# US 8,464,861 B2 · Vibratory conveyor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,861 B2 - Document ID: US8464861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/995,397 - Filed: 2009-06-25 - Published: 2011-04-14 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-25 - Assignees: Per Brunes - Applicants: Karl Johan Christer Bonn - Inventors: Karl Johan Christer Bonn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464861B2 ## CPC - B65G 27/30: by means of an oppositely-moving mass, e.g. a second conveyor - B65G 27/04: Load carriers other than helical or spiral channels or conduits - B65G 27/08: Supports or mountings for load-carriers, e.g. framework, bases, spring arrangements {(spring arrangements as jigging movement transmitting units B65G27/10)} - B65G 27/20: rotating unbalanced masses - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A balanced vibrating conveyor apparatus is provided by using a torsion bar spring and rocker arm for conveyor trough and balancing weight. The design provides synchronized 180° out of phase vibrations of trough and balancing weight as well as balance at variations in stroke lengths. With a torsion bar spring at the rocker arm node point, dynamic forces are minimized in the conveyor frame, as well as the building support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vibratory conveyor comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first conveying member mounted on said frame and having a conveying surface; (c) a source of vibratory force for providing vibratory movement to said conveying member; wherein said first conveying member is pivotally connected to a counterweighting member by a plurality of connecting arms, each connecting arm being pivotally connected to said first conveying member at a first axis of rotation, to said counterweighting member at a second axis of rotation and being biased for oscillating motion about a third axis of rotation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vibrating conveyor of claim 1 wherein each said connecting arm is biased for oscillating motion about said third axis of rotation by being mounted on said frame for oscillating motion about the central axis of one end of a torsion spring element to which it is fixed, the second end of said torsion spring element being fixed to the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vibrating conveyor of claim 2 wherein said torsion spring element is a torsion bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vibrating conveyor of claim 2 wherein said torsion spring element is a cylindrical torsion bushing, the outer surface of which is the first end of said torsion spring element and the inner surface of which is the second end of said torsion spring element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vibrating conveyor of claim 2 wherein said torsion spring element is a cylindrical torsion bushing, the inner surface of which is the first end of said torsion spring element and the outer surface of which is the second end of said torsion spring element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The vibrating conveyor of claim 2 wherein said connecting arms are arranged in opposed pairs, with a first rocker arm in the pair being mounted on a first side of the frame for pivoting motion about the central axis of one end of a first torsion bar, the second end of the torsion bar being fixed to the opposite side of the frame, and a second rocker arm in the pair being mounted on the opposite side of the frame for oscillating motion about the central axis of one end of a second torsion bar, the second end of the torsion bar being fixed to the first side of the frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vibrating conveyor of claim 1 wherein said counterweighting member comprises a second conveying surface for the transport of particulate material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The vibrating conveyor of claim 2 wherein said central axis of one end of a torsion spring element is provided at any one or more of said first, second or third axes of rotation of said connecting arms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vibrating conveyor of claim 1 wherein an adjustable material transport speed is provided by varying the frequency of said source of vibratory force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vibrating conveyor of claim 9 wherein said frequency of said source of vibratory force is varied by the use of a variable frequency drive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vibrating conveyor of claim 9 wherein said frequency of said source of vibratory force is varied by the use of variable pitch belt sheaves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vibrating conveyor of claim 1 wherein the conveying speed and direction can be adjusted by adjusting the angle of attack of said connecting arms by rotating said arms about said third axis of rotation thereby changing their inclination to the vertical. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vibrating conveyor of claim 12 wherein said angle of attack is set between 15 degrees and 45 degrees from either side of vertical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vibrating conveyor of claim 1 wherein said source of vibratory force comprises an eccentric shaft comprising eccentric cams offset by 180°. ### Claim 15 A method of conveying material comprising: a) providing a vibratory conveyor comprising a frame, and a source of vibratory force for providing vibratory movement to a conveying member comprising a conveying surface, the conveying member being pivotally connected to a counterweighting member by a plurality of connecting arms, each connecting arm being pivotally connected at one end thereof to said first conveying member at a first axis of rotation, to said counterweighting member at a second axis of rotation and being biased for oscillating motion about a third axis of rotation; b) applying vibratory movement to the conveying surface and thereby applying corresponding vibratory movement to the counterweight member until a steady state oscillation about said third axis of rotation is reached; and iii) either before or after step ii) transferring the material to or placing the material on the conveying surface. ### Claim 16 A vibrating conveyor, comprising: a) a frame; b) a first conveying member mounted on said frame and having a conveying surface, said first conveying member forming a first mass; c) a source of vibratory force for providing vibratory movement to said conveying member, d) a second mass, joined by a plurality of connecting arms to said first mass, whereby said two masses oscillate in opposite directions; wherein said masses oscillate about a stationary node point located on each said connecting arm thereby providing synchronized movement in opposite directions of the two oscillating masses, and wherein said connecting arms are connected to torsion bar spring elements at the node point of said connecting arms to produce a balanced vibrating system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein either one of said two masses may consist of a plurality of submasses which plurality of submasses vibrates as a single mass. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein said source of vibratory force comprises an eccentric shaft with the eccentric cams offset by 180°. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein the location of the node point on each said connecting arm is selected such that the forces generated by the two opposing oscillating masses cancel out each other to provide a balanced vibrating system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vibrating conveyor of claim 19 wherein said second mass comprises a conveying surface for the transport of material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The vibrating conveyor of claim 19 wherein the magnitude of said two masses is selected so that in operation said masses oscillate at or near the natural frequency of the balanced vibrating system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein the conveying speed and direction can be adjusted by adjusting the angle of attack of said connecting arms by rotating said arms about their axis of rotation thereby changing their inclination to the vertical. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vibrating conveyor of claim 22 wherein said angle of attack is set between 15 degrees and 45 degrees from either side of vertical. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein an adjustable material transport speed is provided by varying the frequency of said source of vibratory force. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The vibrating conveyor of claim 24 wherein said frequency of said source of vibratory force is varied by the use of a variable frequency drive. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The vibrating conveyor of claim 24 wherein said frequency of the source of vibratory force is varied by the use of variable pitch belt sheaves. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The vibrating conveyor of claim 16 wherein said second mass oscillates 180° out of phase with said first mass. ### Claim 28 A vibrating conveyor, comprising: a) a frame; b) a first conveying member mounted on said frame and having a conveying surface, said first conveying member forming a first mass; c) a source of vibratory force for providing vibratory movement to said conveying member, d) a second mass, joined by a plurality of connecting arms to said first mass, whereby said two masses oscillate in opposite directions; wherein said masses oscillate about a stationary node point located on each said connecting arm thereby providing synchronized movement in opposite directions of the two oscillating masses; and wherein said second mass is joined by a plurality of connecting arms to said first mass at first and second axes of rotation, and said torsion bar spring elements are attached to said connecting arms at one or more of said first and second axes of rotation and said node points to produce a balanced vibrating system.