Compact robot dispensing cell facilitates man-machine interaction

“This offers maximum flexibility, agility, and range even where space is limited and thus responds to our customers’ needs and requirements,” explained Hartmut Storz, Head of Sales at Rampf Dosiertechnik.

The new dispensing cell is compact and integrates a small robot that enables full functionality in a minimum of space. The company has therefore optimized manual handling for operators: “The design process focused on one-piece flow,” said Storz. The dispensing cell has two separate points where the component can be inserted for processing and removed again. “The emphasis is on user-friendliness to ensure a component is not added to the machine in the same place where the finished component is removed, thus reducing the risk of mixing up components.” These features create the necessary flexibility for users who mainly produce a variety of different components rather than high quantities.

The company says the DC-RS250 dispensing cell with the Kuka KR Agilus robot model is ideal for applying one- and two-component systems on two- and three-dimensional components. For these dispensing operations, the basic KR 6 R900 model offers a maximum range of 901 mm and reaches points near the base of the robot for cleaning/filling/weighing while nevertheless still processing components measuring (L x W x H) 250 x 250 x 200 mm.

The robot can be equipped with various mixing systems, is suitable for foaming, casting, and bonding, and can also process highly abrasive materials such as thermal greases.

To ensure safety in work that involves man and machine, the manufacturer has fitted the KR Agilus small robot with a “SafeOperation” function to monitor its speed, work area, and the additional axes.

The dispensing cell also features a solution for upcoming maintenance – positioned on a sliding table, the robot can be easily moved out for maintenance, thus facilitating access to the mixing system and tools.

According to the company, the dispensing cell can be used wherever the dispensing unit’s level of automation needs to be reduced and the user requires a high level of variation in production.

Rampf Dosiertechnik invites customers to visit the company at stand 7501 in hall 7 at the sixth Bondexpo, trade show for industrial bonding technology, which is being held in Stuttgart from 8 – 11 October 2012, and at stand 2203 in hall B2 at Fakuma, the 22^nd international trade fair for plastics processing, in Friedrichshafen.