Improving Components Feeding: A Rotatory Device

Packaging lines need to create small batches of components before the final kitting operation. This task is usually performed by mechanical hoppers that require a certain amount of time to be ready for the next loading operation. In this paper, a new device that reduces this amount of time is proposed. Such device is composed of a single rotational part whose shape is optimized to help components falling with a free falling motion, minimizing the takt time of the device. The blades of the device are designed with a proper algorithm that consider the composition of motion of the rotary distributor and of the components.