Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a robot system including a part feeder having a container that accommodates a part and a plurality of vibration actuators for vibrating the container, and a robot having an end effector for picking up a part from the container, the apparatus comprising: a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control the part feeder and the robot, wherein the processor is configured to select one or more control commands from a plurality of control commands respectively including control parameters of the plurality of vibration actuators and transmits the selected control command to the part feeder for causing the part feeder to perform an operation according to the selected control command.

Abstract: A pneumatic impulse conveyor motor using opposed pairs of linear-activated bellows to reciprocate a drive plate. The drive plate is rotatably connected to an array of conveyor trays through a plurality of parallel spaced shafts to convert the linear motion of the bellows to a radial motion useful for reciprocating the array of conveyor trays.

Abstract: A system (1) for supplying components, particularly for transporting small components includes a vibrating device (2) provided with a plate (3) forming a surface for enabling the components to be grasped by a robot and a vibrating element (12) arranged to be capable of vibrating the plate (3) in one of the three directions in space and to be capable of vibrating the plate (3) in directions corresponding to any combination whatsoever of the three directions x, y and z. For this purpose, the vibrating element includes vibrating actuators (12) respectively including a vibrating element arranged to move with at least five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Linear vibratory conveyor including a utility weight and a counterweight that can be vibratingly moved in opposing directions via a drive unit, the utility weight and the counterweight being connected via a non-rigid connector that represents or includes a vibration amplifying means for the vibration produced by the drive unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a vibratory distribution system which utilizes a metering gate assembly useful for selectively passing and diverting articles from a stream of articles to either or both a downstream conveyor or a cross conveyor. The metering gate assembly is capable of providing a proportional distribution in response to a user specified control point. The metering gate assembly includes an actuator that is borne by the conveyor bed, and a control valve that is operable to hold a slide gate in a desired position despite the violent vibratory motion imparted by the conveyor bed.

Abstract: A two mass vibratory apparatus for processing work material includes a bed defining a transport surface for receiving the objects, an elastic amplifier having a first end connected to the bed and a second end, and a base connected to the elastic amplifier second end. A linear actuator is mounted on the base and adapted to generate a linear vibratory force that is amplified by the elastic amplifier thereby to move the bed in a vibratory motion, so that the work material moves in response to the vibratory motion of the bed.

Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor having a conveyor motor which uses bellows to provide the driving force for the conveyor. The conveyor includes a housing within which is mounted the conveyor motor. The conveyor motor has a pair of bellows, a drive plate and a fluid control system. The drive plate is movably mounted between the bellows. The conveyor plate is mounted to the top end of the drive plate. The fluid control system includes a main control valve, a pair of limit switches, a pair of valves and a flow control valve. The fluid control system allows for inflation of one bellow at a greater rate than inflation of the other bellow.

Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor having a conveyor motor which uses bellows to provide the driving force for the conveyor. The conveyor includes a housing within which is mounted the conveyor motor. The conveyor motor has a pair of bellows, a drive plate and a fluid control system. The drive plate is movably mounted between the bellows. The conveyor plate is mounted to the top end of the drive plate. The fluid control system includes a main control valve, a pair of limit switches, a pair of valves and a flow control valve. The fluid control system allows for inflation of one bellow at a greater rate than inflation of the other bellow.

Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor having a conveyor motor which uses bellows to provide the driving force for the conveyor. The conveyor includes a housing within which is mounted the conveyor motor. The conveyor motor has a pair of bellows, a drive plate and a fluid control system. The drive plate is movably mounted between the bellows. The conveyor plate is mounted to the top end of the drive plate. The fluid control system includes a main control valve, a pair of limit switches, a pair of valves and a flow control valve. The fluid control system allows for inflation of one bellow at a greater rate than inflation of the other bellow.

Abstract: A handler for transporting planar substrates, in particular wafers, used in the semiconductor industry, between at least two stations. The handler includes a movable flat support arm for receiving a substrate and means for defining the location of the substrate in the area of a predetermined point on the support arm. A vibration generator for generating a longitudinal ultrasonic vibration is provided, that the vibration generator interacts with the support arm in such a way that a substantially stationary vibration with at least one antinode can be set on the flat support arm, which permits a levitation of a substrate placed thereon. A means for defining the location of the substrate provide a lateral positioning exclusively by an interaction with the edge area of a substrate.

