Fast, compact, powerful energy-saving palletising robots

Yaskawa has upgraded its Motoman PL Series of all-round, high-performance palletising robots with features including newly tuned kinematics and the latest generation of Sigma7 drive technology.

The company says these new features help to improve stability, increase payloads and cycle times enhancing the performance of these versatile, all-round robots which are ideal for automatic palletising and de-palletising applications.

The new series comprises six models with a payload range between 80kg and 800kg and so cover an extremely broad spectrum of high-performance palletising tasks including classic final packaging applications which are becoming increasingly automated in today’s distribution logistics.

Thanks to their compact design and small footprint, Motoman palletising robots ensure optimum use of space for the set-up of compact palletising cells. Media cables for grippers can be connected, protected and are collision-free as they are fed through the robot base and inside the arm through all axes and also the hollow wrist.

All the models in the Motoman PL range work together with the compact, high-performance YRC1000 controller that incorporates a wide range of functions for path planning and communication. The controller used on the medium to larger robots also features an innovative power regeneration function which enables energy to be generated when the motor is decelerated and has proven to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.

The controller also synchronises the movements of function grippers or tracks while an optional functional safety unit (FSU) provides an ideal performance combination as it safeguards and minimises the most compact workspaces.

The integral MotoLogix interface enables PLC system programmers to program these robots in their customary IEC61131 conformant PLC programming environment. Another important benefit of this interface is it removes the need for a dedicated robot programmer and also integration into the PLC controller is greatly simplified.

The MotoSim VRC simulation software allows for easy design, planning and simulation of palletising cells. With a self-explanatory user interface Yaskawa’s optional PalletSolver palletising software simplifies programming of pick-up and depositing patterns as well as layer patterns which ensures numerous application specific features such as mixed palletising or multi-grippers.