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Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders

Carlson Step Feeders are unmatched in quality, durability, and output capability.

S35 Automatic Step Feeder Screw Feeding Carlson Engineering Side 13
Small screw feeding

S3.5 Step Feeder Series

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders | Carlson Engineering & Manufacturing
Medium sized screws

S6.0 Step Feeder Series

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders | Carlson Engineering & Manufacturing
Extra-large sized screws

S12.0 Step Feeder Series

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders | Carlson Engineering & Manufacturing
Small screw presenting

S3.5 Step Feeder Screw Presenters

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders | Carlson Engineering & Manufacturing
Medium screw presenting

S6.0 Step Feeder Screw Presenters

Step Feeders & Automatic Stepfeeders | Carlson Engineering & Manufacturing
Extra-large sized screws

S12.0 Step Feeder Screw Presenters

Carlson Step Feeders

How does an automated step feeder system work?

Stepfeeders work by lifting fasteners up from a tray, which holds hundreds of fastener, into an escapement track with a screw elevator.

The step feeder’s motorized screw elevator lift assembly automates the process of loading screws into the track, which makes our unique stepfeeders an incredibly effective means of feeding screws to an automatic screwdriver drive head.

This process of feeding results in a streamlined manufacturing workflow that is unparalleled by traditional screw feeding methods – and, because stepfeeders do not rely on vibratory motion (like traditional vibratory bowl feeders), step feeding is a better solution for feeding screws that are coated with substrates such as Loctite.

This is because the step feeding process is low-abrasion, and the screws don’t become overly scratched. This also preserves the lifespan of the step feeder itself, as the tray and escapement track will be in better condition for a longer period of time than a vibratory bowl feeder.

All of our stepfeeders are available with an optional fastener hopper, which comes in three different corresponding sizes and varying capacities to accommodate for the different-sized screws which will be fed. Additionally, and stepfeeder (whether with or without a hopper) can be fitted with a plexiglass enclosure with aluminum framing, which serves to keep contaminants such as dust particles out.

Carlson screw feeders are engineered to work for hours without errors or fastener jams.

What makes our screw feeder devices so unique is the level of attention to detail that goes into the prevention of fastener jams. Jams along the track and in the screw escapement are one of the leading causes of frustration for automation engineers and assembly line builders when implementing screw feeders or presenters, so we have managed to build a fool-proof series of mechanisms, which we call the 3-step fastener alignment verification process, directly into the track. It is virtually impossible for a screw to become jammed along the track of a Carlson feeder, as there are too many precautions in place to allow for this to occur.

S35 Automatic Step Feeder Screw Feeding Carlson Engineering Side 9

Using a step feeder in place of a vibratory bowl feeder has certain advantages that bowl feeders don't.

The screw elevator lift assembly, which is used in place of the conventional vibratory bowl, helps to reduce noise, and also provides less agitative handling of coated screws.

The elevator lift assembly lifts screws out of the tray and into the escapement track, resulting in the elimination of uneven coating distribution among fasteners coated with substrates such as loctite.

Our stepfeeders and step feeder presenters are configured to minimize track-level errors.

What makes our step feeder devices so unique is the level of attention to detail that goes into the prevention of fastener jams. Jams along the track and in the screw escapement are one of the leading causes of frustration for automation engineers and assembly line builders when implementing screw feeders or presenters, so we have managed to build a fool-proof series of mechanisms, which we call the 3-step fastener alignment verification process, directly into the track.

Error Proof Screw Feeders - Sorting Jet

Step 1: Sorting Air Jet

The first step in our 3-step fastener verification is our Non-Adjustable Sorting Air jet – a highly pressurized stream of air that ejects misaligned fasteners from the track - our first line of defense.

Error Proof Screw Feeders - Qualifying Track

Step 2: Qualifying Track Cover:​​

The second step is a Non-Adjustable Bowl Track Qualifying Cover, which prevents misaligned fasteners from passing underneath its clearance and moving down the escapement track in the first place.

Error Proof Screw Feeders - Optic Sensor

Step 3: Optic Sensor​

When the optic sensor notices that the escapement is full of screws, the step feeder's screw elevator will stop lifting fasteners to the track. This prevents back pressure and jams in the feeder tray.

Carlson stepfeeder advantages:

Carlson step screw feeder systems carry with them the following advantages over other manufacturers’ models:

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