Spring Assembly Machine

MWES provided this firm with a machine that uses a 15-inch cast aluminum vibratory bowl feeder system for the input seal loading and a Camco 601RDM six-station dial with a 24-inch aluminum top plate for the assembly process.  The dial plate contains six-part fixtures that are designed with a tooling quick change to accommodate the assembly of different parts. The automatic seal assembly system includes a 10-inch cast aluminum vibratory bowl feeder system.  To assure the quality of the spring installation, the machine utilizes a conductivity sensor, as well as proximity sensors for spring presence verification.  Once the assembly is complete, the unloading system uses a pneumatic “pick and place” system to unload the completed parts from the fixture on the dial and into the proper bins.

The operation of the spring assembly machine begins when a rubber input seal is fed into a “dead nest” from the vibratory bowl feeding system.  Then “pick and place” system picks up the rubber seal and places it onto the fixture located on the dial plate at the load station.  The rubber input seal indexes to the metal insert detection station, where a proximity sensor detects the installation quality of the rubber input seal.  Once the input seal is approved, the assembly dial indexes to the spring assembly station where the springs feed out from the vibratory bowl into the spring drag mechanism.  The mandrel comes down over the spring from where the spring becomes affixed to the mandrel.

The assembled part then indexes to the spring inspection station where the spring assembly is inspected for the proper installation of the spring by a pneumatically operated continuity contact sensor.  Once the assembled part passes inspection, the dial indexes to the spring presence station where two proximity sensors are utilized to check for the spring’s presence.  Lastly, the assembly part indexes to the unload station where the assembled part is either placed in the “good parts” bin or the “bad parts” bin.