The step feeder is manufactured so that the static hopper (which has a very low filling height), can be loaded manually. The components are collected
from the hopper by elevating plates, pre-sorted and fed until they reach the desired transfer height.
Bulk parts are lifted out of the integrated hopper bin by the step. The step thickness is selected so that a single row of parts is lifted. At the top of the step stroke, the parts drop onto a straight line track (vibratory inline, belt conveyor or air track), where additional orientation can be performed. Mis-oriented parts ejected from the orienting track can often drop directly back into the bin, or can be returned to the bin via gravity slide, air track or conveyor in situations where more complex orientation is performed on the orienting track.