What Is a Roller Feeder?
A roller feeder is a mechanism that employs a set of rollers, usually two, to feed materials into a machine efficiently and consistently.
This device is integral in machines such as presses, primarily used for feeding steel sheets or other materials into molds or processing lines. The basic design of a roller feeder includes a stationary feeding roller and an upper roller connected to a spring, which securely holds the material in place. The feeding roller, typically powered by a motor, rotates to advance the material. Historically, feeding amount adjustments were made using mechanisms like crankshafts, eccentric discs, and various clutches. However, recent advancements have led to the increased adoption of NC (numerical control) roller feeders, which offer electronic control for enhanced precision.
NC roller feeders, with their ability for precise numerical control, provide significantly improved accuracy in feeding amounts compared to traditional methods. This precision is particularly beneficial in machining processes where exact material placement and consistency are critical.