Part feeding apparatus capable of stable feedback control of feeding amount of parts

A part feeding apparatus for feeding parts to an assembly apparatus, comprising:

• a feeder bowl for discharging and feeding parts to said assembly apparatus;
• a feeder bowl driving unit for driving said feeder bowl;
• a hopper for discharging and feeding parts to said feeder bowl;
• a hopper driving unit for driving said hopper;
• a first counting means for counting parts discharged from said hopper;
• a second counting means for counting parts discharged from said feeder bowl;
• a controlling means for controlling said hopper driving unit so that a difference between values of said first and second counting means is brought close to a definite value,
• a cylinder connected to a lower outlet of said hopper, parts within said hopper being discharged and fed via said cylinder to said feeder bowl, when said hopper driving unit is turned on;
• and
• a first ring-shaped sensor, provided at said cylinder, for detecting parts passing through said cylinder, said first sensor being connected to said first counting means.