serves to increase torque, but it also aids rigidity. At the heart of the system is where the THP700’s durable performance is attained, for the robot is fitted with a powerful 1.5kW servo motor on the first axis that not only refuses to overheat, whatever the duty cycle, but also delivers exceptional speed.

A number of new features of the Toshiba Machine TV800 and TV1000 6-axis robots include an increased payload capacity of 10kgs, as well as IP65 and also IP67 protection for the wrist. The easy to use TV1000 has a total arm length of 1000mm, a reach of 1090mm and a composite maximum speed of 9.61 metres per second. It has a maximum cycle time of 0.6 to 0.7 seconds, repeatability of ±0.03mm and an optional maximum payload of 10kg.

Practical packaging application at PPMA

The Toshiba Machine TH450A has an impressive specification. Length of the first and second arms is 450mm (200+250) with a working envelope axis 1: ±120°; working envelope axis 2: ±145°; working envelope axis 3: 150 mm (300 mm); and working envelope axis 4: ±360°. Maximum speed axis 1is an impressive 600°/sec as is axis 2 speed, while axis 3 fairly zips along at 2000mm/sec and axis 4moves at 2000°/sec. Composite speed is 7.33m/sec with a maximum payload of 5kg.

Packaging company Arctec says: "The Toshiba Machine TH450A SCARA is probably the world's easiest to use robot. Our entire philosophy is about making things straightforward for our customers. For us easy is a virtue. It means productivity, efficiency and professionalism. Easy is achieving what you want to achieve quickly and elegantly."

The new TH450A is demonstrated at the PPMA show fitted with the latest RoboVis vision system from Fisher Smith. Designed specifically for robotic pick and place applications the system uses powerful yet simple to use image processing 360° location of randomly orientated pieces. For similar ranges of pieces a graphical part selection screen makes it simple for an operator to change products. RoboVis simplifies the automation further with the ability to tell the robot what program to run allowing a single point of control for the whole cell.