Flexible parts array system with multiple supplier of assembly parts and digitalized vibrating unit

In an automatic assembly production system, it is emerging as a vital concern to ensure the flexibility of the part supply process which is one of the important assembly steps but limits the flexibility of the system in accordance with model change. This paper deals with a flexible parts array system for arraying parts by providing three-dimensional vibration to a parts tray which has relief forms designed to trap the parts in the desired orientation. There will be a unit supplying parts employing a matrix-structured parts box storage rack and enabling 18 parts to be supplied in order to easily cope with model change. In addition to this, a vibratory unit which uses two pairs of unbalanced masses is introduced for precise and stable three-dimensional vibration using controls of the rotating speeds of the unbalanced masses and the relative angles between unbalanced masses. The beating effect frequently used in arranging relatively complicated and heavy parts is theoretically examined and verified through experiment.