November 12, 2019 - In an industrial context, the word automation is often, inaccurately, used to mean only industrial robotics. In fact, it refers to everything from inverter driven conveyor systems to advanced manufacturing software. Here, in its truest sense, it means controlling a process automatically; without human intervention. It’s little wonder then that Ricoh, a provider of office automation solutions, applies that ethos holistically across its business. One example of this is its investment in industrial robotics at its manufacturing arm, Ricoh UK Products Ltd in Telford, UK. which has improved profitability and increased efficiency.
The company’s holistic approach to automation and efficiency was demonstrated when it began building a new production line for colour toner cartridges to be used on one of its office machines. Ricoh began by investigating a way of using industrial robotics to make manufacturing the toner cartridge shutters a simple process.
Ricoh approached Evershed Robotics initially, who suggested using a combination of a Toshiba Machine TH650 SCARA robots, a Toshiba Machine Cartesian robot to work with their six bowl feeders and a rotary index table. read more here