Automation gets to grips with Gripples
Aylesbury Automation has helped Gripple Ltd to solve a complex problem in the assembly of its new "Gripple" design by providing a smart sensing Cognex Checker to orientate small parts being fed into their assembly machine.
Gripple Ltd, established in 1988, is an award-winning company which has given its name to 'Gripples', the wire joining and tensioning devices with industrial, agricultural and horticultural uses. "We required a solution that didn't interrupt the manufacturing and assembly process and which would have the sensitivity to recognise product parts in order to achieve the best machine cycle times," said John Joyce, Technical Director, Gripple Ltd.
The solution had to ensure that small gripple parts are fed at the correct orientation from a step feeder. There were several difficulties that needed to be overcome in order for the gripple parts to be presented in one of four acceptable orientations. Aylesbury Automation specified a Cognex Checker which not only solves the problems but allows flexibility in the assembly process if changes are made in future to the design of gripples. Changes in design will now have no effect on the tooling of the feeding system which operates at 30 parts per minute.
The gripple parts leave the Schindler step feeder onto a linear vibrating track which carries them to the machine. Parts which are the wrong orientation are recycled back into the step feeder by an air jet which blows parts off the linear track. To add to the problem of detecting incorrectly orientated parts, the gripples are on a vibrating linear track which precludes the use of ordinary sensors.
The Cognex Checker, a single unit vision multi-sensor with built in lighting and optics, recognises images of the gripple parts and simultaneously detects several of the products' features while taking into account that there may be changes in orientation due to the vibrating track. A solenoid valve is directly powered by the output signal from the Checker. The solution provided by Aylesbury Automation ensures continuity of the assembly process without the need to stop the gripple part, test its orientation and reject it by mechanical means or static sensors.
"The addition of the Checker to our production line has solved a complex problem. We will now be considering fitting the system to our existing lines ," said John Joyce. "There usually are solutions to most assembly problems but it's finding the right one that is time-consuming. Aylesbury Automation had the experience we required and furthermore has delivered a solution that is also future-proof and which will in time bring us even great benefits."
