Parts assembly kitting apparatus and method

Claim 1

A method for compiling parts into individual kits made up of a first number of unique parts, a plurality of each said unique part being stored in bulk, in a non-singulated, non-orientated manner, in an individual separate first bin, said method in combination comprising: loading with a robot one of a third number of vibrational fabric oriented feeder means with a bulk of the first unique parts from said first bin; singulating said first unique parts from said feeder means, by moving said first unique parts up a vibrational fabric orientated inclined ramp and thereby causing non-singulated parts to return down the ramp, to one of a second number of vibrational fabric oriented diverting means, said second number being lower than said first number; delivering said first unique parts from said diverting means to a separate nest by a vibrational oriented fabric conveyor; manipulating said first unique parts from said nest to a kitting tray with a robot; relieving said first unique parts from said feeder means by opening a normally closed gate allowing the first unique parts to escape from the vibrational fabric oriented inclined ramp; loading said feeder means with at least second unique parts in a manner similar of the loading of the first unique parts; singulating said second unique parts to said diverting means in a manner similar to the singulating of the first unique parts; delivering said second unique parts from said diverter means to a separate nest in a manner similar to the delivering of the first unique parts; manipulating said second unique parts from said second magazines means to said kitting tray in a manner similar to the manipulating of the first unique parts.

Claim 2

A method for compiling parts into individual kits made up of a first number of unique parts, a plurality of each said unique part being stored in bulk, in a non-singulated, non-orientated manner, in an individual separate first bin, said method in combination comprising: loading with a robot one of a third number of vibrational fabric oriented feeder means with a bulk of the first unique parts from said first bin; singulating said first unique parts from said feeder means, by moving said first unique parts up a vibrational fabric orientated inclined ramp and thereby causing non-singulated parts to return down the ramp, to one of a second number of vibrational fabric oriented diverting means, said second number being lower than said first number; delivering said first unique parts from said diverting means to a separate nest by a vibrational oriented fabric conveyor; manipulating said first unique parts from said nest to a kitting tray with a robot; relieving said first unique parts from said feeder means by opening a normally closed gate allowing the first unique parts to escape from the vibrational fabric oriented inclined ramp; loading said feeder means with at least second unique parts in a manner similar of the loading of the first unique parts; singulating said second unique parts to said diverting means in a manner similar to the singulating of the first unique parts; delivering said second unique parts from said diverter means to a separate nest in a manner similar to the delivering of the first unique parts; manipulating said second unique parts from said second magazines means to said kitting tray in a manner similar to the manipulating of the first unique parts.