Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor system including detectable markers disposed in a series on a moving component of the conveyor system. A stationary sensor disposed in close proximity to the markers generates a signal when the moving component is in a first range of motion to dispose the markers proximal to the sensor, and the sensor either fails to generate a signal when the moving component is not within the first range of motion. The sensor signal causes a current conditioning device to condition current from a current source to operate a motor to power the conveyor tray at a first rate of acceleration in a first mode, and the lack of the signal causes the current conditioning device to operate the motor to power the conveyor tray at a second rate of acceleration in a second mode. Markers may be positionable to optimize the timing of the current modes.

Abstract: A radial distribution system includes a base member for receiving product for distribution to a plurality of conveyors, a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the base member and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a vibration member configured to vibrate the base member. The vibration causes product received on the base member to move on the base member in a substantially circular manner.

Abstract: A device (1) for feeding a product, in particular an infusion product, to a packaging machine is of the type comprising means (2, 6) for collecting and transporting the product and means (8) for conveying the product itself. The conveying means (8) are of the type with vibrating channeling means and are connected to the collection means (2, 6) to receive the product from the collection means (2, 6) and to feed the product to an operating station (10) of the packaging machine.

Abstract: A vibratory conveying feeder, which includes a power control circuit for locally providing an adjusted drive signal to the vibratory drive. Inclusion of a power control circuit into one or more vibratory conveying feeders within a system including multiple vibratory conveying feeders, enable the feeders to share a common power supply bus. By enabling multiple feeders to share a common power supply bus, the wiring associated with providing power connections to the multiple vibratory conveying feeders is correspondingly reduced. Consequently, initial system installation or system reconfiguration is greatly simplified.

Abstract: The present invention includes a parts feeder system capable of being used in either a first mode without an auxiliary hopper or in a second mode with and auxiliary hopper. The parts feeder system includes an enclosure having an opening therein. In the first or manual-feed mode, the parts feeder system is replenished my manual filling thereof, and in the second or auxiliary hopper-feed mode the opening in the enclosure accommodates an auxiliary hopper. When the auxiliary hopper is used, the dispensing chute of the auxiliary hopper is positioned over the supply of the parts feeder. Additionally, the enclosure of the parts feeder system is configured with grooves so that it can be secured by a minimal number of fixation elements and can therefore be easily attached and removed.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder for feeding low density powered material having a tray, a base and a motor supporting the tray on the base. The motor includes an electromagnet having an AC coil supported on an intermediate leg between the outer legs and an armature having a permanent magnet and two pole plates. The pole plates being disposed in the spaces between the outer legs and the intermediate leg. A rare earth magnet is supported between the pole plates. Spaces between the electromagnet legs and the pole plates providing for a stroke of about 0.2 inch at a frequency of 30 Hertz and a tuning spring connecting the motor to the tray. The tuning spring being adjustable to change the deflection of the tray relative to the motor.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for particles of tobacco or other bulk material has a trough with an elongated bottom wall the upper side of which merges smoothly into a downwardly sloping convex cylindrical or substantially cylindrical external surface of a tubular or like member forming part of the front portion of the trough. This ensures that fragments of dust (if any) which are being entrained by the particles of bulk material are less likely to be expelled or permitted to escape from successive increments of the flow of bulk material advancing beyond the bottom wall of the trough. Moreover, the particles of conveyed bulk material are more likely to remain in their prescribed path.

Abstract: A controllable refuse recycling system includes a conveyor for conveying refuse. The refuse is carried past a plurality of operating personnel who extract recyclable materials from the refuse, and deposit the extracted materials into separate deposit chutes. At least one deposit chute is situated directly in front of each operator so that the deposit chute is located on the conveyor itself, or on the other side of the conveyor from the operator. The system is also controllable, and includes a control deck for monitoring and controlling the operation of the system. In one embodiment, the operation of the refuse recycling system is modified depending upon the species of refuse which is introduced into the system, so that the system operates in a first mode when commercial refuse is received, and in a second mode when residential refuse is received.

Abstract: In a method of X-radiation sorting of raw materials, after the stock lumps have been spread in monolayer on the transporting surface and stabilized, they are brought into the mode of unsupported movement along the stabilized paths without rotation. The exposure of the lumps to X-radiation, the measurement of the secondary radiation from the lumps, and the selection thereof are all carried out during this unsupported movement of the lumps. An apparatus for X-radiation sorting of raw materials comprises a steeply inclined vibrating feeder (4) conjugate to a preceding slightly inclined vibrating feeder (3) with a stabilizer (5) located thereabove for stabilizing the lumps of the stock. Over a section (14) of joining the conjugate vibrating feeders (3,4), there is disposed a second stabilizer (6) compensating for the lump torques produced at the point where the lumps pass onto the vibrating feeder (4).

