Overview:

The Epoxy Potting Cell dispenses two-part epoxy into multiple cavities to fix components during appliance assembly.  The system uses a Fluid Research dispensing system to precisely control the volume and mixture of epoxy, and a Epson Cartesian robot to manipulate the dispensing head over a tray of six handles.

Process Description:

Handles enter the cell on a Bosch TS2 pallet, and are carried into the dispensing zone. Six handles are arranged on each pallet. Fluid is precisely dispensed into each of three cavities on each handle. The finished tray is then released to the conveyor system, which carries it through the component installation stations.  The handle is then heated to cure the epoxy and fix the components.

Technical Challenge:

It was discovered that idling the dispensing system for more than a few minutes would clog the mixing nozzle, requiring replacement and increasing down time.  The problem was corrected by adding a vented "purge bucket" beneath the system.  If idle for more than a few minutes, the robot moves over the purge bucket, and executes a short dispense cycle at regular intervals to keep the material in the nozzle from curing.