Vibratory parts feeder with pivotal top confinement
OwnerS. Neal Grahaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vibratory parts feeder includes a pivotal top confinement member rigidly securable to the parts feeder. The parts feeder includes an adjustable width parts channels for orienting parts having a variety of sizes. One embodiment is intended for orienting headed parts having elongated shafts and includes an air block adjacent a parts orienting unit which provides a pressurized air stream against the flow of parts, and at an acute angle relative to an axis perpendicular to the parts flow path, for directing misoriented parts back into the parts feeder. An alternate embodiment is intended for orienting non-headed parts such as nuts and washers. The vibratory parts feeder of either embodiment is configured to minimize parts jams therein.
Claims33
A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, the apparatus comprising:
- a vibratory bowl having a discharge port, said bowl being configured to receive a disoriented mass of the parts therein, and having an inner surface configured to transport each of said parts, in a circumferential manner, toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
- and
- a parts orientation unit detachably mounted to said bowl adjacent said discharge port for vibration therewith, said parts orientation unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port and serially providing the parts in a predetermined orientation, said parts orientation unit including:
- a receiving unit mounted adjacent said discharge port receiving the parts therefrom and orienting the parts according to said predetermined orientation;
- and
- a confining member pivotably attached to said bowl, said confining member being pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member including a locking member rigidly securing said confining member in said first position to thereby maintain the parts in said predetermined orientation when said locking member is in a locked position, said locking member permitting said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions when said locking member is in an unlocked position.
A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, the apparatus comprising:
- a vibratory bowl having a discharge port, said bowl being configured to receive a disoriented mass of the parts therein, and having an inner surface configured to transport each of said parts, in a circumferential manner, toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
- and
- a parts orientation unit detachably mounted to said bowl adjacent said discharge port for vibration therewith, said parts orientation unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port and serially providing the parts in a predetermined orientation, said parts orientation unit including:
- a receiving unit mounted adjacent said discharge port for receiving the parts therefrom, said receiving unit including first and second parallel blades defining a channel therebetween for orienting the parts according to said predetermined orientation, said first and second parallel blades being adjustably mounted to said bowl to provide a range of channel widths;
- and
- a confining member pivotably attached to said bowl, said confining member being pivotable between a first position adjacent said channel and a second position remote from said channel, said confining member including a locking member rigidly securing said confining member in said first position to thereby maintain the parts in said predetermined orientation within said channel when said locking member is in a locked position.
A parts orientation apparatus for use in cooperative arrangement with a vibratory bowl parts feeder to provide oriented parts having a common configuration, said vibratory bowl having a mass of disoriented parts therein and a parts discharge port, said parts orienting apparatus being detachably mounted to said vibratory bowl adjacent said discharge port, said parts orienting apparatus comprising:
- a receiving unit mounted adjacent said discharge port for receiving the parts therefrom and orienting the parts according to said predetermined orientation;
- and
- a confining member pivotably attached to said bowl, said confining member being pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member including a locking member rigidly securing said confining member in said first position to thereby maintain the parts in said predetermined orientation when said locking member is in a locked position, said locking member permitting said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions when said locking member is in an unlocked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.