Programmable Feeders

What are POSI programmable feeders?

POSI programmable feeders are parts feeders based on traditional feeder technology but tooled with programmable tooling.  Unlike hard tooled feeders, POSI programmable feeders can be designed to orient a wide range of parts with one feeder.  The versatility and rapid changeover provided by these feeders make them ideal for flexible manufacturing where a number of traditional parts feeders might be required or where the volume of any one part might not justify the use of a parts feeder.  They are also well suited to mass production where a change in the parts being fed can be really accommodated.

POSI programmable feeder concept

POSI programmable feeders are designed, using standard programmable tooling modules, to feed a particular family of parts -- as defined by the customer.  The part family and the required feed rate determine the size and type of feeder to be used i.e. vibratory feeder with cascade bowl, vibratory feeder with an outside track bowl, or a rotary orienting feeder.  The part family and the desired orientation determine the family of programmable feeder i.e. Model I, Model II, or Model III.

Model I family of programmable feeders

POSI programmable feeders that are tooled without vision systems are members of the Model I family.  These units only use programmable or adjustable mechanical tooling modules.  Although much less sophisticated than the other models of programmable  feeders, these units are well suited to orienting simple parts such as headed parts and parts that have no end-to-end or side-to-side differences.

Changeover of the feeder for a different part is just a matter of programming the mechanical tooling modules, a process that typically only requires a couple of minutes.

Model II family of programmable feeders

In addition to programmable mechanical tooling elements, the Model II family of parts feeders is tooled with our patented Programmable Silhouette Recognizer, PSR, an inexpensive high speed vision system. The PSR's fiber optic pickup is mounted in the bowl feeder at a location where the mechanical tooling elements have ensured that the parts passing it will be one high and one wide.  The PSR monitors the flow of parts to determine if each part is the desired part in the desired orientation.  In the simplest implementation incorrect parts and incorrectly oriented parts are rejected back into the feeder.  Only the desired part in the desired orientation is allowed to continue to the feeder discharge.

Programming part images into the Model II's PSR is simply a matter of showing the PSR the part in the desired orientation.

Programming a Model II feeder for a different part is simply a matter of programming the mechanical tooling modules and the PSR -- a process that can usually be accomplished in a couple of minutes.

Model III family of programmable feeders

Model III programmable feeders use a camera based vision system to ensure proper part orientation.  The high resolution of the camera systems allows orientation based on features too small to be detected reliably by the Model II's PSR.  In addition the camera systems are not limited to silhouettes -- surface features can be used for orientation.

Model III feeders typically include a rotary or vibratory Model I bowl feeder which is used to feed parts one high and one wide on to a conveyor which carries the parts past the camera.  Good parts in the desired orientation are allowed to pass to the end of the conveyor.  Bad parts or parts in the wrong orientation are returned to the bowl feeder via the return conveyor.

Programming the camera can be as simple as showing the camera the part in the desired orientation.

Programming the entire Model III system typical only requires a couple of minutes.

Feed rates of several hundred parts per minute are possible.