A conveyor includes a trough with a floor having an upper surface configured to receive items to be conveyed in at least a first direction from a first end to a second end. The conveyor also includes a platform with at least one exciter attached thereto. The at least one exciter has at least one shaft with an eccentric mass attached thereto, the shaft having an axis of rotation about which the mass is rotated. The conveyor also includes a base. At least one first toroidal resilient member is disposed between the trough and the platform, and at least one second toroidal resilient member disposed between the platform and the base.

The invention relates to a vibratory feeder comprising a support arrangement (8), for carrying out a vibrational movement when in operation, for a feeder element in which material (12) which is to be fed is fed, also comprising a drive arrangement (5) for the support arrangement (8) and a bearing arrangement (3) which initiates vibrational oscillations of the vibratory feeder (1, 30, 40, 60, 90, 100) reducing in the base (2). Means which suppress a movement of the vertical components due to the vibratory movement of the front end (10a) of the feeder element from that of the rear end (10b) when the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) is in operation are provided. The mass flow emitted by the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) can be easily changed without a time delay which can therefore improve the control of the vibratory feeder.

The invention relates to a vibratory feeder comprising a support arrangement (8), for carrying out a vibrational movement when in operation, for a feeder element in which material (12) which is to be fed is fed, also comprising a drive arrangement (5) for the support arrangement (8) and a bearing arrangement (3) which initiates vibrational oscillations of the vibratory feeder (1, 30, 40, 60, 90, 100) reducing in the base (2). Means which suppress a movement of the vertical components due to the vibratory movement of the front end (10a) of the feeder element from that of the rear end (10b) when the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) is in operation are provided. The mass flow emitted by the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) can be easily changed without a time delay which can therefore improve the control of the vibratory feeder.

A vibratory conveyor includes a feed tray, an electromagnetic linear actuator and a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A sensor assembly is positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly. A vibratory conveyor in which the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong is also disclosed.

A vibratory conveyor includes a feed tray, an electromagnetic linear actuator and a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A sensor assembly is positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly. A vibratory conveyor in which the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong is also disclosed.

A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

A bulk feeder includes a feeder main body, a receiving member provided on the feeder main body and formed with a receiving region configured to receive a component discharged from a component case accommodating multiple components, a track member provided to be vibratable with respect to the feeder main body and formed with a conveyance path through which the multiple components are conveyed and a supply region that communicates with the conveyance path and opens upward to collect the multiple components, an excitation device configured to apply vibration to the track member so that the multiple components are conveyed along the conveyance path, and a connection member having flexibility and configured to connect between the receiving region and the conveyance path so that the multiple components flows through.

A vibratory conveyor drive system that can be fitted onto most existing vibratory conveyors. It replaces the conventional vibrational drive and its connections to the trough or trough frame and dramatically increases the longevity of the vibratory conveyor. It is a simple inexpensive retrofit. It has a drive arm with a vibratory drive that is hung from one of its ends and is partially vertically supported underneath by a vertical spring means. The other end of the drive arm is connected to the trough or the trough frame. Between the vibratory drive the drive arm and the trough or frame, there is at least one flexion means to negate the vertical forces of the drive and utilize only the lineal drive forces. The drive arm is at an acute angle with respect to the linear axis of the trough so as to impart an oscillating translational movement to the trough.

A vibratory conveyor includes a feed tray, an electromagnetic linear actuator and a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A sensor assembly is positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly. A vibratory conveyor in which the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong is also disclosed.