Which Of The Four Popular Applications Of Industrial Robots Is Suitable For Your Production Line?

What is an industrial robot? Industrial robots that have been around since 1959 are actually very young and constantly evolving. Industrial robots refer to robots applied in industrial environments. They are programmable multi-purpose automation equipment that can be mainly divided into four categories based on their functions and purposes: processing, assembly, handling, and packaging.
Category 1: Robots used for processing
Robots used for processing generally refer to robots directly used for industrial product processing, which can cooperate to complete various processing tasks such as welding, cutting, polishing, drilling, milling, bending, stamping, polishing, etc. These robots are widely used in metal processing, non-metallic material processing (construction, wood, stone, glass, etc.), and the manufacturing of complex shaped parts.
Traditional manual production is not particularly good in these industrial environments: ① It is harmful to the human body. The strong arc light, high temperature, smoke and dust, splashes, electromagnetic interference, etc. generated during processing pose a health threat to the human body. ② Low work efficiency. Manual operation can become tiring to a certain extent, which affects the accuracy and efficiency of work. However, using automated processing can avoid this problem. Robots can ensure continuous operation, improve processing efficiency, and ensure processing quality.
Among these processing applications, the most commonly used one should be welding robots, which are currently the most produced and widely used products in industrial robots. They are widely used in industries such as automobiles, railways, aerospace, military, metallurgy, and electrical appliances.
Category 2: Robots used for assembly
This type of robot is also known as an assembly robot, which is an industrial robot specifically designed to assemble various parts or materials into complete components or final products. They are mainly divided into two categories: component assembly and painting.
The component assembly robot is mainly responsible for the assembly and disassembly tasks of products, such as the assembly of automotive components, electronic product components, etc. Among them, the 3C industry (referring to the computer industry, communication industry, and consumer electronics industry) is considered the largest application field. This type of robot has the characteristics of high precision and high speed, and can be programmed according to different product requirements to complete complex assembly tasks.
This type of homework has high repetition, fast frequency, and high labor intensity. If relying on manual labor, it is easy to exceed the range that human labor can bear. In addition, with the trend of electronic products becoming thinner and more refined, the requirements for assembly accuracy of components are becoming increasingly high, and some tasks have exceeded the ability of manual operation.
Painting robots focus on spraying operations on the surface of objects, such as painting and powder coating. They can ensure the uniformity and consistency of spraying, improve product quality, and are widely used in industries such as furniture manufacturing and automotive painting. This type of work often produces harmful gases to the human body. Using robots for automated operations can not only improve the working environment and prevent the harm of harmful gases, but also achieve continuous automatic work, improve work efficiency, and enhance processing quality.
Category 3: Robots used for transportation
A handling machine is an industrial robot used for object movement operations, whose main function is to achieve tasks such as material handling, loading and unloading, and sorting through automation technology. According to evidence, handling robots can be divided into two categories: conveying robots and loading and unloading robots.
Conveyor robots are one of the most common types of handling robots, which mainly achieve automatic transportation of goods through automatic navigation systems such as LiDAR and visual sensors. These types of robots are commonly used for item handling in factories, warehouses, and logistics centers, with high efficiency and precision, and are widely used in industries such as machinery, electronics, textiles, food, and medicine. For example, AGV handling robots can automatically walk and complete positioning and path planning, thereby achieving efficient transportation of goods.
Loading and unloading robots are mainly used to complete the loading and unloading operations of goods (loading and unloading), such as from the production line to the warehouse, from the warehouse to transportation vehicles, and so on. These types of robots are usually equipped with clamping or suction devices, which can perform precise operations such as grasping, placing, stacking, etc. according to different workpiece shapes and states. Loading and unloading robots have important applications in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and other fields. For example, in logistics warehouses, they can quickly complete unloading and stacking tasks of goods, improving operational efficiency.
Category 4: Robots used for packaging
A specialized industrial robot for item classification, finished product packaging, and palletizing, whose main functions include sorting, packaging, and palletizing operations. This type of robot is widely used in multiple industries, especially in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and beverages, where it performs particularly well.
In the food industry, packaging robots can complete processes such as bagging, boxing, stacking, and filling, improving production efficiency and product quality. They can complete processes such as opening, measuring, filling, and sewing bags based on factors such as product shape and material, and achieve precise grasping and placement of products of different shapes and sizes through visual recognition systems and robotic arms. In addition, packaging robots can also handle fragile items such as bottled beverages and cans.
The demand for packaging robots in the pharmaceutical industry is also very high. Due to the hygiene, safety, and antibacterial issues involved in drug production, there are significant risks associated with manual operations. Therefore, packaging robots are widely used for sorting, packaging, and palletizing drugs. For example, robots in the blister packaging line can complete the packing, sealing, and bundling of drugs.
The computer, communication, and consumer electronics industries (3C industry), as well as the chemical, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, are the main application areas of packaging robots. The 3C industry has a large production volume, fast turnover speed, and heavy packaging tasks for finished products; Due to the special nature of the chemical, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging industries, manual operations involve safety, hygiene, cleaning, waterproofing, and antibacterial issues. Therefore, assembly robots are needed to complete the sorting, packaging, and coding of items.