Bowl feeder

They are used when a randomly sorted bulk package of small components must be fed into another machine one-by-one, oriented in a particular direction.

Usually included is an out feed accumulation track (linear or gravity) to convey parts along and discharge into the assembly machine comes in many shapes and sizes.

The track length, width, and depth are carefully chosen to suit each application, component shape and size.

Several factors must be considered when selecting a parts feeder, including the industry, application, material properties and product volume.

With increasing integration across an entire production process, the need for feeders is sometimes reduced by supplying the components on tape packages or similar, that keep them oriented the same way during shipping and storage.

Vibratory bowl feeder feeding plastic pins. Vibrations move the pins up the ramp. A slot in the wall at the top lets the narrow end of pins slide through, with the head facing inward. Pins that don't align this way fall back into the bowl as the ramp narrows. Aligned pins slide down the narrow ramp and slip under a curved rod which holds them in place until they end up at the output station.
Feeder bowl image from 1950 US patent 2,654,465