Automated Washing Machine Assembly Line Solutions

Dryer Drum Assembly Line

High-efficiency, compact, and fully protected—our Dryer Assembly Line delivers a stable ≤22-second cycle within an 11.5 × 7.5 m footprint,

combining modular automation with ergonomic manual stations to ensure consistent quality and fast production start-up.

The Mission of the Line

The dryer production process begins with blank sheet loading and destacking, followed by conveying, edge bending, and lock seaming. After upper and lower flange forming, manual insert installation and screw fastening are performed. The part then undergoes visual inspection, before being robotically transferred to the overhead conveyor for downstream processing.

Production line parameters

Cycle Time	≤22 seconds
Footprint	11.5 m × 7.5 m
Safety	Column + mesh guarding, interlocks, E-stops
Automation Level	40%–90% customizable
Manpower	Typically 3–6 operators (depending on automation level)
Utilities	Power and air supply according to equipment configuration

Process Flow

Main Equipment Overview

1. Transfer Cart

The Transfer Cart is designed based on the structure of the existing drum automatic line, ensuring stable handling and smooth integration with the production flow. The cart frame is built with aluminum profiles and equipped with four wheels—two fixed wheels at the front for guided movement and two swivel wheels at the rear for flexible maneuverability.

A handrail, limit plate, and pedal-style foot stand are installed on the swivel-wheel side to enhance operator control and safety. A reference block is mounted on the fixed-wheel side and on the left side of the cart’s push-in direction to ensure accurate alignment with the material rack. Additionally, a sheet-positioning rod is installed on the left side of the feed direction, while a rack limiter is placed on the right side to secure the material during loading.

2. Single-Station Gantry Robot

The Single-Station Gantry Robot consists of a rigid frame, lifting mechanism, horizontal transfer mechanism, vacuum gripper, and double-sheet detection system. The main frame is a welded steel-tube structure and also supports the downstream conveyor.

The lifting mechanism adopts a screw-driven system combined with a synchronous belt and guide rods, with the vacuum gripper mounted at the end to handle sheet loading and unloading. The horizontal transfer mechanism uses a synchronous belt with linear guides, carrying the lifting assembly to perform smooth lateral movement.

A sponge-type vacuum gripper is used to ensure stable sheet handling, while the double-sheet detector—mounted on the main frame—verifies sheet thickness during horizontal transfer to prevent misfeeds.

3. Conveyor Unit

The Conveyor Unit is composed of a mounting plate, guiding mechanism, pusher mechanism, and positioning system. The mounting plate allows the conveyor to be securely installed on the frame interface of the upstream single-station gantry robot.

The guiding and positioning system includes a fixed section and an adjustable section. The adjustable section uses a servo motor, screw drive, and linear guide to accommodate sheet materials of different widths. Both sections adopt upper, lower, and side guide wheels; the upper guide wheels can be lifted by a pneumatic cylinder to allow sheets to be loaded from above.

The pusher mechanism uses a servo-driven pusher rod combined with a chain and linear guide structure, enabling precise forward feeding of the sheet along its length into the downstream edging and lock-seaming integrated machine.

4.V-Bending & Lock-Seaming Integrated Machine

The V-Bending & Lock-Seaming Integrated Machine is a multifunctional unit composed of a main frame, lock-seaming mechanism, hydraulic station, left/right edging mechanisms, guiding and positioning system, round-forming and clamping mechanism, support mechanism, and flipping mechanism. The frame is a welded steel-tube and plate structure consisting of upper and lower sections: the lock-seaming module and round-forming/clamping module are mounted on the upper frame, while the edging modules, guiding/positioning system, support structure, and flipping mechanism are installed on the lower frame.

The guiding and positioning system includes a fixed section and an adjustable section. The fixed section uses pneumatic positioning to provide clearance during round forming, while the adjustable section adopts a servo motor, screw drive, and linear guide to accommodate sheets of various widths. Both sections use upper and lower guide wheels for stable feeding.

The left and right edging mechanisms are divided into forming cutters and model-change components. The forming cutters use a cylinder-driven structure with guide rods and edging dies to bend the sheet once it is positioned. The model-change portion uses a servo motor, linear guide, and synchronous belt to adjust for different sheet lengths.

The support mechanism is cylinder-driven and provides structural reinforcement during the lock-seaming operation. The flipping mechanism, also cylinder-driven, rotates the drum ring 90° after forming to facilitate downstream robotic pickup.

The round-forming and clamping unit consists of a round-forming subassembly and a tightening subassembly. The round-forming section uses cylinders and semicircular blocks to lift and shape the sheet into the lock-seaming position. The tightening section includes a downward pressing cylinder and servo-driven side clamping units, which secure the bent edges firmly in place.

