Track Seal Inspection & Assembly Automation

The robotic assembly system MWES provided to our customer allows for minimal operator interaction during the assembly process. The operator loads the rings, cans and lips into their respective hopper, as well as loads the cartons, bags and totes. Lastly, the operator adjusts the conveyors and tracks to accommodate the seal size before selecting the assembly on the HMI.

The automation system consists of a pair of bulk hoppers, one for the can and lip and the other for the load ring. The bulk feeders feed parts from bulk totes into their respective bowl feeders. Each bowl feeder cingulates and orients the parts so that they are ready for the first inspection machines. The dial table presents each part under a series of cameras and laser measurement sensors that inspect each part for the desired quality characteristics. The transparent dial table allows the parts to be inspected from the top and the bottom without needing to flip the part.  Rejected parts are directed to a sequestered container to keep them from being mixed back in with good products. Upon exiting the first inspection machines, the parts are transferred onto another conveyor system.

Upon exiting the bowl feeder, the parts are conveyed to the inspection machines where they are transferred onto a transparent rotating dial table. The four-station rotary dial machine with interchangeable tooling plates for different size seals. The first station loads the load ring onto a post, the second station loads the can and lip, the third station presses the can and lip into the load ring and the fourth station unloads the assembly from the dial. The seal assembly then passes through a height inspection station that will verify the assembled height of the seal. Rejected assemblies are directed to a sequestered container to keep them from being mixed back in with good assemblies.

Once the parts have exited the assembly machine the track seal assemblies are transferred to a stacking fixture that will stack the seals in quantities of ten. The robot unloads the fixture and places the seals on a rack for post-curing of the seals. The six racks are double-sided to allow for 144 spindles on each side. Each spindle holds 50 seal assemblies and one cart holds 14,400 seal assemblies. A docking station positions the carts for automatic loading by the robot. Once one side is fully loaded, the docking station rotates the cart 180 degrees to load the second side.