Berger Feeder | Camera-supported feeding system for workpieces in processing cells
The Berger Gruppe is competing for the Handling Award 2020 with a camera-supported feeding system for workpieces in processing cells.
The workpieces fall randomly onto a hopper belt. From there, they are fed to a second conveyor belt, where they are straightened depending on the fill level and fed to a third – semi-transparent – belt with a light source. A camera system measures the position and orientation of the workpieces. Other features such as embossing stamps can also be recorded so that it can be verified whether the workpiece is the right way round. The camera measurement system forwards the measurement data to a SCARA robot, which positions the workpieces. From there, they are picked up by a handling robot and fed to the subsequent process. If a workpiece is not detected, it falls onto a fourth conveyor belt, which feeds it back to the first hopper belt, creating a closed cycle.
During the design and conception of the Berger Feeder, care was taken to ensure that the operator’s changeover effort is minimal. The special feature of the system is the evaluation software, which makes it possible to work with commercially available cameras so that the system can be used sustainably for many years. The software is easy to use and requires no programming knowledge, so that the system can be operated by any employee.