Optimizing Production Efficiency with Flexible Non-Rigid Parts Feeding
Introduction: Non-Rigid Materials Parts Feeding
Discover the critical role of Non-Rigid Materials Parts Feeding in factory automation. As the global manufacturing sector faces challenges in assembly operations, the efficient handling of non-rigid components becomes essential. Learn how flexible parts feeding, exemplified by FlexiBowl, revolutionizes industries like medical device production, food and beverage production, cosmetics, toy manufacturing, and electronics.
Advantages of Flexible Feeders like FlexiBowl
FlexiBowl offers a host of advantages over traditional vibratory feeding systems:
- Reduced Noise: Operating with less noise, it creates a better working environment and reduces the need for noise protection.
- Prevention of Jamming: Its design efficiently handles complex or irregularly shaped components, significantly reducing the risk of jams and interruptions in production.
- Multi-Component Handling: The versatility of FlexiBowl allows simultaneous handling of different component types, eliminating the need for multiple feeders, saving space, and reducing costs.
- High Adaptability: FlexiBowl easily adapts to various part sizes and shapes, avoiding expensive reconfigurations or equipment replacements.
- Energy Efficiency: It consumes less energy compared to traditional vibratory feeders, contributing to lower operational costs.
- Time Saving: Requiring less setup and adjustment time, FlexiBowl enhances production efficiency.
- Gentle Handling: FlexiBowl handles parts gently, reducing the risk of damage to delicate or intricately worked components.
- Better Component Separation: Designed to accurately distinguish components with similar properties, it reduces feeding and assembly errors.
Types of Non-Rigid Materials a Flexible Feeder Can Handle
FlexiBowl effectively handles a wide range of non-rigid materials, from 1 to 300 mm, including:
- Various sizes of rubber or silicone O-rings used for sealing connections across numerous applications.
- Sponges of different sizes used in the healthcare and cosmetic industries.
- Silicone tubes of various dimensions utilized in many industrial applications.
- Silicone caps for bottles of cosmetic or medical products.
- Elastic bands of different sizes used in various applications.
- Different-sized makeup applicators, pads, and other components used in the cosmetic industry.
- Soft plastic components used in toy manufacturing.
- Seals and springs of varying sizes used in many industrial and medical applications.
Cylindrical
Complex
Flat
Videos
100 x 3 mm
1 x 1 mm
30 x 30 mm
10 x 4 mm
The Importance of Vision Systems in Non-Rigid Materials Parts Feeding
The success of a flexible feeding system heavily depends on its inherent flexibility and integration with various robots and vision systems. Integration with robots enables efficient handling of infeed components, pallets, fixtures, tools, and the outfeed of finished parts. The addition of a vision system greatly assists these processes by providing quality and dimensional checks and guidance for the robots.
Factors Influencing Vision System Performance
Implementing a successful vision system requires considering various factors, including:
- The characteristics of the parts (size, shape, color, and texture)
- Camera specifications (sensor resolution, quality of lenses)
- Quality of system calibration
- Working environment (lighting conditions and position)
Vision algorithms are typically sensitive to these environmental conditions, and efficient processing time is crucial when integrating a vision system for robot guidance in assembly processes.
Advantages of FlexiBowl® for Flexible Parts Assembly
FlexiBowl® is a flexible feeding device that seamlessly integrates with every robot and vision system brand. It can handle entire families of parts within 1-250 mm and 1-250 g, replacing the need for multiple dedicated vibratory bowl feeders. With its quick changeover mechanism, maintenance operations cause minimal downtime. The lack of dedicated tooling and user-friendly software enable quick and multiple product changeovers within the same work shift.
Main end users
