An example of Omron’s growing portfolio of successful robotic and motion automation solutions is its work for a leading packaging and end-of-line machine-building specialist. Field application engineer Evert Janse van Vuuren reveals that the Omron Delta robot was used for this particular application, due mainly to its fast pick-and-place functionality. Function blocks were designed specifically for a roll-on bottle packing line, where 340 bottles per minute are picked and placed.
The Delta robot solution can achieve up to 200 cycles per minute and can be synchronised with multiple conveyors to perform on-the-fly pick-and-place operations. Three types of Delta robot arms are available, namely Washdown, Delta and Mini Delta.
The NJ controller offers a response time of 2 ms when controlling eight Delta robots, or 1 ms when controlling four robots. The working range is from 450 to 1600 mm, with a 1 to 8 kg payload range. The IP class range includes IP65, IP67 and IP69K.
Janse van Vuuren comments that the acquisition of Adept has extended Omron’s expertise in automation, robotics and motion control even further. “When the acquisition was planned, careful attention was paid to the integration of the two different platforms. We did not want to rush into the market and not have the correct software and hardware to support it.
“For the end user, it is not really about the robotics, but about the performance of the total system, in tandem with the reputation of the vendor. You do not want to deal with someone entirely new to the robotics market. That is why acquiring Adept has made such a difference, as we can tap into its accumulated knowledge.”
This is where Omron’s own expertise and innovation supports Adept, as the former is a leader in vision systems and sensors. “There is a lot of technology that supports a robot, which cannot do anything without its ‘eyes’,” explains Janse van Vuuren.
“As vision systems advance, so do robot capabilities. Faster CPUs also lead to increased memory capacities of robot controllers. This means we can load many more algorithms into the controllers, which speeds up the robot’s decision-making capability.”
The integration of Omron Adept will therefore result in the best possible solutions for customers, taking into account the latest advances in both technology and software. Omron’s recent success with the packaging and end-of-line machine-building specialist is testament to this. Omron is ideally placed to offer customisable total solutions to meet the needs of different sectors, from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals. “We are very well priced, and have fit for purpose product solutions. We also have the necessary robotic and motion support structures in place locally, with our experienced application engineers as the first point of contact for our customers,” emphasises Janse van Vuuren.
What gives Omron the edge is its development of simulation software for all major elements of automation systems, from the vision system itself to logic and control, motion control and robotics.
“All of that can be simulated quite easily with our software. What that does is reduce both the planning and commissioning stages of a project, because we are able to simulate the actual application beforehand. This allows us to debug many potential problems virtually,” highlights Janse van Vuuren.
Omron offers Scara, parallel, articulated and mobile robot solutions, which have been integrated with its family of sensors, safety components and NX/NJ series machine automation controllers to simplify the implementation of robots in a production environment.
The Omron Adept Quattro robot, for example, is a parallel robot (or delta robot) with a patented four-arm rotational platform, delivering maximum speed, acceleration and performance across the entire work envelope. Ultra-compact controls and embedded amplifiers improve footprint efficiency, while simplifying installation.
Integrated temperature sensors monitor heat build-up in the servomotors to prevent damage, while a diagnostic display on the robot enables faster troubleshooting. The high speed, precision and overhead-mount features of the Quattro robot make it the perfect choice for flexible and fast packaging, materials handling, kitting and assembly.
For more information contact Omron Electronics, +27 (0)11 579 2600, [email protected], www.industrial.omron.co.za
| Tel: | +27 11 579 2600 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.industrial.omron.co.za |
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