Packaging robots cover three jobs at the end of a line: case packing, where product goes into boxes or trays; labeling, where cases or parts get marked; and palletizing, where full cases get stacked for shipping. Light, fast arms handle packing and labeling. Heavier arms built for payload handle the pallet.
Case Packing
Case packing is pick and place with a pattern. The robot takes product off a conveyor and sets it into a case, tray or tote in a fixed layout. Small items move fast, so the arms that do this work are light and quick: delta robots, SCARA robots and small six axis arms like the LR Mate. Our guide on when a SCARA robot beats a six axis arm helps sort that choice.
A delta robot hangs above the conveyor and picks straight down, which makes it a natural fit for top loading trays. A six axis arm gives you more reach and can tilt product into a case or pack it on its side. If the product comes down the belt in random positions, the robot needs a camera to find it. See our post on robotic vision applications.
The gripper does most of the real work in packing. Vacuum cups, fingers and bag grippers are all common, and each product may need its own. Our posts on end of arm tooling and parts transfer robots go deeper.
Labeling
Robot labeling usually means a print and apply unit mounted to the arm, or a robot that presents the case to a fixed label head. The payload is light, so a small six axis arm is plenty. What matters more is reach to every face that needs a label and clean signals between the robot, the printer and the line. Our write up on industrial robot I/O covers how those handshakes work. The small arms that most often end up in this kind of work are in our FANUC LR Mate 200iD guide.
Palletizing
Palletizing is where payload takes over. The robot carries a full case, a layer of cases, or a bag, plus the gripper that holds it. Layer grippers and clamp grippers are heavy, so add the tool weight to the load before you pick a robot. Reach has to cover the infeed conveyor and the top corner of a full pallet, often on two pallet stations at once.
FANUC builds dedicated palletizers in the M-410 and M-420 lines, and Kawasaki builds the CP series for the same job. The M-410 line comes in four and five axis versions, built to swing loads and keep the case level. General purpose six axis arms like the R-2000 and M-710 also palletize well, and they can be moved to other work later. Our post on industrial palletizing robots walks through the basics.
If one robot needs to serve more pallet stations than it can reach, a track adds travel. See our guide to seventh axis tracks and robot transfer units, and our stock of FANUC robot transfer units.
Food and Clean Packaging
Packaging lines that touch food, drugs or consumer goods may need washdown or food grade versions of an arm. Those ratings vary by model, so confirm them on the listing or data sheet before you buy. Our post on food grade robots explains what to look for.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Payload with the tool. Case weight plus gripper, at the reach you need. Our FANUC payload and reach quick reference is a fast way to compare.
- Controller and software. Ask which software options are loaded on the controller, and plan how it will talk to your line.
- Brand on the floor. If your maintenance crew already runs ABB or Kawasaki, staying with that brand keeps spare parts and training simple. Our ABB or FANUC comparison and used Kawasaki robots buyer's guide help with that call.
Packaging Robots We Carry
Some of our listings are complete cells, such as this FANUC LR Mate 200iC robot cell. The rest are arms with their controllers.
- FANUC M-3iA/6A: delta robot, 6 kg payload, 1,350 mm work area
- FANUC LR Mate 200iD/7H: 7 kg payload, 717 mm reach, R-30iB control
- never used FANUC M-20iD/12L: 12 kg payload, long arm, R-30iB Mate Plus
- ABB IRB 120: small six axis arm, IRC5 control
- ABB IRB 4600-40/2.55: 40 kg payload, 2,550 mm reach, IRC5 control
- Yaskawa Motoman SSF2000: NX100 controller
- FANUC M-710iC/70: 70 kg payload, 2,050 mm reach
- FANUC R-2000iC/165F: 165 kg payload, 2,655 mm reach, R-30iB
- FANUC M-420iA: dedicated palletizing robot, R30iA control
- FANUC M-410iB/160: 160 kg payload, 3,140 mm reach
- never used Kawasaki robots: including CP180L, CP500L and CP700L palletizers and the BX200X
You can browse the rest of our used ABB robots and used FANUC robots as well.
Related Guides
Closing a Packaging Line?
We buy used packaging robots, and whole lines too. Tell us what you have on our sell your equipment page, or ask about our machinery appraisal services.
Questions about a unit? Call 586-752-0090, extension 1 for sales, or reach us online.