US5008580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piezoelectric vibration generator and vibratory parts feeder incorporating the same
Assignee: YKK Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-03
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Granted: 1991-04-16
•
Expires: 2009-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric vibration generator interconnecting a base and a vibratory conveyor table of a piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder includes a pair of resilient plate members joined together at their lower ends and disposed in a configuration substantially folded about the joint therebetween. The vibration generator of the folded configuration has a relatively small length and hence is capable of reducing the overall height of the vibratory parts feeder. A further advantage attained by the folded vibration generator is that the amplitude of vibrations is not limited depending upon the distance between the base and the vibratory conveyor table.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Masuda
- 👤 Susumu Yagi
- 👤 Sakiichi Okabe
- 👤 Yoichi Kamishima
- 👤 Kazuo Kawagoe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G27/00; B65G27/10; B65G27/16; B65G27/18; B65G27/08; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator comprising: (a) at least two resilient plate members joined together at their one ends, which are free-standing and disposed in a U-shaped configuration substantially folded about the joint therebetween, their opposite ends being directly upwardly and separately secured to supports; and (b) a pair of piezoelectric elements attached respectively to front and back surfaces of one of said resilient plate members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator comprising: (a) at least two resilient plate members joined together at their one ends, which are free-standing and disposed in a U-shaped configuration substantially folded about the joint therebetween, their opposite ends being directly upwardly and separately secured to supports; and (b) a pair of piezoelectric elements attached respectively to front and back surfaces of one of said resilient plate members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members extending in parallel spaced relation to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members being disposed in face to face confrontation to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 3, further including a spacer block disposed between said resilient plate members at said one ends of the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members being disposed in side by side juxtaposition to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 5, further including a connector plate interconnecting said resilient plate members at said one ends of the latter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members extending at an angle to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 7, one of said resilient plate members having one face lying in a plane extending at an angle to a face of the other resilient plate member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 8, said angle being nearly equal to 90 degrees.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members being integral with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, the other of said resilient plate members being thinner than said one resilient plate member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members having the same thickness.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members having the same length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, said resilient plate members having different lengths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 14, the other of said resilient plate members being longer than said one resilient plate member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 14, said one resilient plate member being longer than the other of said resilient plate members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 1, at least one of said resilient plate members being ajustable in length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 17, said one resilient plate member including an elongate holder, a slide movably received in said holder, and a fastener for locking the slide in position against displacement relative to said holder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 17, said one resilient plate member including a pair of elongate plate elements, and a stud screw interconnecting one ends of said plate elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
A piezoelectric driven vibratory parts feeder comprising: (a) a stationary base; (b) a vibratory conveyor table; and (c) at least one piezoelectric vibration generator interconnecting said base and said vibratory conveyor table and operable to impart vibratory impulses to said vibratory conveyor table, said piezoelectric vibration generator including (i) at least two resilient plate members joined together at their one ends, which are free-standing and disposed in a U-shaped configuration substantially folded about the joint therebetween with their opposite ends directed upwardly being firmly connected to said base, the opposite end of the other resilient plate member being firmly connected to said vibratory conveyor table, and (ii) a pair of piezoelectric elements attached respectively to front and back surfaces of one of said resilient plate members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
A piezoelectric driven vibratory parts feeder comprising: (a) a stationary base; (b) a vibratory conveyor table; and (c) at least one piezoelectric vibration generator interconnecting said base and said vibratory conveyor table and operable to impart vibratory impulses to said vibratory conveyor table, said piezoelectric vibration generator including (i) at least two resilient plate members joined together at their one ends, which are free-standing and disposed in a U-shaped configuration substantially folded about the joint therebetween with their opposite ends directed upwardly being firmly connected to said base, the opposite end of the other resilient plate member being firmly connected to said vibratory conveyor table, and (ii) a pair of piezoelectric elements attached respectively to front and back surfaces of one of said resilient plate members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said vibratory conveyor table being disposed above said base, said base including an upstanding mounting bracket extending vertically upwardly from an upper surface of said base and terminating short of the underside of said vibratory conveyor table, said opposite end of said one resilient plate member being firmly secured to an upper end of said upstanding mounting bracket, said opposite end of said other resilient plate member being firmly secured to the underside of said vibratory conveyor table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 21, said resilient plate members being disposed in substantially face to face confrontation to one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said base having an annular shape, said vibratory conveyor table being disposed within a central opening in said annular base, said annular base and said vibratory conveyor table lying in the same plane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 23, said resilient plate members having the same length and being disposed in parallel juxtaposition to one another.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said vibratory conveyor table being disposed above said base, said base having an aperture, said resilient plate members being parallel spaced and disposed in side by side juxtaposition to one another, one of said resilient plate members being longer than the other resilient plate member and extending through said aperture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 25, the number of said resilient plate members being three, two of said three resilient plate members having the same length and disposed on opposite sides of the remaining resilient plate member, said remaining resilient plate member being longer than said two resilient plate members and extending through said aperture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said vibratory convryor table being disposed above said base, the respective other ends of said resilient plate members being secured respectively to an outer side surface of said base and an outer side surface of said vibratory conveyor table.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 27, said one resilient plate member extending substantially vertically and having one face lying in a first vertical plane, said other resilient plate member extending obliquely with respect to the vertical and having one face lying in a second vertical plane extening at an angle to said first plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 28, said angle being nearly equal to 90 degrees.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 28, further including means for changing the angle of inclination of said othr resilient plate member, said changing means comprising a mounting bracket secured to said outer side surface of said base and supporting thereon said other end of said one resilient plate member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 30, said mounting bracket having a sloped surface supporting flatwise thereon said one face of said one resilient plate member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 27, said other resilient plate member being adjustable in length.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
A piezoelectriccally driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 32, said other resilient plate member including an elongate holder, a slide movably received in said holder, and a fastener for locking the slide in position against displacement relative to said holder.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 32, said other resilient plate member including a pair of elongate plate elements, and a stud screw interconnecting one ends of said plate elements.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members extending in parallel spaced relation to one another.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members being disposed in face to face confrontation to one another.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 36, further including a spacer block disposed between said resilient plate members at said one ends of the latter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members being disposed in side by side juxtaposition to one another.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 38, further including a connector plate interconnecting said resilient plate members at said one ends of the latter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members extending at an angle to one another.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 40, one of said resilient plate members having one face lying in a plane extending at an angle to a face of the other resilient plate member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 41, said angle being nearly equal to 90 degrees.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members being integral with each other.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, the other of said resilient plate members being thinner than said one resilient plate member.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members having the same thickness.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members having the same length.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 20, said resilient plate members having different lengths.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 47, said other resilient plate member being longer than said one resilient plate member.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 47, said one resilient plate member being longer than the other of said reilient plate members.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
A piezoelectric vibration generator according to claim 20, at least one of said resilient plate members being adjustable in length.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
41 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 50, said one resilient plate member including an elongate holder, a slide movably received in said holder, and a fastener for locking the slide in position against displacement relative to said holder.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
33 words
A piezoelectrically driven vibratory parts feeder according to claim 50, said one resilient plate member including a pair of elongate plate elements, and a stud screw interconnecting one ends of said plate elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |