Auto Feeder

geo0rpo

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Jul 19, 2021, 7:46:52 AM7/19/21

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Hello friends,

I have searched a LOT and did not find a "perfect" auto feeder design.

I have also designed several versions of auto feeder mostly with pulling the cover method but the problem is always to detect the next tape hole. I did some tests with optical sensors but they have different behaviour on different types of tape (no transparent of course). My last method is with AV4404 micro switch (idea from PP4 -

Automatic Feeder) which seems to work reliably (video to follow) but I do not know for how long :)

So a question comes in mind. Would it be possible for the top camera to detect the tape advance? I mean, move to the feeder, trigger a "feed" actuator and when the next hole is detected trigger a "stop" actuator.

Thanks!

geo0rpo

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:15:17 PM7/20/21

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O2EPQiluDM

geo0rpo

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:15:48 PM7/20/21

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On Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 7:15:17 PM UTC+3 geo0rpo wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O2EPQiluDM

geo0rpo

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:16:37 PM7/20/21

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Mike Menci

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:30:09 PM7/20/21

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Simple as much as it could be, & great!

" Would it be possible for the top camera to detect the tape advance? I mean, move to the feeder, trigger a "feed" actuator and when the next hole is detected trigger a "stop" actuator? "

Code guys have to solve this one!

Cgheers

Mike

Mike Menci

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:34:30 PM7/20/21

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You are using this Panasonic AV4 - see enclosed ?

Panasonic jken_av4.pdf

geo0rpo

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Jul 20, 2021, 12:43:32 PM7/20/21

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Thanks Mike,

Yes 769-AV4404 mouser part Nr.

The angle of the switch is very critical and it changes with the tape thickness but it works well for now.

Of course the drawings , STL etc are available for anyone interested.

David Griffiths

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Jul 20, 2021, 10:58:56 PM7/20/21

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I am playing with an auto feeder design at the moment also using the pulled cover tape idea.

Instead of using optical or switch detection directly on the index holes, I have made a small index wheel and then used optical detection on the index wheel.

My wheel has 14 teeth and is 16mm diameter.

geo0rpo

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Jul 21, 2021, 1:15:50 AM7/21/21

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Good idea David,

Do you have any videos?

Slawek Wojtysiak

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Feb 25, 2022, 1:55:04 AM2/25/22

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Hi geo0rpo,

I recently found your files on Thingiverse. Thanks for posting them!

Did you choose to revert back to optical, or do you still use the AV4404, or a combination of both depending on paper or clear tape?

Also, I see from the picture on Thingiverse that you have the 4RPM motor which seems a bit slow in your YouTube videos. Have you ever tried the 9RPM?

geo0rpo

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Mar 8, 2022, 2:43:34 PM3/8/22

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Hi,

I changed to optical but with very low current on the transmitter LED so that only when the sprocket hole is actually between the transmitter and receiver it will be detected.

The AV4404 worked just fine. The only problem was that the switch angle to the tape was critical and angle changes according to the tape thickness.

Yes I know 4RPM is very slow but powerful. Actually have some 10RPM (or 9RPM I do not remember) motors on the way and I will test soon.

In the last batch of 100 pcbs that I assembled the feeders worked flawlessly :)

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