Plug-and-play packaging robot is `the first`
Schneider Electric’s specialist packaging subsidiary, Elau, has announced a delta-3-format pick-and-place robot which, it claims is the first plug-and-play system of its type. The P3+ robot has an "inverted tripod" construction which gives it three degrees of freedom, with the option of a fourth axis achieved by integrating a rotary axis at the tool centre point.
Instead of conventional servo motors and drives, the robot (above) uses Elau’s "intelligent" servo modules which combine both duties. A single, quick-connect hybrid cable links the modules to a common power supply – giving the plug-and-play ability. One cabinet-mounted power supply can support several robots as well as various servo drives in a packaging machine.
The robot can carry loads of up to 2.5kg and has an operating envelope with a 1.2m diameter, allowing it to track items on wide conveyors. The use of stainless steel enclosures and IP67 protection allows the robots to be used in hygienic packaging applications.
The robot is programmed using IEC 61131-3-compliant software that runs all kinematic, logic and motion functions in a single program on one processor.
