The Polyfeed feeding device uses a patented vision system to quickly recognize complex part shapes and orientations to help manufacturers reduce time-to-market. The vision system identifies parts on a tooling plate that are suitable for picking. It sends the coordinates to a robotic arm that picks the parts and places them correctly oriented in nests to feed to an assembly machine. The vision tools can handle a high number of varying part shapes, including complex components like springs, and prototype parts. This helps users get new products to market faster.

1. 1
1 i ASSEMBLY
FEED THE NEED FOR SPEED
A patented vision system helps a new parts feeding machine recognize complex shapes quickly and
reduce time-to-market for its users.
ByAnabel Foucart, Channel Communications Specialist, Cognex Corp.
>>Speeding time-to-market is a
deciding factor in any manu-
facturing operation. Mikron Assembly
Technology, based in Boudry, Switzer-
land, designs its assembly solutions
and corresponding feeding systems
based on customer demands for flexi-
bility to help those customers reduce
time to market. This flexibilitv
includes the ability to handle a
high number of varying part
shapes, feed complex compo-
nents such as springs, and feed
prototype parts. To that end,
Mikron developed the
dPolyfeed stand-alone s
feeding device.
The Polyfeed is part of a
turnkey assembly solution. It
uses vision recognition and ver-
tical vibration systems to iden-
tify parts in their various forms
-
The feeding mochine vision tools are designed to handle o high Mwnber d wrying
pod shapes, feed complex componentsand feed prototypeports quickly to help
users get to market quickly.
. -
and positions. 7 Complex Shapes appearance,and to red- fixnrnngand
The vision system inspects the The feeding device uses lightingrequirements.
components on the tooling plate I PC-based PatMax geometric pattern The patented Polyfeed vision system
and identifies which ones are suitable matchingtechnologyforpart recognition enables the machine to feed parts that
for picking. from Rockwell Automation Encompass normally aredifficultor even impossible
The coordinates are sent to a four- PartnerCognexCorp.,Natick, Mass.Pat- for conventional systems to feed.
axis Cartesian robot, which picks all 1 Max provides vision tools for object loca- Encompass and Rockwell Automa-
components from the plate and tion, defect inspection, gauging, part tion are trademarks of Rockwell
places them in proper orientation identificationand a variety of specialized Automation, Inc.
the parts to the assembly machine.
into a nest on a link that transports functions.Thetoolsaredesignedtotoler- Cognex Gorp.
atewide changes in object angle,size and www.cognex.com
66 THEJOURNAL I AUGUST 2006