Not just for compression springs – Drum feeders from Afag

The image shows an Afag drum feeder as a ready-to-attach unit for untangling, singulating, and feeding springs as well as small parts of assembly bulk material.

With the drum feeders from the handling and feeding technology specialist Afag, customers now have a wide range of delivery and performance options available. The new untangling and feeding systems in drum feeder design complement the thousands of proven vibration feeders in sheet metal/stainless steel versions as well as in 5-axis CAD/CAM-milled plastic versions.

The Afag drum feeder is designed as a compact sub- or partial system solution and consists of the main components: drive, linear feeder, drum, vibrating feeder, and singulation. The drum's rotational speed is infinitely and finely adjustable.

The standardized Afag drum feeder is universally flexible in application, used for automatic untangling and singulation of springs as well as small parts in component feed. Depending on the requirements of the parts to be fed, only relevant system components need to be adjusted, resulting in very low retooling costs.

The untangling and feeding systems are to be supplemented with an Afag linear feeder of the HLF series, equipped with a vibration force balance. The integrated control allows for both autonomous and flexible operation and also supplies additional peripheral devices. It offers eight digital and two analog outputs, 12 digital inputs, and an eight-way valve block with 3/2-way valves.

Thus, the basic devices are to be customized for specific products, e.g., to include singulation with a magazine feed (external control required), or to incorporate a filling chute with cover, which is pneumatically locked and can be inductively queried upon request. Other equipment options include a bulkhead blow-off to assist the untangling process, a cross-blow and discharge function to remove NIO parts, or an ionizer bar for compensating electrostatic charge (24 V).