US4000807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibratory trough part feeder
Assignee: Roberts Sinto Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-21
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1995-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A general purpose part feeder is disclosed based on a modified conventional bowl feeder, the modifications including the lining of the bowl spiral trough with a fiber material which upon induced vibratory motion causes advancement of the parts in a particular direction dependent on the orientation of the material with respect to the trough and also including an intermittent mode of operation. The fiber material is disposed in the trough in segments oriented such that the part velocity varies in different sections of the trough so that the parts are separated in the last trough section proximate the feeder outlet. Parts are fed out of the bowl feeder singly by means of a photodetector-timer relay control which causes the bowl feeder to be operated in intervals so as to advance a part to the exit point whereat the photodetector detects its presence and causes the bowl to be shut off. Upon receiving a signal for a part to be advanced out of the feeder, a timer relay is energized causing the bowl feeder to be activated for an interval long enough for the part at the photocell to be advanced out of the machine, so that the bowl feeder will continue to be activated until the next part is advanced to block the photocell to cause the bowl feeder to again be shut off.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Molique
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D9/00; G07D9/008; B; B65; B65G; B65G27/00; B65G27/02; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/12; B65G47/14; B65G47/1407; B65G47/1414; B65G47/1421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In a vibratory bowl feeder of the type having a bowl and a spiral trough extending about the periphery of said bowl receiving parts contained in said bowl at a central location and feeding the same to an outlet point, the improvement comprising: an inclined fiber material disposed along the bottom of said spiral trough with said inclined fiber material oriented with said fibers inclined in the direction of said spiral trough for at least a portion of said spiral trough and wherein said inclined fiber material disposed in said spiral trough includes a segment in a portion of said trough approaching said outlet wherein said segment fibers are inclined towards a wall of said spiral trough to thereby reduce the rate of movement of said parts on said segment, and wherein said inclined fiber material disposed in said spiral trough in a region following said segment and proximate said outlet is disposed with said fibers inclined along the direction of said spiral trough, whereby said parts are separated proximate said outlet by the resulting differing rates of movement of said parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a vibratory bowl feeder of the type having a bowl and a spiral trough extending about the periphery of said bowl receiving parts contained in said bowl at a central location and feeding the same to an outlet point, the improvement comprising: an inclined fiber material disposed along the bottom of said spiral trough with said inclined fiber material oriented with said fibers inclined in the direction of said spiral trough for at least a portion of said spiral trough and wherein said inclined fiber material disposed in said spiral trough includes a segment in a portion of said trough approaching said outlet wherein said segment fibers are inclined towards a wall of said spiral trough to thereby reduce the rate of movement of said parts on said segment, and wherein said inclined fiber material disposed in said spiral trough in a region following said segment and proximate said outlet is disposed with said fibers inclined along the direction of said spiral trough, whereby said parts are separated proximate said outlet by the resulting differing rates of movement of said parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bowl feeder according to claim 1 wherein said inclined fiber material is disposed in a central location within said bowl with said fibers inclined in outward and circumferential directions to direct said parts into said spiral trough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The bowl feeder of claim 1 further including inclined fiber material disposed on the outer side wall of said spiral trough in said region proximate said outlet to further enhance the difference in said rate of movement of said parts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The bowl feeder of claim 1 further including means for detecting a part at said outlet part, means for discontinuing operation of said bowl feeder upon detection of a part at said outlet, and timer means causing said bowl feeder to be operated notwithstanding said part being detected at said outlet for an interval sufficient for said part to be moved out of said feeder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A vibratory feeder for feeding parts including a trough having at least one side wall, means for advancing said parts into said trough and along the path of said trough including means for inducing movement in a specific direction within said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in a first region along the direction of the trough, and in a second region following said first region said means induces movement of said parts at least partially in an outward direction from said trough, and in a third region following said second region said means induces movement of said parts along said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in said trough including an inclined fiber material disposed in said trough and inducing movement of said parts in the direction in which said fibers are inclined, whereby said parts are separated upon passing through said regions due to the relative rate of movement of said parts in said respective regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
A vibratory feeder for feeding parts including a trough having at least one side wall, means for advancing said parts into said trough and along the path of said trough including means for inducing movement in a specific direction within said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in a first region along the direction of the trough, and in a second region following said first region said means induces movement of said parts at least partially in an outward direction from said trough, and in a third region following said second region said means induces movement of said parts along said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in said trough including an inclined fiber material disposed in said trough and inducing movement of said parts in the direction in which said fibers are inclined, whereby said parts are separated upon passing through said regions due to the relative rate of movement of said parts in said respective regions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A vibratory feeder for feeding parts including a trough having at least one side wall, means for advancing said parts into said trough and along the path of said trough including means for inducing movement in a specific direction within said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in a first region along the direction of the trough, and in a second region following said first region, said means induces movement of said parts at least partially in an outward direction from said trough, and in a third region following said second region, said means induces movement of said parts along said trough further including means for detecting the presence of a part at a point in said third region, means for discontinuing operation of said feeder upon detection of a part at said point, and timer means causing said feeder means to be operated notwithstanding said part being detected at said outlet for an interval sufficient for said part to move out of said feeder, whereby said parts are separated upon passing through said regions due to the relative rate of movement of said parts in said respective regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
A vibratory feeder for feeding parts including a trough having at least one side wall, means for advancing said parts into said trough and along the path of said trough including means for inducing movement in a specific direction within said trough, said means inducing movement of said parts in a first region along the direction of the trough, and in a second region following said first region, said means induces movement of said parts at least partially in an outward direction from said trough, and in a third region following said second region, said means induces movement of said parts along said trough further including means for detecting the presence of a part at a point in said third region, means for discontinuing operation of said feeder upon detection of a part at said point, and timer means causing said feeder means to be operated notwithstanding said part being detected at said outlet for an interval sufficient for said part to move out of said feeder, whereby said parts are separated upon passing through said regions due to the relative rate of movement of said parts in said respective regions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |