At the booth of its partner, Universal Robots, Iris Factory Automation unveiled its new collaborative palletizing solution, the RPZ-20c, which integrates Universal’s UR20 20-kg-payload cobot with Iris’s hardware and software for a system designed for users with limited floor space, low-volume/high-mix production, and limited in-house technical personnel.
Upon first glance, what’s striking about the Iris palletizing system is its almost arcade game-like appearance, which hints at the simplicity of the system itself. “It really catches the eye,” says Brian Kobus, business development manager for Universal Robots. “They kept it fun and exciting, while serving a purpose on the factory floor.”
According to Iris, it took the experiences gained on over 100 deployments of collaborative robots and compiled those learnings to create the RPZ-20z, which it describes as “the most flexible, intuitive, and user-friendly collaborative palletizing solution on the market.”
At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the system was shown palletizing and depalletizing a side-by-side pallet configuration. Explains Kobus, located in the center position with a 70-in. reach, the cobot doesn’t need to traverse in height; it can fill an entire pallet from the bottom right corner to the top corner as necessary. Iris’s unique control algorithms ensure a smooth trajectory between setpoints and stable pick up of the individual boxes.
Iris’s software is designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s palletizing wizard includes a drag-and-drop pallet builder, customized pallet patterns, and wizard-based recipe building, and it allows operators to import and export recipes between palletizers. “The system provides a simple interface without an operator needing any robot programming knowledge at all,” says Kobus. “I mean, the HMI isn’t exactly intimidating—you just fill in what the palletizer needs to do.”
The software also includes on-board data collection, which enables operators to identify fault trends to improve productivity. Features include uptime and downtime tracking, analysis of both current and past data through the use of custom time frames, and the ability to track events performed by a current user and at what time.
To aid in operator training, the RPZ-20c includes resident support documentation that includes copies of the manual, with OPLs (Open Programming Language) and schematics accessible through the HMI. In addition, it offers training manuals that provide a system overview and troubleshooting, and on-the-go customer support is available through a QR code for ticket submission.
Other features of the palletizer include a compact footprint of 126 in. W x 80 in. D, with an option to include hard guarding, speeds to 7 cycles/min, and integrated tier sheet magazines on either side of the pallet. The cobot is equipped with Iris’s flexible SpiderPik end-of-arm tooling, which is built for high-mix, low-volume production, offers tool-less adjustment, and allows for easy changeover between products. PW
