Combining the SmartDispenser’s AirFree® fluid dispense technology with the patent pending LC/MT/SC Connector Mount and the precision of Fishman’s benchtop robot provides the process control required to automate the fiber optic connector assembly process. The SmartDispenser® fluid dispensing system, featuring the AirFree® LDS Dispense Guns, delivers fluid deposits with such a high repeatability each LC, MT or SC connector is filled perfectly every cycle.
Automation of the process standardizes performance work station to work station and facility to facility while eliminating rejects, rework and wasted fluid, thus increasing production yields as well as the bottom-line. An enterprise-wide solution.
Offline Gun Reload Station – Two Component Epoxy
The Two Component Offline Gun Reload Station (OLGRS) allows the AirFree® Linear Drive System (LDS) Dispense Guns, with syringe fluid reservoir, to be loaded while the automation cell is producing fiber optic connectors.
The benefit of the OLGRS AirFree® System is it reduces production downtime due to empty syringe changeover from minutes to 28 seconds. This innovation is a critical component to allowing the assembly of LC, MT or SC fiber optic connectors to be automated, increasing production throughput while dramatically lowering the cost of typical hand-held benchtop assembly lines.
A single OLGARS AirFree® system can service multiple automation cells. There are two OLGRS options below.
LC, SC, MT F.O.C. SmartApp™
The Production Manager performs a time study on how long it takes to fill a syringe reservoir. The epoxy cure time, the syringe filling time and the number of fiber optic connectors in the connector mount are entered into the LC, SC, MT Fiber Optic Connector SmartApp™. The SmartDispenser® calculates when to start the syringe filling process, by subtracting the syringe filling time from the cure time, to assure the syringe filling process is completed at the same time the epoxy cure time is complete. An alert is sent to the screen notifying the operator when to start filling syringes.
When the epoxy cure time is complete a signal is sent from the SmartDispenser® to the robot automatically stopping the robot with one exception. The SmartDispenser® will only send the signal when the connector mount is complete. The SmartDispenser® knows how many connectors are in the connector mount and counts them as they are filled. Once the last connector is filled the signal is sent stopping production at the same time the syringe filling process completes minimizing downtime due to syringe reservoir change over to seconds.