Confinement tooling for a vibratory parts feeder

A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configurations, comprising:

• a vibratory bowl defining a parts feeding member disposed adjacent to a parts discharge port of said bowl, said feeding member defining a number of first attachment locations therein at a corresponding number of predetermined locations, said bowl configured to receive a disoriented mass of parts therein and transport said parts toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
• a receiving unit defining a plurality of second attachment locations therethrough aligned with corresponding ones of said number of first attachment locations, each aligned pair of said first and second attachment locations adapted to receive a fastening member therein for detachably mounting said receiving unit to said parts feeding member, said receiving unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port of said bowl and serially providing said parts with a predetermined orientation, said receiving unit including
• a first blade defining a first subset of said plurality of second attachment locations therethrough;
• a second blade defining a second subset of said plurality of second attachment locations therethrough, said first and second blades defining an adjustable width open channel therebetween when mounted to said parts feeding member;
• and wherein each of said first and second blades has a first end mounted adjacent to said discharge port and a second end mounted remote from said discharge port, each of said first and second blades defining a curvature adjacent said second ends thereof;
• and
• a confining member mounted to said bowl, said confining member pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member operable in said first position to confine said parts in said predetermined orientation, said confining member including a parts confining blade defining a parts confining surface disposed over a substantial portion of said channel in said first position, said parts confining surface defining a predefined curvature over said second ends of said first and second blades substantially identical to said curvature thereof.

A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, comprising:

• a vibratory bowl defining a parts feeding member disposed adjacent to a parts discharge port of said bowl, said feeding member defining a number of first attachment locations therein at a corresponding number of predetermined locations, said bowl configured to receive a disoriented mass of parts therein and transport said parts toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
• a receiving unit defining a plurality of second attachment locations therethrough aligned with corresponding ones of said number of first attachment locations, each aligned pair of said first and second attachment locations adapted to receive a fastening member therein for detachably mounting said receiving unit to said parts feeding member, said receiving unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port of said bowl and serially providing said parts along a parts orientation track of said receiving unit with a predetermined orientation;
• a confining member mounted to said bowl, said confining member pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member operable in said first position to confine said parts in said predetermined orientation, said confining member including a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking member operable in said locked position to secure said confining member in said first position and in said unlocked position to permit said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions;
• and
• an air supply unit comprising:
• a housing having a front surface facing the parts orientation track, said housing defining a bore therein and an opening in said front surface extending into said bore;
• and
• an air supply member having an air inlet adapted for connection to a supply of pressurized air and an air outlet in fluid communication with said air inlet, said air supply member disposed within said bore with said air outlet extending through said opening, said air supply unit operable to supply a stream of pressurized air from said air outlet across the parts orientation track to direct parts having orientations different from the predetermined orientation back into the vibratory bowl, said air outlet adjustably positionable within said bore to supply said stream of pressurized air across the parts orientation track at any angle within a range of angles relative thereto.

A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, comprising:

• a vibratory bowl defining a parts feeding member disposed adjacent to a parts discharge port of said bowl, said feeding member defining a number of first attachment locations therein at a corresponding number of predetermined locations, said bowl configured to receive a disoriented mass of parts therein and transport said parts toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
• a receiving unit defining a plurality of second attachment locations therethrough aligned with corresponding ones of said number of first attachment locations, each aligned pair of said first and second attachment locations adapted to receive a fastening member therein for detachably mounting said receiving unit to said parts feeding member, said receiving unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port of said bowl and serially providing said parts along a parts orientation track of said receiving unit with a predetermined orientation;
• a confining member mounted to said bowl, said confining member pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member operable in said first position to confine said parts in said predetermined orientation, said confining member including a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking member operable in said locked position to secure said confining member in said first position and in said unlocked position to permit said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions;
• and
• an air supply unit adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air and having an air outlet, said air supply unit supplying a stream of pressurized air at said air outlet across said parts orientation track to direct parts having orientations different than said predetermined orientation back into said bowl, said air outlet adjustably positionable to supply said stream of pressurized air across said parts orientation track at any angle within a range of angles relative thereto and at any height within a range of heights above said parts orientation track.

A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, comprising:

• a vibratory bowl defining a parts feeding member disposed adjacent to a parts discharge port of said bowl, said feeding member defining a number of first attachment locations therein at a corresponding number of predetermined locations, said bowl configured to receive a disoriented mass of parts therein and transport said parts toward said discharge port under vibratory action;
• a receiving unit defining a plurality of second attachment locations therethrough aligned with corresponding ones of said number of first attachment locations, each aligned pair of said first and second attachment locations adapted to receive a fastening member therein for detachably mounting said receiving unit to said parts feeding member, said receiving unit defining an orientation channel therein along a longitudinal axis thereof, said orientation channel defining a first section thereof having a bottom surface angled downwardly in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and a second section thereof having a substantially flat bottom surface, said first section transitioning to said second section along a line extending diagonally through said channel, said first section receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port and serially providing said parts to said second section with a predetermined orientation;
• and
• a confining member mounted to said bowl, said confining member pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member operable in said first position to confine said parts in said predetermined orientation, said confining member including a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking member operable in said locked position to secure said confining member in said first position and in said unlocked position to permit said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions.

A parts feeding apparatus for providing oriented parts having common configuration, comprising:

• a vibratory bowl defining a parts feeding member disposed adjacent to a parts discharge port of said bowl, said bowl configured to receive a disoriented mass of parts therein and transport said parts toward said discharge port in a first direction under vibratory action, said parts feeding member including first and second parallel mounting surfaces with an open channel therebetween adjacent said discharge port and defining a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with said first direction, said first and second mounting surfaces defining a number of first attachment locations therein at a corresponding number of predetermined locations, said bowl defining an outer bowl lip terminating adjacent to said second mounting surface;
• a receiving unit defining a plurality of second attachment locations therethrough aligned with corresponding ones of said number of first attachment locations, each aligned pair of said first and second attachment locations adapted to receive a fastening member therein for detachably mounting said receiving unit to each of said first and second mounting surfaces, said receiving unit including a clamp member mounted thereto adjacent to said discharge port and said second mounting surface and contacting a portion of said outer bowl lip, said clamp member forming a press fit with said outer lip in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to thereby secure said receiving unit to said bowl adjacent said second mounting surface, said receiving unit receiving parts having a number of orientations from said discharge port of said bowl and serially providing said parts with a predetermined orientation;
• and
• a confining member mounted to said bowl, said confining member pivotable between a first position adjacent said receiving unit and a second position remote from said receiving unit, said confining member operable in said first position to confine said parts in said predetermined orientation, said confining member including a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking member operable in said locked position to secure said confining member in said first position and in said unlocked position to permit said confining member to freely pivot between said first and second positions.