Vibratory straight line feeder

Claim 2

In a vibratory parts feeder combination having a parts container, a counterbalance weight, means connecting said weight and said container, means connected to said weight being operable to vibrate said container, a base, flexible leaf springs mounting said weight on said base, wherein the improvement comprises: said base has limit means with a surface spaced from but adjacent to said weight, said limit means surface directly contacts and limits movement of said weight during excessive deformation of said leaf springs.

Claim 3

In a linear vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a counterbalance weight, spring means connecting said weight and said container, means mounted on said weight for vibrating said container, a base, and means for mounting said base on supporting structure; the improvement which comprises a limit member fixed to said base, flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said limit member, said limit member being spaced from said weight a sufficient distance to permit elastic deformation of said flat leaf springs during operation of said feeder but closely enough spaced to prevent damage to said flat leaf springs by excessive deformation thereof, said feeder additionally comprising a second limit member, said second limit member also being fixed to said base, said weight having recesses therein complementary in configuration to said limit members, said weight having a downwardly projecting portion which extends between said limit members.

Claim 4

In a linear vibratory parts feeder including a parts container, a counterbalance weight, spring means connecting said weight and said container, means mounted on said weight for vibrating said container, a base, and means for mounting said base on supporting structure; the improvement which comprises a limit member fixed to said base, flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said limit member, said limit member being spaced from said weight a sufficient distance to permit elastic deformation of said flat leaf springs during operation of said feeder but closely enough spaced to prevent damage to said flat leaf springs by excessive deformation thereof, said feeder additionally comprising a second limit member, said second limit member also being fixed to said base, said weight having recesses therein complementary in configuration to said limit members, said weight having a downwardly projecting portion which extends between said limit members.

Claim 5

The linear vibratory parts feeder of claim 2 additionally comprising a riser plate forming a part of said base, said riser plate having said limit members fixed thereto, said base including a second member to which said riser plate is fixed, said means for mounting said base on supporting structure comprising removable mounting ears secured to said second member.

Claim 6

The linear vibratory parts feeder combination of: a parts container; a counterbalance weight; means connecting said weight and said container; means connected to said weight for vibrating said container; base structure having limit means directly contactable with said weight limiting horizontal movement thereof; and, flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said base structure, said leaf springs being structure in addition to said base structure and said limit means.

Claim 7

The linear vibratory parts feeder combination of: a parts container; a counterbalance weight; means connecting said weight and said container; means connected to said weight for vibrating said container; base structure having limit means directly contactable with said weight limiting horizontal movement thereof; and, flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said base structure, said leaf springs being structure in addition to said base structure and said limit means.

Claim 8

The linear vibratory parts feeder combination of: a parts container; a counterbalance weight; spring means connecting said weight and said container; first means mounted on said weight for vibrating said container; base structure having limit means contactable with said weight limiting horizontal movement thereof; flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said base structure; and wherein: said limit means has a first block with a vertical surface spaced from but adjacent to said weight.

Claim 9

The linear vibratory parts feeder combination of: a parts container; a counterbalance weight; spring means connecting said weight and said container; first means mounted on said weight for vibrating said container; base structure having limit means contactable with said weight limiting horizontal movement thereof; flat leaf springs mounting said weight on said base structure; and wherein: said limit means has a first block with a vertical surface spaced from but adjacent to said weight.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 wherein: said weight has a recess complementary in configuration to said first block.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 wherein: said limit means has a second block with another vertical surface spaced from but adjacent to said weight; said weight has another recess complementary in configuration to said second block; and, said first and second blocks are positioned at opposite ends of said weight.