Automatic part feeding equipment

Claim 2

In a vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, means for supporting and vibrating said parts container, said means including a support member, the improvement which comprises a base plate, an annular flexible vibration damper received upon said base plate, said base plate being provided with projecting portions adapted to hold said damper in position on said base plate, said support member being proportioned to engage said damper and to be supported thereby, said support member being rotatable to infinite positions on said vibration damper.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising externally threaded members for supporting said base plate on a mounting surface and adjusting the attitude of said base plate, said base plate having bores therethrough which receive said externally threaded members, and a plurality of pairs of nuts with each pair threadedly received on a respective one of said externally threaded members on opposite sides of said base plate for locking said members in position relative to said base plate.

Claim 4

In a vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a frame member supporting said parts container, and means for vibrating said frame member and parts container, the improvement which comprises fasteners extending through said parts container and connected to said frame member for securing said parts container to said frame member, said parts container being a bowl including a cylindrical outside wall and a base spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of said wall, said fasteners being screws which have their heads positioned outside of said wall and their shanks extending through said wall, said wall having openings in the portion of said wall below said base through which said screws extend, said frame member contacting the inside surface of said wall at a portion of said wall adjacent said screws.

Claim 5

In a vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a frame member supporting said parts container, and means for vibrating said frame member and parts container, the improvement which comprises fasteners extending through said parts container and connected to said frame member for securing said parts container to said frame member, said parts container being a bowl including a cylindrical outside wall and a base spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of said wall, said fasteners being screws which have their heads positioned outside of said wall and their shanks extending through said wall, said wall having openings in the portion of said wall below said base through which said screws extend, said frame member contacting the inside surface of said wall at a portion of said wall adjacent said screws.

Claim 6

In a vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a frame member supporting said parts container, and means for vibrating said frame member and parts container, the improvement which comprises fasteners extending through said parts container and connected to said frame member for securing said parts container to said frame member, a base plate, and an annular flexible vibration damper received upon said base plate, said base plate being provided with projecting portions adapted to hold said damper in position on said base plate, said means for vibrating including a support member, said support member being proportioned to engage said damper and to be supported thereby, said support member being rotatable to infinite positions on said vibration damper.

Claim 7

In a vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a frame member supporting said parts container, and means for vibrating said frame member and parts container, the improvement which comprises fasteners extending through said parts container and connected to said frame member for securing said parts container to said frame member, a base plate, and an annular flexible vibration damper received upon said base plate, said base plate being provided with projecting portions adapted to hold said damper in position on said base plate, said means for vibrating including a support member, said support member being proportioned to engage said damper and to be supported thereby, said support member being rotatable to infinite positions on said vibration damper.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 3 additionally comprising an annular flexible vibration damper, said means for vibrating being supported on said annular flexible vibration damper and rotatable to infinite positions thereon.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 3 additionally comprising a base plate, an annular flexible vibration damper received upon said base plate, said base plate being provided with a cylindrical ring adapted to hold said damper in position on said base plate, said means for vibrating including a support member, said support member being proportioned to engage said damper and to be supported thereby, said support member being rotatable to infinite positions on said vibration damper.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6 additionally comprising externally threaded members for supporting said base plate on a mounting surface and adjusting the attitude of the base plate, said base plate having bores therethrough which threadedly receive said externally threaded members, and a plurality of pairs of nuts with each pair threadedly received on a respective one of said externally threaded members on opposite sides of said base pLate for locking said members in position relative to said base plate.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 wherein said means for vibrating said frame member and parts container includes a motor means mounted on said support member and connected to said frame member for the driving thereof, spring means extending between said frame member and said support member, means securing said spring means to said frame member and support member, said frame member and support member having first surfaces which said spring means are fixed against by said securing means, said frame member and support member having additional surfaces against which said spring means can be fixed by said securing means, said spring means being adapted to move parts in one direction when said spring means are fixed against said first surfaces and adapted to move parts in another direction when said spring means are fixed against said second surfaces, said securing means being so proportioned and arranged as to permit removal of said spring means from said first surfaces and attachment of said spring means to said second surfaces while portions of said spring means are still attached to said first surfaces.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein said spring means are secured to said frame member and said support member by bolts.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein said cover and said support member define a downwardly opening recess for seating of said damper.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for vibrating includes springs each of which is connected to said frame adjacent the connection of a respective one of said fasteners to said frame.