Spring system for vibratory parts feeders

Claim 2

A vibratory parts feeder comprising a massive base defining an imaginary datum plane, and a mount for a feeder bowl or the like supported over said base by a plurality of elongated flexible leaf springs which are arranged in a generally circular array about a central region of the feeder, each leaf spring being inclined at a selected primary angle relative to said base as measured in a respectively associated first plane at right angles to said datum plane, each said leaf spring also being inclined inwardly from its respectively associated said first plane towards said central region of the feeder by a secondary angle, said secondary angle being relatively small in comparison with said primary angle with each secondary angle lying and measured in an imaginary surface which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of a respectively associated one of said elongated leaf springs and parallel to a major surface of said leaf spring, each said imaginary surface being at right angles to a respectively associated one of said first planes, and means for producing vibration of said mount relative to said base.

Claim 3

The feeder according to claim 1 wherein said leaf springs are flat.

Claim 4

In apparatus for use in a vibratory parts feeder of the type having a feeder element which includes an upwardly inclined spiral ramp along which parts progress during operation, and including: a. a massive base which, in operation, is horizontally disposed, a mounting means for the feeder element located above said base, c. a plurality of elongated substantially flat leaf spring units located in circumferentially spaced relation about a central region of the apparatus, one end of each leaf spring connected to said mounting means and the other end thereof connected to said base, d. each of said elongated leaf springs being inclined from the horizontal by a selected primary angle as measured in a respectively associated vertical plane, the improvement wherein: e. each of said elongated leaf springs is inclined inwardly toward said central region of the apparatus such that the longitudinal axis of each of said elongated leaf springs is disposed at a secondary angle with respect to the respectively associated vertical plane in which said primary angle is measured, each secondary angle being relatively small in comparison with the primary angle and being measured and lying in an imaginary plane parallel to the plane deFined by a major surface of the flat leaf of a respectively associated one of said springs, which imaginary plane is at right angles to said respectively associated vertical plane.

Claim 5

In apparatus for use in a vibratory parts feeder of the type having a feeder element which includes an upwardly inclined spiral ramp along which parts progress during operation, and including: a. a massive base which, in operation, is horizontally disposed, a mounting means for the feeder element located above said base, c. a plurality of elongated substantially flat leaf spring units located in circumferentially spaced relation about a central region of the apparatus, one end of each leaf spring connected to said mounting means and the other end thereof connected to said base, d. each of said elongated leaf springs being inclined from the horizontal by a selected primary angle as measured in a respectively associated vertical plane, the improvement wherein: e. each of said elongated leaf springs is inclined inwardly toward said central region of the apparatus such that the longitudinal axis of each of said elongated leaf springs is disposed at a secondary angle with respect to the respectively associated vertical plane in which said primary angle is measured, each secondary angle being relatively small in comparison with the primary angle and being measured and lying in an imaginary plane parallel to the plane deFined by a major surface of the flat leaf of a respectively associated one of said springs, which imaginary plane is at right angles to said respectively associated vertical plane.

Claim 6

In a vibratory parts feeder including: a. a feeder bowl including an upwardly inclined spiral ramp therein along which parts progress during operation, b. a massive base disposed below said bowl which base is horizontally disposed for operation of the feeder, c. a plurality of elongated leaf springs each of which is inclined at a selected primary angle to the horizontal as measured in a respectively associated vertical plane and arranged in a generally circular array about a region below a central part of the feeder bowl, each leaf spring connected at one end to said bowl and at its other end to said base whereby to resiliently support said bowl over said base, d. a vibrator for inducing vibration of said bowl relative to said base, e. the improvement wherein the longitudinal axis of each said leaf spring is inclined inwardly from its respectively associated vertical plane in which said primary angle is measured toward said region below the central part of the feeder bowl by a secondary angle which is substantially smaller than said primary angle, each secondary angle lying in an imaginary surface which is parallel to a major surface of a respectively associated one of said leaf springs, each said imaginary surface being at right angles to a respectively associated one of said vertical planes.

Claim 7

In a vibratory parts feeder including: a. a feeder bowl including an upwardly inclined spiral ramp therein along which parts progress during operation, b. a massive base disposed below said bowl which base is horizontally disposed for operation of the feeder, c. a plurality of elongated leaf springs each of which is inclined at a selected primary angle to the horizontal as measured in a respectively associated vertical plane and arranged in a generally circular array about a region below a central part of the feeder bowl, each leaf spring connected at one end to said bowl and at its other end to said base whereby to resiliently support said bowl over said base, d. a vibrator for inducing vibration of said bowl relative to said base, e. the improvement wherein the longitudinal axis of each said leaf spring is inclined inwardly from its respectively associated vertical plane in which said primary angle is measured toward said region below the central part of the feeder bowl by a secondary angle which is substantially smaller than said primary angle, each secondary angle lying in an imaginary surface which is parallel to a major surface of a respectively associated one of said leaf springs, each said imaginary surface being at right angles to a respectively associated one of said vertical planes.