Hand Change / Tool Change / End Effector / Wrapping Automation / Palletizing Automation / Denso

There is a particularly challenging point when consulting with customers who want to introduce robots to their sites.

This is because many people often think of robots as "heroes" in movies—incredibly smart beings that handle diverse tasks without a hitch in a very short time. 

 Even if it isn't quite a hero of justice protecting the Earth, you could say it's a robot of justice that helps humans with difficult tasks.

While they might not be legendary warriors saving the Earth, we can certainly call them "righteous robots" that help humans with difficult tasks.

In reality, robots are amazing since they were created by brilliant minds working together, but they are not the invincible heroes people generally imagine. (Beep!)

As their bodies get larger, their speed might feel frustratingly slow, and tools must be changed depending on the task—whether it's loading/unloading or welding. If a human has to step in to change the tool every time a different task is performed, it creates idle time and causes various issues.

That. Is. Why! To overcome these problems, I’ve brought application cases today where robots perform diverse tasks by switching between various hands (tools) on their own. 😉 Shall we look at actual cases that minimize gaps between tasks to increase production speed and handle an entire process reliably?

1. Protective Wrap Attachment and Inspection of Auto Parts using Denso Robots

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This case is an inspection automation solution that automated the process of taping and inspecting automobile parts using the Denso VM60B1 robot! It automated quality inspection and wrapping tasks with a robotic wrapper.

If you watch the video, you can see the robot performing gate cutting, taping, and inspection tasks in one go by switching between three different tools. Thanks to this, management points were minimized and productivity was further boosted. 👍

 A scene of a full Inspection being conducted.

It successfully performs everything from gate cutting to wrapping, and finally, it is perfect at minimizing defect rates by meticulously performing a 100% inspection of the workpiece's appearance and weight.

The company that introduced this process was initially worried about whether it was possible to automate multiple tasks in a single process. However, they reportedly showed a positive reaction after seeing the robot move so cleanly. 😊 It’s truly a "killing two birds with one stone" situation as humans can work more comfortably thanks to the robot.

2. Cosmetic Container Packaging using COMAU Racer-5

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The second application case is a packaging automation solution that loads cosmetic containers into boxes using the COMAU Racer-5 model. It automated a manual packaging process that was previously done by humans.

In the video, you can see the robot picking up 7 containers at a time as they are fed in a row and performing the loading task according to the alignment.

While the previous case performed 100% inspection with three tools, this second case utilizes two types of tools.

First, after filling the loading container with cosmetic containers using one tool, it switches to another tool on its own to insert the interlayer paper (slip sheets). It’s so convenient because it can change them itself without a human having to do it. 😌 Thanks to this, they were able to secure productivity while minimizing management points.

 A robot that picks up 7 cosmetic containers at once.

By using a tool changer to perform even the slip-sheeting task in one go, they were able to handle more workload in the same amount of time by reducing idle time.

Furthermore, similar to the Denso robot in the previous case, COMAU’s Racer-5 robot guarantees fast work performance as a high-speed industrial robot. (It’s amazing that it can move 7 items every 5 seconds! 😮)

Lastly, because the size itself is very small, it has the advantage of maximizing space efficiency through a compact installation. Since it pulled out maximum efficiency in a narrow space and short time, this robot is truly "earning its keep"! 👏

Protective Wrap Attachment and Inspection of Auto Parts using Denso Robots!

✅ Minimized cycle time by applying high-speed industrial robots

✅ Minimized defect rate by performing 100% inspection (appearance/weight)

✅ Minimized management points by automating gate cutting, wrapping, and inspection tasks

Cosmetic Container Packaging using COMAU Racer-5

✅ Integrated performance of tasks including slip-sheeting using a tool changer

✅ Fast work performance due to the use of high-speed industrial robots

✅ Compact installation and task performance using a small robot

Usually, trying to do various tasks by changing tools like this creates idle time and greatly affects production efficiency, so isn't it impressive that the robot can change tools on its own?

In addition to the cases shown today, robots are performing diverse tasks by changing tools directly at many process sites. If you have a specific direction for automation, feel free to get a free consultation at Marosol anytime. 😉