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Palletizing, Fulfillment, and Picking and Packing Robots

FANUC to feature solutions for fulfillment, palletizing, cobot, and picking and packing robots at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.


FANUC America, a supplier of CNCs, robotics, and ROBOMACHINEs demonstrated a wide range of automation solutions during PACK EXPO Las Vegas in booth #1441. Such solutions include SCARA, collaborative, palletizing, and picking and packing robots.

CRX collaborative robot 

FANUC’s CRX cobot is an easy-to-use and flexible solution for a variety of applications, including palletizing, packing, inspection, and more. Built-in sensors on each axis can allow the CRX cobot to work safely alongside people without the need for expensive guarding. In addition, the CRX can operate for eight years maintenance-free.

At the show, a FANUC CRX-10iA/L equipped with an iRVision 3DV/200 vision sensor demonstrated case palletizing. The CRX used the 3DV sensor to find a box, pick it up from one pallet and place it on another pallet.   

The CRX collaborative robot offers the same level of performance. It supports several of FANUC’s features including iRVision and is a perfect fit for any application where collaborative robots can help customers achieve higher efficiencies. Also, interactive programming enables users to teach points using hand guidance or a new tablet interface with drag and drop icons.    

SCARA demonstrations


FANUC also showcased two SCARA demos. The new FANUC SR-20iA picks and transfers milk crates between two trays, which shows the SR-20iA’s ability to handle heavy parts in a wide operating area at high speeds.

The second SCARA demonstration featured the FANUC SR-12iA robot with the Environmental Option packing and unpacking bottles of mouthwash. This option includes white epoxy coating, bellow covers, anti-rust bolts and seals, and an IP65 rating to withstand dust and liquids. 

FANUC’s family of 4-axis SCARA robots has grown to include the SR-3iA, SR-6iA, SR-12iA, and new SR-20iA models with 3kg, 6kg, 12kg and 20kg payload capacities, and a 400mm to 1100mm reach, respectively.

The small SR-3iA and SR-6iA SCARAs have a compact footprint and space-saving design for maximum efficiency. In addition, the SR-3iA/H and SR-6iA/H are 3-axis variants that provide strong performance and an affordable alternative to small linear slide products. The higher-payload SR-12iA and SR-20iA robots provide flexibility with a large vertical stroke, and an Environmental Option for harsh conditions. All of FANUC’s SCARA robots include exceptional robot motion, speed, and precision.

Powered by the R-30iB Compact Plus controller, FANUC’s SCARA robots have the same intelligence and reliability that’s available on all FANUC robots, including integrated iRVision, conveyor tracking (iRPickTool), and most other software options. FANUC’s latest SCARA iRProgrammer user interface makes it easy to setup and program the robot on a Tablet or PC (Teach Pendant is optional).

DR-3iB/8L food grade delta robot

FANUC’s DR-3iB/8L food-grade delta robot uses 3DV iRVision and iRPickTool line tracking software to pick randomly oriented pieces of chicken from a continuous infeed conveyor.  Equipped with a Soft Robotics gripper, the robot picks chicken breasts and reorients them onto an outfeed conveyor. The cell features high-speed picking with product re-orientation. The DR-3iB sets a new standard for robotic food handling in terms of payload, speed, reach, and sanitation. 

The DR-3iB delta robot is FANUC’s latest solution for picking and packing primary and secondary food products. Rated IP69K, the robot meets the strictest food handling regulations. Its design features corrosion-resistant materials, an unpainted finish, and a fully enclosed body allowing it to tolerate high pressure/temperature and sanitizer wash down environments.

A powerful four-axis design and higher wrist inertia allows the DR-3iB/8L to handle 8kg payloads at very high speeds. Improved repeatability maximizes accuracy, and a hollow wrist design keeps all gripper wires and piping tucked inside. In addition, a large work envelope featuring a 1600mm reach (500mm height) is ideal for applications that require more range such as reaching into tall boxes or handling product on wide conveyors. 

The DR-3iB operates with FANUC’s latest R-30iB Plus controller with integrated intelligent functions such as iRVision, Force Sensing, Robot Link, Collision Guard, and Zero Down Time (ZDT).

High-speed tote picking with iRVision 3DV/400

At the show, an M-10iD/12 robot creates random orders by picking from four homogenous totes, each with a 3DV/400 vision sensor mounted overhead. Each of the four sensors provide “best pick” locations from the homogenous totes, and then the robot picks parts to fill a customer order. Once the order is complete, the order tote will move to an LR Mate 200iD robot station also equipped with a fixed 3DV/400 to remove the parts from the bin for further order processing. The demonstration highlighted how the use of fully integrated robotic 3D Vision is an ideal solution for applications in the warehousing, logistics and e-commerce markets

The 3DV/400 Vision Sensor is lightweight and can be used as a fixed or robot mounted 3D Vision camera. The 3DV/400 offers single snap 3D image acquisition enabling faster bin picking and the ability to perform applications such as line tracking. Compared to conventional 3D vision sensors it provides better acquisition of shiny parts and offers a solution for glare caused by reflective parts. The 3DV/400 is part of FANUC’s iRVision suite of fully integrated and complete machine vision products for robot guidance and inspection. FANUC designs all of the hardware and software specifically for FANUC robots.

Material handling robots

The M-10iD robot series includes four compact material handling robots—the M-10iD/12, M-10iD/10L, M-10iD/8L and M-10iD/16S. Rated best-in-class for speed and repeatability, the M-10iD robots offer a sleek and lightweight design and feature internal cable routing. The curved J2 robot arm minimizes interference with work pieces and fixtures. The robots’ payload capabilities range from 8-16kg, allowing them to handle a variety of products.  In addition, a long reach (1103mm to 2032mm) and stroke—even in the backflip region—makes it easier for customers to apply the robots while maximizing their available workspace—including larger parts or tooling.  

The LR Mate 200iD series of tabletop industrial robots offer a “best in class” work envelope for both upright and invert mount installations. Ten models include clean room and wash proof versions, each with various wrist speeds and reaches to accommodate even the most limited workspace. 

FANUC M-410iC/110 Palletizing/Depalletizing with HMI 

At the show, the M-410iC/110 robot picks cases from two conveyors and palletizes mixed layer unit loads. Attendees can select from a preset number of unit loads using an Allen-Bradley HMI screen. Once selected, the HMI displays the unit load and the robot palletizes up to three layers. The demonstration shows how easy it is to change layers on the fly. Finally, the palletizing robots depalletize the cases, and the cycle repeats.

The system highlights FANUC’s latest PLC Motion Interface option designed to enable palletizing operators to program homogeneous or mixed unit loads using FANUC Add-On Instructions (AOIs). This helps simplify the deployment of FANUC robots into facilities with operators that have no robot programming experience but are familiar with Rockwell PLCs.

The M-410iC/110 palletizing robots are designed for high-volume case, bag, and bottle palletizing operations. The robot features a 110 kg payload, four-axis articulation, a compact footprint, and a slim arm with through-arm cable routing to simplify dress-out and minimize interference with tooling and other peripheral devices.

The ability to perform 2200 standard palletizing cycles an hour with a 60 kg payload makes the M-410iC/110 the fastest palletizing robot in its class. It also features a compact footprint and a 646 mm interference radius, ideal for tight workspaces. 

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