flexible feeder | ASSEMBLY

Flexible Feeder Solves Assembly Challenge

SCARA robots free skilled labor from dull, repetitive task.

October 7, 2021

Medbio is an ISO 13485:2016-certified contract manufacturer of medical devices and injection-molded plastic parts. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, the company operates six manufacturing locations throughout Michigan and New York.

Belt Conveyors Optimize Flexible Feeding

John Sprovieri

August 4, 2021

Based in Torrington, CT, systems integrator Plastimation has been designing and building robotic automation systems for more than a decade. The company's portfolio ranges from simple projects, such as a machine-tending application in which a cobot unloads stacks of plastic lids from a molding machine, to complex ones, such as an automated line in which four robots assemble and test a medical device.

We Fed It: Flex Feeder Handles Plastic Clips

John Sprovieri

February 10, 2021

Plastic clips and fasteners are becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry. They are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and quick and easy to install.

Piston Pushes Bridging Parts Into Motion

John Sprovieri

November 10, 2020

Manufacturers of automated machinery often receive requests to feed and orient ordinary plastics caps, but even an ordinary cap can have features that can cause part "behaviors" that present challenges during the feeding process.

Flex feeder handles heavy castings

John Sprovieri

October 9, 2020

A construction equipment manufacturer needed a way to feed a family of large, heavy castings. The castings range in weight from a few ounces up to a few pounds and come in many geometric shapes.

Flexible Feeding Systems

A new generation of flexible feeders are helping manufacturers cope with high-mix assembly

Jim Camillo

March 4, 2020

Flexible feeders are great at helping manufacturers accommodate product variants on the assembly line. After the feeder presents parts to a vision-guided robot, one or more cameras take images of the parts, and vision software tells the robot which parts are pickable and which are not. The robot then retrieves the parts for kitting or assembly.

Doerfer, Universal Robots Partner for Automated Assembly

February 6, 2014

NASHVILLE, TN—The Doerfer Cos. will integrate Universal Robotics’ software for artificial intelligence and 3D vision to create flexible parts feeders for automated assembly.

Walking Beam System Assembles Medical Device

Centrifugal feeders singulate and orient cylindrical parts.

May 1, 2013

Farason Corp. has been designing and building automated assembly systems for more than 25 years. Based in Coatesville, PA, the company has designed automation systems for food, cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceutical products, personal care products, toys and solar cells. The company’s client list includes Blistex Inc., Crayola Crayons, L’Oreal USA, Smith Medical and even the U.S. Mint.