Vibratory conveyor

A vibratory conveyor, comprising:

• a base frame which is positioned on a supporting surface, and which further has opposite first and second ends, and wherein the base frame is further defined, at least in part, by a longitudinal axis;
• a first multiplicity of elongated springs which each have a first end, which are individually mounted on the base frame, and an opposite, resiliently moveable second end, and wherein the first multiplicity of elongated springs are mounted in predetermined, spaced relation, one relative to the others;
• a reciprocally moveable conveyor bed for supporting a product for movement along the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, and wherein the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed has a first, product intake end, and an opposite, second, product discharge end, and wherein the second end of each of the first multiplicity of elongated springs is mounted on the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, and wherein the first multiplicity of elongated springs positions the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed in predetermined, spaced relation relative to the base frame, and wherein the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed is further carried along a reciprocal first path of travel by the first plurality of elongated springs, and wherein the first path of travel is defined, at least in part, by a first course of travel, and where the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, in the first course of travel, moves in a longitudinally, forward direction, and a second course of travel, and where the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, in the second course of travel, moves in an opposite, longitudinally, rearward direction;
• a conveyor bed driving assembly which is mounted on the base frame, and which is further located between the first, and second ends of base frame, and wherein the conveyor bed driving assembly includes a transversely disposed, non-moveable support member which is mounted on the base frame, and wherein the conveyor bed driving assembly further has a second multiplicity of elongated springs which each have a first end that are individually mounted on the transversely disposed, non-moveable support member, and an opposite, resiliently moveable second end, and wherein the conveyor bed driving assembly further has a reciprocally moveable driver housing which is mounted on the second end of the second multiplicity of elongated springs, and which further defines an internal cavity, and wherein the conveyor bed driving assembly further has a pair of selectively energizable electromagnets which are mounted within the internal cavity of the reciprocally moveable driver housing, and which are further oriented in predetermined spaced relation, one relative to the other, and wherein a gap of predetermined dimensions is defined between the respective electromagnets, and wherein the conveyor bed driving assembly further has a driving assembly coupler which is mounted on the non-moveable support member, and which is further sized so as to be received within the gap, and is further disposed in spaced relation relative to each of the respective selectively energizable electromagnets, and wherein the respective electromagnets, when selectively energized magnetically interacts with the driving assembly coupler in a manner so as to propel the driver housing along a second path of travel to a first, forward position, and which simultaneously and resiliently bends the second multiplicity of elongated springs which are mounted on the conveyor bed driving assembly, and wherein the propulsion of the driver housing to the first, forward position generates a physical force which is directed toward the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, and which further, simultaneously, causes the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed to move along the second course of the first path of travel of the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed, and which is in a longitudinal, rearward direction, and wherein movement of the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed along the second course of travel resiliently bends the respective first multiplicity of elongated springs which resiliently support the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed on the base frame, and wherein the electromagnets, when deenergized, allows the previous, resiliently bent, second multiplicity of elongated springs to propel the driver housing along the second path of travel to a second, rearward position, and wherein movement of the driver housing to the second, rearward position causes the previously bent, first multiplicity of elongated springs to propel the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed along the first course of travel of the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed in a longitudinally forward direction;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled with the respective selectively energizable electromagnets, and which selectively electrically energizes the respective electromagnets so as to cause a predetermined reciprocal motion of the conveyor bed, and which facilitates the movement of the product from the first to the second end of the reciprocally moveable conveyor bed.