FlexiBowl®: Single solution for all parts

FlexiBowl® by ARS is the flexible part feeding system for automated production lines using industrial robot or cobots. FlexiBowl® optimizes parts feeding by ensuring more parts are available for pick-up by the gripper in every cycle. The system improves overall feed rates, increases productivity and reduces changeover times.

The parts are fed onto a disc by one or more hoppers and positioned optimally. The combined action of the pulse generator and the rotational movement means every single part is quickly stabilized so that the robot can pick and place it as efficiently as possible. Used in thousands of production lines globally for feeding and loading all types of parts with measurements of 1 to 250 mm.

FlexiBowl® is employed in a variety of production settings by companies in all types of industries, and meets the specific needs of the production systems in which it is installed:

• Automotive
• Cosmetics
• Medical
• Electrical components
• Metal
• Plastics
• Non-rigid parts

Flexibowl® 200

FlexiBowl® 200 can feed products of any geometry, surface and material. It is compatible with all industrial robots and vision systems. One FlexiBowl® can feed entire ranges of parts measuring 1 to 10mm and weighing up to 20 g, replacing the need for the numerous units used in conventional systems.

• Automatic transportation, flipping and adding of parts
• Robust design specifically engineered for small parts
• Fast integration
• Dimensions of parts: 1 -10mm
• Pick height: 270mm
• Max weight of parts: 20g
• Load capacity: 1kg
• Dimensions: (LxWxH): 470 x 254 x 319
• Recommended bulk feeder: 1,5l
• Datasheet

Flexibowl® 350

Flexibowl® 350 is a compact flexible feeding system for all parts measuring between 1 and 20 mm and weighing up to 40g. It is compatible with 99.9% of parts and replaces the need for numerous feeding units used in conventional systems.

• Automatic transportation, flipping and adding of parts
• High performance and robust design with fast integration
• Compatible with 99.9% of parts
• Dimensions of parts: 1 -20mm
• Pick height: 270mm
• Max weight of parts: 40g
• Load capacity: 3kg
• Dimensions: (d): 447mm
• Recommended bulk feeder: 5 / 10 liters
• Datasheet

Flexibowl® 500

FlexiBowl® 500 is medium size flexible feeding system for all parts measuring between 5 and 50 mm and weighing up to 100g. It can feed products of any geometry, surface and material. Pulse speed, acceleration and frequency are easy to modify. Optimal separation can be achieved for each part enabling frequent production changeovers.

• Automatic transportation, flipping and adding of parts
• High performance and robust design with fast integration
• Compatible with 99.9% of parts
• Dimensions of parts: 5 -50mm
• Pick height: 270mm
• Max weight of parts: 100g
• Load capacity: 7kg
• Dimensions: (d): 629mm
• Recommended bulk feeder: 10 / 20 liters
• Datasheet

Flexibowl® 650

FlexiBowl® 650 is large size flexible part feeding system for all parts measuring between 20 and 110 mm and weighing up to 170g. FlexiBowl® is perfect for frequent production changeovers taking just a few seconds, with no need for long mechanical retooling.

• Automatic transportation, flipping and adding of parts
• High performance and robust design with fast integration
• Also available as a cleanroom version (ISO 5)
• Compatible with 99.9% of parts
• Available also with a divider for simultaneous feeding of different parts 
• Dimensions of parts: 20 -110mm
• Pick height: 270mm
• Max weight of parts: 170g
• Load capacity: 7kg
• Dimensions: (d): 778mm
• Recommended bulk feeder: 20 / 40 liters
• Datasheet

Flexibowl® 800

FlexiBowl® 800 is a large flexible feeding system for all parts measuring between 60 and 250 mm and weighing up to 250g. It can feed products of any geometry, surface and material. Higher speed rate means better productivity. FlexiBowl® is often the choice when it comes to fulfilling significantly large orders, because of the extraordinary quantity of parts it processes.

• Automatic transportation, flipping and adding of parts
• High performance and robust design with fast integration
• Also available as a cleanroom version (ISO 5)
• Compatible with 99.9% of parts
• Available also with a divider for simultaneous feeding of different parts 
• Dimensions of parts: 60 -250mm
• Pick height: 270mm
• Max weight of parts: 250g
• Load capacity: 7kg
• Dimensions: (d): 941mm
• Recommended bulk feeder: 20 / 40 liters
• Datasheet

FlexiVision for Flexibowl®

FlexiBowl® can be fitted with FlexiVision, the machine vision system specially designed for this solution. FlexiVision control all operations of the FlexiBowl®, and it is developed with Cognex Vision Pro library tools.

FlexiVision dynamically controls all FlexiBowl® operations, including acceleration, deceleration, speed, angle and activation of the flip mechanism. It handles the bulk feeder algorithm and calibration of the robot. The system also allows transferring the part coordinates to the robot for part pick up. FlexiVision helps manage communication with the robot and guides preparation of the recipe database. FlexiVision supports up to two additional inspection cameras for controlling several Flexibowls with one Flexivision system.

FlexiBowl® part feeding system can of course also be used with third-party machine vision systems as needed. 

Read more here.

Bulk feeders

The bulk feeder feeds and regulates the flow of parts onto the FlexiBowl® disc. With Flexivision the bulk feeder control is fully automatic: the vision system monitors the amount of parts in the pick-up area, commands activation of the FlexiBowl® sequence and triggers the bulk feeder to unload the replenishment parts.

There are five different bulk feeders available with differing container volumes and construction materials. The correct size of the bulk feeder depends on the size of the FlexiBowl® and production autonomy and tact time requirements.

• Bulk feeder sizes (liters): 5, 10, 20, 40
• Material: stainless steel 
• Coating option: polyurethane
• Several accessory options 
• More information