Feeding Concepts Inc.

Here’s a real clean bowl, built for a stamping, using a profile selector to get the correct profile and orientation needed. The system selects the parts based on a leading and trailing point, and then we use the profile of the incorrectly cut-out part to discharge the wrong part from that orientation. After that, it moves onto a conveyor, and a sensing station detects whether the hole is on the left or right-hand side, ejecting it if it’s not needed. This bowl is on its way to coating and then up to the front room for the setup of the whole system. Nice build, Team! #vibratoryfeeder #bowlfeeder #automation

Blowing parts to specific locations is always an advantage when space is limited. This allows you to move the machine away from the assembly area while still delivering parts on demand for assembly. In this example, we're blowing a clinch nut through a flexible square tube. As shown in the video, we can stack them in the tube to serve as a buffer at the location. Not all parts can be blow-fed, but when they can, it opens the door to many automation possibilities. #automation #bowlfeeder #vibratoryfeeder

On the road today in Grand Rapids, Holland, and western Michigan. I also have a team doing an install north of Grand Rapids. Busy day! The team back at the shop has this beauty almost ready: two systems, escaping bolts to ten locations, and diverting those ten to 26 locations total. I can’t say enough about my team—they really have my back. Six stops today. Can’t wait to see all my great customers!

Hardly get out of the office anymore with all the goto meetings and virtual sales. Always try to get out to customers when I can. On the road today heading into the great state of Michigan after two stops in northern Indiana. Six sales calls in two states with six hours driving. Feels like the old days before the internet. Nothing like meeting face to face with a customer. #sales #ontheroad #automation #bibratoryfeeders

This unit just came back for rework because oil was introduced to the feeding system. It’s always a problem when you build for dry parts and oil appears later. The tooling doesn't work, and parts won’t climb the track. After removing the polyurethane from the feeder and etching the track, we were able to get the machine back into the operational window, and it’s now heading back to production. If we know from the beginning that we have oily parts, we can design the system to accommodate them. Great save on this one team! #vibratoryfeeder #automation #bowlfeeder

With this being an election year, there is no shortage of ammunition bowls on order. This is a short video showcasing one of our lead-filled projectile feeders. The customer requested a feed system to sort and reject projectiles that are not filled with lead. In this video, all parts marked with purple dye are not lead-filled and are ejected at two check stations using air. The parts are selected with air at the correct angle, with weight as the sorting feature. Only good parts can pass through the system. By the end of the shift, they may have 20-30 bad parts remaining in the feeder. There is a purge option after each batch run. This system saves the customer $$$ by not requiring a vision or weight station. Great build team! #vibratoryfeeder #bowlfeeder #ammunition #automation

Just completed a cutting-edge system featuring a blind nut feeder with a blow feed unit to a clinching head. The system efficiently utilizes one air jet for preselecting standing parts, guiding them into a tube with thea tapered trailing. Parts are then stacked and buffered at the escapement before being blown to the designated location. Impressive performance, achieving speeds exceeding 100 feet per second and a cycle time of 30 parts per minute. Great work, team! #clinching #vibratory #bowlfeeder #automation

Just finished up this system. It has a few small changes and is now off to heat treat. The gripper lift station is nice and clean, with a part present sensor. #vibratoryfeeder #bowlfeeder #automation

We don’t typically use air jets on feeders for part selection, but this one is almost magical. This pre-selection air jet correctly orients 100% of the parts. Two final selectors ensure that no improperly oriented parts make it through. The units will be installed on a gantry moving over 70 feet and will include a total of twelve bowls. Customer buyoff is scheduled for today. It should be a home run! Great job, team! #vibratoryfeeder #bowlfeeder #automation #fasteners

This video shows a feeder that handles chicken feeder parts. It feeds 30–40 parts per minute per line. The parts are then transferred to a larger robotic assembly cell. This system is one of two machines. #automation #bowlfeeder #vibratory