How does a feeding system work?
A feeding system consists of several mechanical solutions that work together to ensure an efficient and reliable production process. Each process is unique, but generally speaking, a system consists of the following components:
Bunker
This is the starting point of the supply system. Loose parts are delivered in bulk and deposited in a bunker. This bin acts as a storage area to increase autonomy and ensures a continuous supply of materials to the next step in the process.
Bowlfeeder
From the bunker, the parts enter the bowlfeeder in a dosed, but random manner. By shaking and vibrating, the parts are moved up and forward, then sorted and orientated by a combination of mechanical rejectors, half-pipes and swing-outs.
Separator
During vibration, all parts are separated from each other. As the bowlfeeder has a variable output, the parts pass through a linear feeder to the seperator, which then ensures that all parts are presented correctly one by one. The linear feeder is a necessary intermediate step because it acts as a buffer. If the output of the bowlfeeder is too large, a traffic jam of parts forms in this module. This buffer stock guarantees that a part is available for further processing at any time.
Pick & place
The oriented part must be transfered oriented to the right position in the next fase of the assembly process. For simple operations, a pneumatic or servo driven pick & place module is used; for combined processes, a robot offers the solution. Precise and regular feeding speeds up the production process and guarantees higher accuracy than manual sorting.
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