Omron has announced the global launch of the TM series collaborative robot family to realize an innovative manufacturing environment where humans and machines work in harmony. With the various vision functionalities and the simple, intuitive programming environment of the TM collaborative robots, Omron will further enable safe, flexible, and collaborative manufacturing between human and machine.

As changing consumer trends continue to shorten product life cycles, manufacturers need production lines to meet the requirements of frequent product change-overs. In addition, as labour shortage becomes a reality, manufacturers strive to automate the simpler and monotonous tasks, to create a workplace where people can contribute in the more creative tasks.

Omron's TM series provides a unique solution to easily install a robot to automate applications such as picking, packing, and screwdriving that, traditionally performed by humans, can be challenging to automate. As part of the TM series launch, Omron has released a “mobile-compatible” model, which seamlessly integrates into the market leading LD series autonomous mobile robot. This will enable users to automate more complex tasks such as pick and place onto a tray or container, and to connect production processes with the autonomous mobile robots for flexible manufacturing.

Omron introduces 12 robots in the TM series with a combination of the following specifications: arm length of 900, 1100, and 1300 mm; payload of 4, 6, 12, and 14 kg; power supply: AC, DC; conforming or not conforming to SEMI S2 safety guidelines.

Three are the key features of the TM series. Intuitive programming interface reduces programming time, installation and setup times compared to traditional industrial robots. The flowchart-based intuitive programming interface and easy teaching requires little to no previous robot programming experience.

Integrated on-arm vision system reduces setup time. The TM series comes with built-in vision and integrated lighting, allowing the user to capture products with a wide viewing angle. Equipped with image sensing functions such as pattern matching, bar code reading, and colour identification, this robot system makes inspection, measurement and sorting applications extremely easy to set up out of the box.

The new cobots conform to all human-machine collaborative safety standards reducing installation time. The TM series conforms with all safety standards that enable cooperation between humans and machines and can be safely operated around people without industrial safety fencing traditionally required for industrial robots, greatly reducing the installation time. (Conforms to safety requirements for industrial robots ISO10218-1 as

well as safety requirements for collaborative industrial robots ISO/TS15066).