Abstract: A method of cramming electronic components into a plate-like casing, comprises preparing the casing having a spiral passageway, an opening as a continuation of the passageway to communicate with the exterior of the casing and vents; preparing components; sending the components to vibration-free zone while applying vibration to the components; feeding the foremost one of the components, forwarded to the vibration-free zone, into the passageway through the opening of the casing by the push of subsequent components against the foremost component; causing the foremost components to be moved toward an inside terminal portion of the spiral passageway, while applying vibration to the casing in a manner to cause the vibration, applied to the casing, to extend from an outside terminal portion of the spiral passageway to the inside terminal portion of the spiral passageway and permitting air in the passageway to escape through the vents; and feeding from the vibration-free zone and moving the subsequent components towa

Abstract: A distribution system including a vibratory conveyor having a number of conveyor modules to distribute bulk food products to packaging machines at user locations. The product is fed using longitudinal vibration of a product carrying tray mounted on leaf springs which resist lateral vibration. At the downstream end only of the conveyor, additional lateral vibration is induced by vibrating the base on which the leaf springs are mounted. First and second electromagnetic drives for the longitudinal and lateral vibrations are controlled by a clock pulse generator to operate in synchronism, either in phase or in anti-phase, and are controlled independently of each other as to operation and amplitude. The arrangement enables optimized distribution of fines in the bulk food product.

Abstract: Conveying apparatus and methods employ a continuously vibrating element and a plurality of longitudinally aligned, overlapping, inclined conveyor pans, each of which has its own independently operable discharge gate. Material may be moved by the conveyor from a source to one or more material discharge destinations by selectively coupling and uncoupling predetermined conveyor pans to the continuously vibrating element. When not coupled to the continuously vibrating element, the conveyor pans are at rest in motionless isolation from the pans that are vibrating.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for surface treating agitable material that includes a conveyor trough for transporting the agitatable material. The trough is at least partially submerged in a treatment bath and it includes at least a first and second shaking chute each having a length along which the material is conveyed. The first and second chutes are disposed at angles from the horizontal such that the conveying direction of the first chute is substantially opposite to the conveying direction of the second chute.

Abstract: A method and device for successively feeding flat products, i.e. flat slab-shaped products such as sweets or biscuits, from an input container to a user machine, whereby the products are fed in bulk, and in excess of the capacity of the user machine, to an aligning conveyor by which they are fed successively, arranged flat and aligned with one another, to the input of a metering device, which feeds them successively to the input of the user machine in an amount equal to the capacity of the same; any excess products fed to the input of the metering device being detoured onto a recirculating conveyor.

Abstract: A root crop harvester including two endless web sections, with the first section overhanging the second section to form a step portion, and drive mechanism to vibrate the two web sections in their own planes by amounts that are unequal or can be made unequal (or equal) to suit the prevailing conditions.

Abstract: A three mass, two trough feeder transfers articles on first and second troughs by vibrating the troughs. First and second leaf springs support the troughs on a base with the troughs in line with each other and with one trough overlapping the other. The ratio of the spring constant of the first leaf springs to the first trough mass equals the ratio of the spring constant of the second leaf spring to the second trough mass. An electromagnetic driver between one of the troughs and the base is excited with a signal having a frequency with an angular velocity equal to the square root of the ratio. A plurality of feeders may be positioned radially outwardly about the periphery of a conical head for distributing articles.

Abstract: A device for feeding cylindrical components such as diodes, resistors or capacitors includes a buffer container for receiving components from a storage container, a horizontal exit track at the bottom of the buffer container, a delivery container for receiving components from the exit track, and a zig-zag delivery track. The storage container and buffer container have serpentine chambers and vibrator assemblies are employed to move components through the containers. The flow of components is halted by stopping the vibrators, thereby controlling the component flow rate and preventing jamming.

Abstract: A vibratory distribution system for flowable material such as bulk food products has a number of vibratable cascaded elongate primary conveyor channel sections tilted to one side about their longitudinal axes to cause the product to gravitate towards the lower side wall of each section. Each side wall has an opening through which product falls into a respective secondary conveyor section which carries the product to packaging. The flow rate of product can be precisely controlled by selective activation of the conveyor section, and by varying the vibration amplitude of the operating conveyor sections.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder device has a forward moving mechanism and recirculating, or return, mechanism side by side and separately and independently controllable. The forward feeding mechanism has a feeder track that includes an angularly sloping surface down which devices to be fed, such as transistor chips, slide under the influence of gravity into the return chute unless caught by the terminals of the fed devices. The angularly sloping surface has a groove in the feed direction in which the terminals become engaged. If the device's terminals are engaged by the groove so that they are in the proper attitude, the devices are fed along under the vibratory feed forces. If not, they are brushed off onto the angularly sloping surface by a blade or fall through a hole adjacent a deflector. In either case the rejected devices are returned to the supply hopper.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming chopped glass fiber strands is disclosed. The improvement comprises a vibratory conveyor under a drying apparatus for said glass fiber strands which is insulated such that cold spots do not develop on the tray adjacent the glass fiber strands. Preferably, the tray is formed of two sections, one inside the other, having an airspace therebetween along their lengths and having a spacer between the lips of the sections.