The vibration feeder has a drive unit comprising a vibration drive, a carrier arrangement comprising a feeding element for the material to be conveyed and a control for the vibration drive, wherein an acceleration sensor is arranged on the drive unit, which when the vibration feeder is operating, detects the actual acceleration of the drive unit, and wherein the control is configured to use the actual acceleration signal of the acceleration sensor for generating a regulating variable for the vibration drive such that the carrier arrangement vibrates essentially within its resonance frequency (f.sub.res). This makes it possible, during operation, to detect the acceleration of a drive unit of the vibration feeder and to generate therefrom a regulating variable for a vibration drive such that a carrier arrangement of the vibration feeder vibrates closer to its resonance frequency (f.sub.res) or is brought back again to the same. In addition the inventive control may be used to also regulate the amplitude of the carrier arrangement and the associated mass flow m to a required value.

An oscillating conveyor having a conveying apparatus and a drive device that, upon actuation by a control device, excites an oscillation of the conveying apparatus with respect to a base of the oscillating conveyor to convey objects supported by a conveying surface of the conveying apparatus. The control device includes a communication interface for communication with an external communication device. The control device is designed so as, upon receiving a communication message including address and control information, to use the communication interface to check an addressing condition, the meeting of which is dependent on the address information, and only if the addressing condition is met to alter the actuation of the drive device based on the control information and/or to set an internal control parameter on which at least one chronologically subsequent actuation of the drive device by the control device is dependent to a value that is dependent on the control information.

A process for estimating the residual life of an electromagnet of a vibrating feeder of articles is described, controlled through a control circuit to make at least one element of the feeder vibrate in frequency, the process comprising the following phases: constantly monitoring the waveform of the absorbed current (I) and the operating voltage (V) to calculate an ohmic resistance value to be compared with a reference value; comparing the measurement of the density of a magnetic flux (Bm) with respect to a reference saturation limit value (Bsat), using an inductance value (L) based on the acquisition of the absorbed current (I) value; verifying an efficient operating situation of the vibrating feeder through the condition (ε1=B.sub.m−B.sub.sat<0).

An oscillating conveyor having a conveying apparatus and a drive device that, upon actuation by a control device, excites an oscillation of the conveying apparatus with respect to a base of the oscillating conveyor to convey objects supported by a conveying surface of the conveying apparatus. The control device includes a communication interface for communication with an external communication device. The control device is designed so as, upon receiving a communication message including address and control information, to use the communication interface to check an addressing condition, the meeting of which is dependent on the address information, and only if the addressing condition is met to alter the actuation of the drive device based on the control information and/or to set an internal control parameter on which at least one chronologically subsequent actuation of the drive device by the control device is dependent to a value that is dependent on the control information.

There is provided an apparatus for taking out a molded product, the apparatus being capable of suppressing displacement vibration of an attachment mounted at a leading end of an approach frame by means of active control using an electromagnetic actuator that has necessary power. One or more electromagnetic actuators are disposed at a portion of the approach frame, positioned opposite to the attachment with respect to a movable base. An active vibration suppressing system suppresses the displacement vibration of the attachment by causing the one or more electromagnetic actuators to generate a vibration in the same phase as the displacement vibration of the attachment.

There is provided an apparatus for taking out a molded product, the apparatus being capable of suppressing displacement vibration of an attachment mounted at a leading end of an approach frame by means of active control using an electromagnetic actuator that has necessary power. One or more electromagnetic actuators are disposed at a portion of the approach frame, positioned opposite to the attachment with respect to a movable base. An active vibration suppressing system suppresses the displacement vibration of the attachment by causing the one or more electromagnetic actuators to generate a vibration in the same phase as the displacement vibration of the attachment.

A separation device has a conveying channel configuration and a transport belt configuration. A conveying material can be conveyed via the conveying channel configuration on the transport belt configuration, the conveying channel configuration has differently inclined regions, and a speed cascade of the conveyed material stream can be achieved by the differently inclined regions. The separation of the conveyed material stream is improved in that the conveying channel configuration has at least one wedge groove.

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.

Vibratory conveyors, vibratory conveyor systems, and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary vibratory conveyor includes a support frame; a pan configured to receive a conveyed material, the pan mounted for cyclic movement relative to the support frame, the pan having a pan axis generally aligned with a conveying direction; and at least two linear servomotors operatively coupled to move the pan relative to the support frame, the at least two linear servomotors comprising a first linear servomotor and a second linear servomotor. The first linear servomotor defines a first linear servomotor actuating axis, the second linear servomotor defines a second linear servomotor actuating axis, and the first linear servomotor actuating axis is oriented obliquely relative to the second linear servomotor actuating axis.