US 4,300,083 AGranted

Constant amplitude controller and method

AssigneeAutomation Devices, Inc.

InventorRobert W. Heiges

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Abstract

There is disclosed a constant amplitude controller with feedback control for a vibratory feeder apparatus wherein a controlled rectifier is used to rectify the A.C. line voltage applied to the feeder solenoid and to control the voltage to the feeder solenoid. Triggering of the controlled rectifier is accomplished by a bias control signal which is composed of an A.C. phase shift voltage superpositioned by a variable D.C. bias voltage. Mechanical coupling is provided between the solenoid and a transducer which provides feedback to control logic circuitry. In the control logic circuitry, the signal received from the transducer is compared with a signal received from an operator adjusted potentiometer. In this manner, the desired amplitude of the vibrator apparatus is compared with the actual amplitude of the vibrator apparatus and, if there is a discrepancy, the control logic circuitry modifies the amount of control voltage being transferred by the controlled rectifier.

Claims32

Dependent claims

In combination, a vibrating apparatus including solenoid means for inducing a vibration mode to the vibratory apparatus and a constant amplitude controller for supplying voltage from an A.C. source to the solenoid means to operate the same to induce the vibration mode of a desired amplitude to the vibratory apparatus, said constant amplitude controller comprising:

power control means for regulating the voltage to said solenoid means in response to a control signal;
said power control means having two power terminals and a control signal receiving terminal, said power terminals being connected in series between said A-C source and said solenoid means,
transducer means mechanically coupled to said vibratory apparatus for providing a transducer signal representatively proportioned to reflect the actual amplitude of said vibratory apparatus,
operator input means for transulating the desired amplitude of said vibratory apparatus to a reference signal,
control logic means including error detector means and a summing means,
said error detector means electrically connected to the output of said operator input means for receiving said reference signal and to the output of said transducer means for receiving said transducer signal,
said error detector means operative to provide an error-correct signal varying with the difference between said reference signal and said transducer signal,
said summing amplifier electrically coupled to the output of said operator input means to receive said reference signal and electrically coupled to said error detector means for receiving said error-correct signal,
said summing amplifier operative to sum said reference signal and said error-correct signal to produce as an output said control signal,
said power control means electrically coupled to said control logic means for receiving said control signal,
power supply means for providing D.C. voltage to power said control logic means,
whereby a feedback control system for said vibratory apparatus provides regulation to adjust the actual amplitude level to the desired amplitude level.

9 more elements

A method of controlling the vibration amplitude so that it remains essentially constant in a vibrating apparatus which includes a solenoid means for inducing a vibration mode to said vibrating apparatus, comprising the steps of:

providing a power control means for regulating a voltage to said solenoid means in response to a control signal, said power control means having two power terminals and a control signal receiving terminal, said power terminals being connected in series between an A.C. source and said solenoid means;
providing a transducer means mechanically coupled to said vibratory apparatus for providing a transducer signal representatively proportioned to reflect the actual amplitude of said vibratory apparatus;
providing an operator input means for translating the desired amplitude of said vibratory apparatus to a reference signal;
providing a control logic means including error detector means and a summing means,
said error detector means electrically connected to the output of said operator input means for receiving said reference signal and to the output of said transducer means for receiving said transducer signal,
said error detector means operative to provide an error-correct signal varying with the difference between said reference signal and said transducer signal,
said summing amplifier electrically coupled to the output of said operator input means to receive said reference signal and electrically coupled to said error detector means for receiving said error-correct signal,
said summing amplifier operative to sum said reference signal and said error-correct signal to produce as an output said control signal,
said power control means electrically coupled to said control logic means for receiving said control signal;
providing a power supply means for providing D.C. voltage to power said control logic means, whereby a feedback control system for said vibratory apparatus provides a regulation to adjust the actual amplitude level to the desired amplitude level.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/021,503Filed 19 Mar 1979 · continuation in part
Priority: 5 Jul 1977
Granted: 10 Nov 1981
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H02K 33/00
Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
B06B 1/0261
With a feedback signal: taken from a transducer or electrode connected to the driving transducer
B06B 2201/53
Electrodynamic transducer: with vibrating magnet or coil
B06B 2201/70
Indexing scheme associated with B06B1/0207 for details covered by B06B1/0207 but not provided for in any of its subgroups: specific application