You've heard of I, Robot? Well, meet a product called the XE-Robot — linked to pad printing equipment.
Pad Print Machinery of Vermont Inc. said the robotic workstation can be adapted for multiple uses, such as manufacturing and assembly, plus the traditional product marking and decorating.
A four-axis Scara robot selects from six pads of different shapes and sizes, and picks up a variety of inked images, each with its own ink cup. The two-axis fixture assembly allows printing on five sides of the part, in multiple locations on each side.
“The addition of a robot to the pad-printing process advances this technology beyond anything available on the market today,” said Julian Joffe, founder and CEO of the machinery maker in East Dorset, Vt.
Beyond the silicone printing pads, the robot can be programmed to retrieve a pick-and-place hand, which can load and unload parts on the fixture between print cycles. Also, a tool can take the place of one of the pads, so the robot can do drilling, screwing or assembly functions.
In other news, the company introduced the Rapid Fire 1001 inkjet system, which is fully customized for in-line applications. Automation systems can be integrated with the unit, from conveyorized linear shuttles, rotary tables, pre- and post-treatments and robots. Tel. 800-272-7764.