The lock-seaming mechanism uses a cylinder paired with lock-seaming dies. After the round-forming and clamping mechanism positions the sheet, the cylinder drives the die downward to complete the lock-seam. The hydraulic station powering the system is equipped with a servo-driven main motor for precise and efficient operation.

5.V-Bending Machine

The V-Bending Machine consists of a welded steel-tube frame, upper V-bending mechanism, lower V-bending mechanism, mandrel expansion and rotation system, and material support unit. The frame is divided into left and right sections: the upper and lower V-bending mechanisms are mounted on the left side, while the mandrel rotation system and support mechanism are positioned on the right.

The upper V-bending mechanism includes a positioning wheel set and a V-bending wheel set. Both wheel sets move laterally via a servo motor, screw drive, and linear guide, working together to perform precise V-bending. Vertical movement is servo-driven to accommodate drum rings of different heights.

The lower V-bending mechanism also consists of positioning and V-bending wheel sets, using servo-controlled screw drives and linear guides for accurate forming.

The mandrel expansion and rotation system includes a cylinder-driven four-segment mandrel that expands to hold the drum ring, and a geared-motor-and-chain rotation unit that rotates the ring during V-bending.

A cylinder-driven support unit positions the drum ring before bending begins. The machine also features lubrication devices for the positioning and V-bending wheels.

Different drum diameters require manual mandrel replacement.

6.Dual-Station Gantry Robot

The Dual-Station Gantry Robot is composed of a rigid welded frame, lifting mechanism, horizontal transfer mechanism, and drum-gripping unit. The main frame is constructed from welded steel tubing for high stiffness and stability.

The lifting mechanism uses a screw drive combined with a synchronous belt and guide rods, with the drum-gripping unit mounted at the end to perform vertical loading and unloading of drum rings.

The horizontal transfer mechanism adopts a servo-driven rack-and-pinion system with linear guides, enabling synchronized left–right movement of both robotic arms and ensuring efficient drum transfer between stations.

The drum-gripping unit uses an electric cylinder paired with circular gripping blocks. Different drum diameters require manual replacement of the corresponding gripping blocks.

7.Discharge Conveyor Line

The system is composed of a main frame and a conveyor unit.

The main frame is constructed from welded steel tubing for high structural rigidity.

The conveyor is driven by a standard motor, with power transmitted through round belts.

8.Insert Plate Installation Workbench

The equipment frame is constructed from welded square steel tubing.

The workstation is designed for screw-fastening with the inner tub positioned horizontally. Non-powered rollers are installed on both sides of the tabletop, allowing operators to easily rotate the inner tub during screw installation.

A height-adjustable bracket is provided for suspending a pneumatic screw gun. The pneumatic tool is supplied by the customer.

The workstation includes a screw storage box with a capacity of ≥500 screws for convenient access during operation.

9.Non-Powered Slideway

The equipment frame is assembled from sheet-metal components.

Non-powered rollers are mounted on the frame to transfer the drum ring from the insert plate installation workbench to the pre-rolling machine.

10.Pre-Rolling Machine

The equipment is designed based on the structure of existing automatic drum production lines.

It consists of three stations: loading, pre-rolling, and unloading.
Loading station: frame and loading mechanism
Pre-rolling station: frame, dual-station manipulator, upper rotating unit, lower rotating unit, flattening roller set, pre-rolling roller set, and splash-proof guarding
Unloading station: frame only

The loading table adopts a profiling-table design. The robot places the A/B/C sheet onto the profiling table, and the dual-station manipulator picks up the drum ring.
The main frame is a welded assembly of steel tubes and plates, consisting of front, main, and rear sections corresponding to the loading, pre-rolling, and unloading stations.
The dual-station manipulator uses a servo module for vertical motion, a servo + ballscrew system for horizontal travel, and pneumatic cylinders for gripping, enabling drum-ring transfer across all stations.
The upper rotating unit uses a servo + timing belt for rotation, and a servo + ballscrew + guide-post structure for vertical movement. The pre-rolling and flattening mechanisms are mounted on this unit.
The lower rotating unit also adopts servo + timing belt rotation. Its pre-rolling and flattening mechanisms are mounted on the base, and upper–lower rotation is synchronized via servo control.

The pre-rolling/flattening roller sets use servo + timing belt + sliding plate feeding. Each of the upper and lower assemblies includes two pre-rolling rollers and two flattening rollers, working together to complete the forming process.
The machine is equipped with lubrication for the pre-rolling and flattening rollers, along with splash-proof guarding.
Different drum diameters or B/C sheets of different depths require manual replacement of the upper/lower profiling discs.
Significant material-thickness variations between products require manual replacement of the pre-rolling rollers.
Different drum diameters require manual adjustment of the robot gripper position.

About IDO

Appliance Assembly Line

Cases

Video

Blogs