On products or components on which numerous screws are (or have to be) assembled at high speed, automated screw feeding is worthwhile. This is because the cycle time can be extremely reduced if the employee no longer has to grip and thread the screws themselves when working with hand-held tools. Robot cells or axis systems can also be upgraded with a screw feeder.
As the name implies, a screw feeder is a system that feeds a screw – or other fastener – to a screwdriving tool. The tool can be a handheld screwdriver or an automatic machine; the fastener, for example, can also be a nut or a threaded bolt.
Feeding is automatic, as the screw is fed from a container and blown via a hose to the mouthpiece in the correct position. This sits directly next to the output of the screwdriving tool. The fastener is held in place by the system until the screwdriver bit is securely engaged in the profile of the screw head and begins to rotate. This automation eliminates the need for manual screw handling, which can be time-consuming, in the assembly process.
At Desoutter, you will find screw feeders for manual workstations as well as those for automatic screwdriving machines. In addition, we are happy to design individual special solutions together with our system partner - every Desoutter feeder relieves the employees ergonomically. In addition, the workpiece surface is spared scratches because the feed system always automatically places the screw in exactly the right position on the screwdriving point. The system can be used in combination with positioning systems.
Our screw feeding systems operate with high precision and reliability.
They can be quickly integrated into your line - in general machine and equipment manufacturing as well as for automotive suppliers, furniture production, white goods manufacturing or the entertainment industry. You need to do little or no programming yourself for commissioning: Our experts will set up the systems for you. We are also happy to fulfill special requirements and wishes - regardless of whether the screw feed system has to be integrated into a specific workstation or be particularly mobile, whether screws of different lengths have to be ejected, or whether hard-to-reach screw locations have to be reached.
Whether a feeder makes sense and is economical depends primarily on the defect rate as well as the speed of the production line.
At manual workplaces, most work steps are performed manually. If screw assembly is required, the employees use hand-held screwdriving tools.
These can be rod screwdrivers, pistol screwdrivers or angle screwdrivers - and with different drives and integration options in higher-level controls. These can also be clamped into handling aids. Perhaps you have already made your manual workstations more comfortable with the Rollex handling system from Desoutter, with tool stands or telescopic arms?
To further improve ergonomics or shorten cycle times, such manual assembly workstations can be partially automated with screw feeders. If desired, we can supplement the systems with small visualizations for the employees, screw counting or position scanning of the screwdriving point. Other work steps can also be integrated, such as barcode scanning or label printing. All process steps can be managed with PivotWare, the modular system for process control and worker assistance from Desoutter.
Robots and axis systems, for example in automatic assembly machines or semi-automatic screwdriving cells, can also be upgraded with automated screw feeding. Integration makes the assembly process faster, safer and less error-prone.
Example semi-automatic assembly: Here, the parts to be screwed are placed in the workpiece fixture by hand. The automatic screwdriving process can only start when the safety device - for example the cell door - is closed or the safety of the employees is controlled and ensured, for example by a light barrier. After the screwdriving process, the door is opened again and the workpiece removed so that the next parts can be inserted. In automatic assembly, on the other hand, the components are automatically conveyed to the machine or into the cell and then screwed together fully automatically. Screwdriving cells for automatic assembly can be found, for example, in production lines of the automotive industry or its suppliers.
Both semi-automatic and automatic systems can be equipped with automatic feeding of the screwdriving tools. Finally, our intelligent control technology makes your process as efficient as it is convenient. And the quality can always be documented.
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