Stacking machine for bearing cages and similar parts

The machine is mounted on a table frame having a size of 1400 x 700 x 620mm. A hopper with a capacity of 50 or 130 litres is placed on the left-hand side. From this hopper the components are unloaded into the tray of an inclined Elscint linear feeder. This allows the components to move into the Elscint vibratory bowl feeder with a level controller; when an adequate quantity of the components are in the bowl, the Elscint linear feeder is switched off and, whenever the quantity in the bowl falls below a predetermined lever, the linear feeder is activated to replenish the vibratory feeder bowl.

Components move upwards on the track of the bowl and are oriented according to the users requirement; only correctly oriented components deposited into the metal magazine.

Metal magazines, totalling six to 12 in number, depending upon the component size, are mounted on an indexing table that is operated by Festo pneumatics.

Two proximity switches are mounted to sense the component level on the metal magazine. When the components are filled up to the level of both the proximity switches, then the vibratory bowl feeder is switched off, a pneumatic solenoid is operated and the indexing table is move to the next stage, bringing an empty magazine at the loading station. At this point the bowl feeder starts again and the stacking operation continues.

Stacking orientation

If the components cannot be stacked properly due to their geometry, an Elscint agitator vibrator can be provided at the lower level, which has an angled holder where the components rest during stacking. This agitator vibrator is timed to start and stop, thereby vibrating the stacked components. Due to these vibrations the components, which are not stacked properly, are given rotary movement to get properly stacked.

This system uses Elscint's model 250 or 400 vibratory feeder, Model I or II linear feeder, hopper feeder, indexing table and agitator vibrator. Similar custom-built automation systems can also be manufactured according to user requirements using the above Elscint products.