DPA Automated Assembly and Packaging Machine

A method relating to assembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a first gear member, and a second gear member, the body including a portion attachable to a dental handpiece, and a hinged closure attached to the body, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of dissimilarly oriented bodies;
• positioning multiple ones of the bodies in similar orientations in a track;
• suspending the similarly oriented multiple bodies from the track by the hinged closure of each body;
• moving the similarly oriented multiple bodies along the track;
• isolating a single body from the multiple bodies in the track by raising a single body from the track;
• holding the isolated body from the track for transfer to a fixture for holding the dental product during assembly;
• and
• transferring the isolated body to the fixture.

A method relating to assembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a first gear member having a gear end and a shaft end, and a second gear member, the method comprising:

• receiving and holding a body of the dental product at a fixture during assembly;
• providing a plurality of dissimilarly oriented first gear members;
• positioning multiple ones of the first gear members in similar orientations in a track;
• suspending the similarly oriented multiple first gear members by the gear end of each first gear member from the track;
• moving the similarly oriented multiple first gear members along the track;
• isolating a first gear member from the multiple first gear members in the track by raising a single first gear member from the track;
• holding the isolated first gear member from the track for transfer to the body in the fixture;
• and
• transferring the isolated first gear member to the body in the fixture.

A method relating to assembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a first gear member, and a second gear member having a flange, the method comprising:

• at a fixture, receiving and holding a body and a first gear member of the dental product during assembly;
• providing a plurality of dissimilarly oriented second gear members;
• positioning multiple ones of the second gear members in similar orientations in a track;
• suspending the similarly oriented multiple second gear members by the flange of each second gear member from the track;
• moving the similarly oriented multiple second gear members along the track;
• isolating a second gear member from the multiple second gear members in the track by moving a single second gear member from the track;
• holding the isolated second gear member from the track for transfer to the body at the fixture;
• and
• transferring the isolated second gear member to the body at the fixture.

A method relating to assembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a first gear member, a second gear member, and a tool having a base end attachable to a second gear member, the method comprising:

• at a fixture, receiving and holding a body, a first gear member, and a second gear member of the dental product during assembly;
• providing a plurality of dissimilarly oriented tools;
• positioning multiple ones of the tools in similar orientations in a track;
• supporting the similarly oriented tools by a base end of each tool from the track;
• moving the similarly oriented multiple tools along the track;
• isolating a single tool from the multiple tools in the track by moving a single tool from the track;
• holding the isolated tool from the track for transfer to the body at the fixture;
• and
• transferring the isolated tool to the body at the fixture.