flexfactory AG

Bulk parts are dispensed (disp) out of the prefeeder (storage container) into the lower level pick zone on the feed platform. It is assumed, that a vision system monitors the pick zone and finds pickable parts. If no part is ready to pick the vision system determines what feeder action is to be taken to prepare an ideal spreading:

- If there are sufficient, but no pickable parts in the pick zone, the feeder flips parts around.
- If there are too few parts, the feeder moves parts forward (fwd).
- If there are too many parts, the feeder feeds parts backward (bwd).

Parts on the feed platform and inside the prefeeder are moved forward or backward by a servo-controlled excentric motion of the parts resting surface. Above a certain speed, parts start to take-off and flip around (dance).
The purge action is used to remove the remaining parts on the feeder before product changeover.

Duration and speed of all feeder actions can be set individually for each part via the RS232 interface.