Industrial automation giant Fanuc has launched a new “food-grade” delta robot.
The company says its new DR-3iB “sets a new standard for robotic food handling in terms of payload, speed, reach and sanitation”.
The new DR-3iB delta robot is Fanuc’s latest solution for picking and packing primary and secondary food products.
Rated IP69K by the International Electrotechnical Commission, the robot meets the “strictest food handling regulations”, says Fanuc.
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 8 kg payloads at very high speeds.
Improved repeatability maximizes accuracy, and a hollow wrist design keeps all gripper wires and piping tucked inside.
A large work envelope featuring a 1600 mm reach (500 mm height) allows it to handle 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).
Fanuc’s new DR-3iB/8L delta robot uses 2D iRVision and iRPickTool line tracking software to pick randomly oriented product from a continuous infeed conveyor.
Equipped with a multi-pick gripper, the robot picks three packages and places them into a box on an outfeed fixed station to simulate case packing.
The products recirculate and the cycle repeats. The cell features high-speed picking / packing with product re-orientation.
DR-3iB Delta Robot’s features and benefits for the food industry:
- Standard IP69K rating for the entire robot means it is waterproof and can withstand harsh environments, including high temperature and high-pressure cleaning.
- An unpainted surface prevents paint chips from falling and contaminating food.
- No springs, stickers or pocketed fasteners eliminate the potential for bacterial growth.
- Self-draining and angled surfaces prevent product or liquid collection.
- Viewing window for grease detection and easy maintenance.
- DR-3iB/8L has an 8 kg payload, four-axis design optimized for high speed picking and packing.
- DR-3iB/8L features a 1600 mm reach (500 mm height) allowing it to easily handle applications that require more range.
- A hollow wrist enables internal cable and hose routing, minimizing wear and tear and improving sanitation.
- Food option features food grade grease and a special coating to handle acid and alkaline disinfectants.
- Ability to work with primary (unpackaged) or secondary (packaged) food products.
- Supports Fanuc’s latest intelligent features including iRVision and force sensing.
- Collision Guard detects robot collisions with external objects, minimizing damage to the part and robot.
- Robot Link controls and coordinates up to ten robots through a network exchange of robot positional data.
Fanuc says the new DR-3iB/8L will be available from the first quarter of 2020.
