What is a Friction Feeder? And Other Frequently Asked Questions
Many companies have seen the benefits of automating their processes. Friction feeders are a powerful piece of automation equipment, capable of enhancing a system or boosting productivity as a standalone piece of equipment. Just learning about automation or friction feeders? As automation and friction feeder experts we have all the frequently asked questions answered!
Friction feeders are a powerful piece of automation equipment that separates and dispenses flat products from a vertical stack, one product at a time.
How does a friction feeder work?
Where are friction feeders used?
As a piece of automation equipment, friction feeders are often used in larger automation systems, though they can stand independently. Friction feeders can be found in several different industries including, packaging, printing, food, medical, and more. Examples of friction-feeding applications include tipping, batching, counting, inserting, collating, and more.
The best way to know if your product will feed is to test the product. At MFT Automation, we understand the need to test before you invest. If you send us a sample of your product we will send you a free video demo of your product being run through our equipment.
Why invest in a friction feeder?
Automation has a high return on investment. Time is money and companies save a lot of time when they invest in automation. Workers can focus on more complex tasks while the friction feeder takes care of tedious and monotonous tasks. These complex tasks are a more efficient use of wages when automation is an option. Product quality is also increased as friction feeders are more accurate and precise with placements and counting. Friction feeders are highly versatile in size, material, and maximum speeds to fit into any production environment and can easily be integrated into existing production lines or stand independently
What are the friction feeder options at MFT Automation?
Check out our high-performance friction feeders:
The Signature Series (v3)
A Different Angle: Versatile Vertical Friction Feeding
Generally, most friction feeders are placed above a transport, such as a lugged or vacuum belt conveyor, and dispense the product onto the surface at a straight or slightly downward angle. But some applications require a different angle.
Vertical feeding is a common solution for inserting a product into an opening on the top of various forms of packaging.
How to Install Feeder Parts After Unboxing Your ip3 Friction Feeder
To keep shipping economical, friction feeders are shipped partially assembled. Learn how to install feeder parts and components after unboxing your ip3 Friction Feeder.
Putting Two & Two Together: What is Tipping?
The packaging industry has seen tremendous growth with new consumer demands and innovations. According to a report by the consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, packaging generates about $900 billion in annual revenues worldwide. Automation has helped push the industry to new heights, saving time and money by automating monotonous processes that gobble up workers’ precious time and resources. A process that commonly gets automated in the packaging industry is tipping.
Where to Use Hygienic vs Washdown for Better Food Safety
In the food and beverage industry, food safety is a top priority. Keeping a sanitary environment at all stages of the food packaging process is vital for the safety of customers and the bottom line of the business. A joint study by the Food Marketing Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Association found that on average food recalls cost food companies $10 million in direct costs, this number doesn’t even include the damage to the brand’s reputation and the loss in sales while the company works to regain public trust. Investing in food safety as a business could save millions of dollars in legal damages in the long run.
5 Types of Equipment That Will Improve Your Automation Process
The success of your production line dependent on the technology and equipment you invest in to support it. And with the right automation process and equipment, your company could see increased production efficiency and substantial return on investment.
This probably isn’t new information to you. Surely, if you invest in packaging automation, your packaging process and production rates should increase. But the question here isn’t why should you invest in automation equipment, it’s what equipment is worth the investment? To learn more about the top five pieces of automation equipment that support increased product output, keep reading.
1. Friction Feeders
Friction Feeders are our bread and butter when it comes to automation solutions. These machines consistently feed products with speed and accuracy down your production line. When paired with other automation equipment, we’ve seen friction feeders increase product per minute output tenfold. That’s an automation process production rate you can’t beat. A friction feeder should be a core component of your production line if you’re aiming to increase output and production rates.
2. Automatic Drop Table
The Automation Drop Table or drop feeder batch, accumulate, square, and drop accurate counts of a variety of products. This user-friendly accessory integrates with MFT Friction Feeders like the MFT IP 250 XED, MFT IP 350 XED and MFT IP 550 XED. Its sophisticated algorithms ensure consistent and precise operation, even in the most demanding applications. Companies in the pharmaceutical industry, contract packaging, or print industry have found this accessory essential to their increased product output.
3. High Speed Collator
If you’re looking for a packaging efficiency solution, the High Speed Collator (HSC) is an accessory you’ll want to incorporate into your automation process. When paired with MFT friction feeders or labelers and an Automatic Drop Table, the HSC quickly becomes a powerful automated packaging system. The seamless design of this lug conveyor allows it to integrate with barcode scanners, wrappers, cartoners, vision systems, and more!
4. Labelers Machine
Another efficient piece of equipment that adds value and speed to your production line is a labeler machine. Some labeler machines, such as the Impresso Labeler, fit into small production areas and yet still require the same durability and life expectancy as other labelers on the market. Today’s production environment demands speed and accuracy unlike we’ve ever experienced. But, investing in a labeler machine for your automation process can be the solution you’ve been looking for to help meet those demands.
5. Shingling Conveyor
When looking for packaging efficiency solutions, the shingling conveyor is an accessory that can help with your production line flow. This piece of automation equipment adds extra production capacity and allows for increased up-times, improving production line efficiency. The shingling conveyor is often integrated with MFT Friction Feeders, High Speed Collators, and Vacuum Track Conveyors to increase product output.
The best place to start before evaluating your automation equipment is to start with your automation process. First, identify the problems and challenges your process faces that would improve product output and ROI if addressed. Next, find a piece of equipment or an accessory that can reduce the impact of your problems and/or eliminate them completely.
As you continue to improve your automation process with new equipment, we hope you keep our team in mind. They’re standing by to help you get started on your evaluation and unleash the packaging and processing potential your production line holds.
