Mitsubishi Electric Europe and Robotronic presents world’s first syringe handling solution with a small footprint
At this year’s components show, which has been staged in parallel with interpack, Mitsubishi Electric Europe and Swiss robotics specialist Robotronic are jointly presenting a brand new handling solution for supplying pre-filled syringes to an end-of-line packing system. The unique concept takes up very little space, yet offers a high processing rate of up to 600 syringes per minute and the option of switching quickly and easily between various syringe and carrier formats.
The solution presented at the components show, supplies disposable syringes quickly and flexibly to the packing process via a rail system. It consists of two modular robot cells developed by Robotronic, so-called MRTs (modular robot technology). In one cell, two precisely co-ordinated Mitsubishi Electric MELFA robots of the RV-4FL series assume responsibility for handling all tubs and syringe carriers as well as the various syringe formats from 0.5 to 10 mm. To do this they have a suitable conversion option. The second cell contains a rotating magazine turret, which conveys up to 20 tubs filled with the syringe carriers into the system.
Measuring just 1 x 1.30 m, the MRT basic module occupies a space slightly smaller than a europallet and is 2.20 m high. Mike Weber, the owner and managing director of Robotronic, says: “Similar handling machines have been on the market for a long time. What makes our MRTs unique is their compact design. A comparable machine from another manufacturer takes up roughly three to four times as much space – and space is usually in short supply in production systems.” The concept comprises a complete set of components, which can be assembled specifically to suit the requirements. As the exclusive robotics distribution partner of Mitsubishi Electric for the Swiss market, Robotronic uses only Mitsubishi Electric Robots.
The two compact overhead articulated-arm robots can perform both renesting and denesting tasks and process 400 syringes per minute in the sample application. The output of the cells can be increased to 600 syringes per minute by integrating an additional axis. The rotating turret, which is driven by a Mitsubishi Electric MR-J4 servomotor, is used to reload the MRT while the process is ongoing, thereby reducing idle time to a minimum. To achieve the same level of autonomy with a conveyor belt, the belt would have to be 4 m long.
“Mitsubishi Electric’s industrial robots are distinguished by their flexibility, speed and reliability over many years. The broad scope they offer in construction, for example due to overhead mounting or extreme rotary movements, is also advantageous. The slender form of the robots aids us in realising MRTs a the minimum of space,” stresses Mike Weber.