Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A vibratory feeder system for orienting and feeding devices which have two parallel sides out of one side of which there projects one centrally disposed terminal and out of the other side of which there project two symmetrically disposed terminals, the ends of each of said terminals extending away from the adjacent major surface of said device comprising, a vibratory feeder track for advancing oriented devices thereon, inventory means connected to said feeder track, groove means on said track in line with said feed direction for being engaged by said terminals, said feeder track having an angularly downwardly disposed feeder surface for gravity assist in device orientation and rejection of upside down and other misoriented devices, lead-in means disposed on said angular surface and having an angular edge sloping downwardly in the direction of device travel for enabling the preponderance of devices which are engaged by said groove, to be engaged by said one terminal, rejecting means having an edge disposed adjacent said groove for rejecting devices whose terminals are in said groove and the devices are upwardly disposed, slot means beyond said rejecting means and whose lower edge is adjacent said groove for receiving and recycling devices not rejected by said rejecting means, lead-out means terminating said groove for disposing devices on said angle surface, first rail means having a ledge for retaining devices on said angle surface following said lead out means, and second rail means disposed away from the ledge of said first rail means to form a path for receiving oriented devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A vibratory feeder system for orienting and feeding devices which have two parallel sides out of one side of which there projects one centrally disposed terminal and out of the other side of which there project two symmetrically disposed terminals, the ends of each of said terminals extending away from the adjacent major surface of said device comprising, a vibratory feeder track for advancing oriented devices thereon, inventory means connected to said feeder track, groove means on said track in line with said feed direction for being engaged by said terminals, said feeder track having an angularly downwardly disposed feeder surface for gravity assist in device orientation and rejection of upside down and other misoriented devices, lead-in means disposed on said angular surface and having an angular edge sloping downwardly in the direction of device travel for enabling the preponderance of devices which are engaged by said groove, to be engaged by said one terminal, rejecting means having an edge disposed adjacent said groove for rejecting devices whose terminals are in said groove and the devices are upwardly disposed, slot means beyond said rejecting means and whose lower edge is adjacent said groove for receiving and recycling devices not rejected by said rejecting means, lead-out means terminating said groove for disposing devices on said angle surface, first rail means having a ledge for retaining devices on said angle surface following said lead out means, and second rail means disposed away from the ledge of said first rail means to form a path for receiving oriented devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vibratory feeder system according to claim 1 including deflector means disposed over said slot means for further orienting said devices into a single line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vibratory feeder system according to claim 1 including further slot means disposed beyond said lead-out means and having an edge disposed away from the ledge of said first rail means by a predetermined distance, said distance being essentially equal to one-half of the short dimension of a rectangle defining the outline of a device to be fed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vibratory feeder system according to claim 1 including locating means disposed at the end of said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vibratory feeder system according to claim 1 wherein said first rail means includes a recessed portion for receiving the terminals of said devices being fed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vibratory feeder system according to claim 1 including means for breaking a column of oriented devices prior to entry into said path when said path is full and the devices are not being removed.