Mechatronic design of a flexible vibratory feeding system

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a sensor-based flexible vibratory feeding system (SBFVFS) for agile manufacturing, which when fully developed will consist of a decoupled vibratory feeder, a machine vision system, displacement sensors, power amplifiers and a computer system. Its major feeding parameters such as the vibration angle, frequency, acceleration amplitude and phase difference can all be easily adjusted online by software means. Consequently, the system can not only feed a wide range of parts without any retooling of the feeder but can also feed various parts made of different materials in a way close to the optimal state. The SBFVFS also has some built-in intelligence. It can find out the natural frequencies of the decoupled vibratory feeder by means of an automatic frequency response analysis and hence determine the best frequency for the driving signals. It can also find out by machine inspection whether any parts are jamming and eliminate them by making the parts move in reverse directions. A prototype of the SBFVFS has been successfully developed. Experimental investigation is carried out based on the prototype and the results are promising.