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2007Grand Prize

Pair of M-430iA Robots, enabling high-speed
handling using visual tracking functions
FANUC Ltd.

The articulated-type robot M-430iA can pick up a large amount of items accurately in a moment as they roll down a conveyor belt at high speed. The pair of M-430iA Robots is capable of handling more than 200 items per minute and operating 24 hours a day. The robot adopts a wrist structure made of combined resin gears to prevent articles from being contaminated with oil, and a highly chemical-proof arm that can be cleaned with acid and alkaline cleaners to increase cleanliness and cleaning capability. Thanks to these features, it is used at many food and pharmaceutical distribution sites worldwide. Since its launch in October 2006, the number of inquiries and orders has continued to smoothly increase.

M-430iA, a food and pharmaceutical handling robot, has been applied not only to the initially-anticipated food and pharmaceutical sectors, but to the cosmetics sector as well. Currently, the ratio of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors is about one third each. Since these sectors tend to be resistant to economic recession, inquiries and orders for the robots continue to increase despite the harsh economic condition. Thanks to the receipt of The Robot Award 2007, the robot has been highly regarded, especially in business negotiations and other occasions in Japan and abroad.

The robot picks up many items on a conveyor quickly and puts them down on another conveyor belt or in boxes while accurately placing them in a known position and orientation.

Consisting of two M-430iA industrial-use arm robots, this robot can perform two robots’ work. The two robot arms, or robot “hands,” precisely pick up as many as 200 items per minute conveyed from a conveyor randomly, at a speed faster than the eye can follow and then put them swiftly down on another conveyor or in boxes while accurately placing them in a known position and orientation.

A market cultivated for new clean robots!

In addition to being able to transport a large amount of products, robots in the food and pharmaceutical sectors are required to be clean and have capability and chemical resistance, which are all particular to the food and pharmaceutical sectors. With the functionality to satisfy these requirements, the M-430iA Robots have cultivated an active role for themselves in sectors that go beyond the food and pharmaceutical sectors – markets that had been the main ones for industrial robots. Previously, industrial robots worked mainly at automobile, electric and electronic parts manufacturing sites.

Development of new markets by handling issues in the food and pharmaceutical sectors
Up till now, industrial robots have played active roles mainly in the automobile, electric and electronic parts manufacturing sites. In addition, in general industry – in particular in manufacturing sites such as the food and pharmaceutical sectors – there are moves to make use of robots. In these kinds of manufacturing sites, robots need not only to have the processing capability of industrial robots but must also provide the functions of cleanliness, safety, and reliability. However, single conventional robots did not have sufficient processing power, and several were needed to be set in line. Under such circumstances, it was difficult to spread the use of industrial robots as additional expenses and installation spaces were needed. By achieving characteristics such as cleanliness, cleaning capability, and chemical resistance in addition to the sought-after advanced processing power, the M-430iA Robot has made the food and pharmaceutical sectors into its new markets.

Handling work in high-speed and continuous operations
This robot’s high-speed processing is realized by optimally controlling two motors mounted on each basic axis, or in a manner combining two robots into one. In addition, it has a vision tracking function that combines intelligent image recognition and tracking functions. With the vision tracking function, two robots can accuratel y pick up product s which ar e randomly rolling down a conveyor belt at a speed of 200 units per minute, faster than the eye can follow, and then put them down on another conveyor belt or in boxes while placing them in a known position and orientation. This low-priced, flexible robot system conducts high-quality operations continuously 24 hours a day in place of conventional handling systems that rely on manual work and special machines.

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2007Grand Prize

Pair of M-430iA Robots, enabling high-speed handling using visual tracking functions FANUC Ltd.

The robot picks up many items on a conveyor quickly and puts them down on another conveyor belt or in boxes while accurately placing them in a known position and orientation.

A market cultivated for new clean robots!

Pair of M-430iA Robots, enabling high-speed
handling using visual tracking functions
FANUC Ltd.