Delta robot mechanics new from ELAU

ELAU, Schneider Electric’s packaging automation specialist, now offers the PacDrive Robot P3, a complete mechanical package for integrating pick & place capabilities into packaging machinery. With the expiration of key patents, packaging machine designers now have the option of designing their own delta3 robot arms, or to purchase delta picker arms and reduce their upfront investment to develop a robotic capability for primary and secondary packaging applications.

The new offering, purpose-built for packaging, complements the company’s robotic library, which enables control software integration in the same PacDrive automation controller running the machine, requiring no kinematics skills or proprietary robot controllers.

The robotic arm module offer is consistent with the product development strategy outlined in the ARC Advisory Group report, “Integral Robotics Raises Agility and Flexibility of Packaging Machinery: Modular Design Techniques Facilitate the Integration of Robotics.”

The PacDrive Robot P3 is based on the principle of a delta3 robot. Using light composite materials for most moving parts, ELAU created an ultra-light module which fully taps the potential of the company’s highly dynamic servo drives and allows operating speeds of up to 160 cycles per minute in pick & place operations. With a vertical picker path of up to 230 mm, the PacDrive Robot P3 covers a circular operating envelope with a diameter of 1100 mm. With a vertical path of 350 mm, the P3 covers an 800 mm diameter envelope. Other features include quiet operation with noise emission <70 dB(a) and direct drive arms with ceramic ball joints to reduce maintenance and simplify component changeout.

For more information, visit www.elau-insider.com or www.packagingautomation.net or email [email protected].