Vibratory drive system for a vibratory conveyor apparatus and a conveyor apparatus having same

A vibratory drive system for a vibratory conveyor apparatus for selectively adjusting the conveying speed from zero to a maximum, and for selectively changing the conveying direction of the vibratory conveyor apparatus between forward and reverse while the vibrating drive system is operating comprising:

• three eccentric weights disposed in side-by-side relationship at relative phase angles to each other;
• means for mounting the eccentric weights for rotation about parallel axes;
• means for attaching the rotatable weights to the conveyor apparatus to impart a resulting vibratory force thereto as the weights are rotated,
• drive means for rotating the outermost weights about their respective axis of rotation in a first direction and rotating the intermediate weight about its axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction of the outermost weights;
• phase angle adjustment means for selectively changing the relative phase angle between the outermost eccentric weights and intermediate eccentric weight thereby selectively changing the magnitude and direction of the resulting vibratory force generated by the rotating eccentric weights to the conveyor apparatus.