Abstract: An oscillatory drive unit for use in an oscillating system to be oscillated substantially at the resonance point of the oscillating system, wherein the oscillating system includes a mass to be oscillated and a countermass to which the mass is connected by resilient coupling members. The oscillatory drive unit includes a piston-cylinder-component that is operatively connected to the mass and the countermass. The piston-cylinder-component includes a cylinder chamber and a piston. The piston is arranged for reciprocal movement between a first end position and a second end position. Gas is introduced under pressure into the cylinder chamber within an energizing range of piston positions defined by a first energizing position and a second energizing position of the piston, and gas is vented from the chamber within a venting range of piston positions defined by a first venting position and a second venting position of the piston.

Abstract: In a feeder supplying assembly components to another machine, an electronic control device monitors a horizontal buffer zone. Pulses of compressed gas are intermittently employed to lift components upon detecting the absence of a component in a portion of such buffer zone. The grooved chute member has a shape resembling the symbol for a square root after replacing the angles with curves. The stream of flowing components can be quite fast because components are directed to fall into the downsloping gathering portion of the grooved chute at an upper, middle, and lower portions. More rapid multi-stage alignment of components is expedited by a zone underneath a deflector and a transition zone, with an alignment passageway between such zones.

Abstract: An oscillatory drive unit for use in an oscillating system to be oscillated substantially at the resonance point of the oscillating system, wherein the oscillating system includes a mass to be oscillated and a countermass to which the mass is connected by resilient coupling members. The oscillatory drive unit includes a piston-cylinder-component that is operatively connected to the mass and the countermass. The piston-cylinder-component includes a cylinder chamber and a piston. The piston is arranged for reciprocal movement between a first end position and a second end position. Gas is introduced under pressure into the cylinder chamber within an energizing range of piston positions defined by a first energizing position and a second energizing position of the piston, and gas is vented from the chamber within a venting range of piston positions defined by a first venting position and a second venting position of the piston.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor capable of fluidizing particulate material is capable of separate control of direction, velocity and fluidization of material. The material is placed on a conveyor and vibrated by separate vertical and horizontal components of vibration. The frequency of both components is synchronized over an operating range. Various independent changes in amplitudes can affect the degree of fluidization and flow direction for any particular frequency. For any combination of amplitudes, changes in frequency affect fluidization and velocity. The present invention is adaptable for a range of applications that include drying wood wafers, hog fuel or other organic particulate, warming wood chips, scrubbing flue gas, filtering acting as a reactor and as a gas processor.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor capable of fluidizing particulate material permits control of direction, speed and fluidization of the material. The material is placed on a conveyor and vibrated by a linear vibrator which provides horizontal and vertical components of vibrational forces in a direction of movement. The amplitude and frequency of vibration are controlled to maintain a predetermined degree of fluidization. The vector angle of the linear vibrator is positioned to define a predetermined speed and direction of movement of the material on the conveyor.

Abstract: A vibrating conveyor for moving agglutinous particulate materials that pack into large accumulations which adhere to its surface, eventually blocking the conveyor pan, is cleared of such accumulations by placing a flexible hose along its bottom. A flexible sheet lines the conveyor pan on top of the hose. The hose is inflated periodically so as to lift the sheet and thus break up the packed accumulations of material.

Abstract: An asymmetrical vibrator is provided, which is actuated by compressed air. The vibrator operates in a case, which has two bores disposed parallel on opposite sides of the casing. One of the bores is smaller than the second bore and the piston operating in the small bore is called the slow piston, since it is actuated with air to a relatively slow motion and the piston operating in the second larger bore is called the fast piston, since it is moves at a larger speed when driven directly by the compressed air. The asymmetric vibration motion can be employed to transport materials upwardly in factories and assembly stations. The air operated asymmetric vibrators need low maintenance and do not entail the spark dangers caused by the presence of electrical wiring for electrical drive motors.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated reciprocating conveyor in the form of a pan feeder comprises a base, an elongated conveyor trough reciprocably mounted on the base, a drive cylinder connected between the base and trough, a constant volume pump, a solenoid-operated reversing valve connected between the pump and the drive cylinder to direct pressure fluid to opposite ends of the cylinder to reciprocate the trough through a stroking range in a forward stroke and in a rearward stroke at a substantially higher speed than the forward stroke. Forward and rearward limit switches connected to the reversing valve are automatically operable by the moving trough to reverse the drive cylinder at opposite ends of the stroking range.

Abstract: This invention pertains to unidirectional vibration apparatus using resilient shock absorber mounting means to change multidirectional vibration into unidirectional vibration forces. Three embodiments pertain to the use of pressurized air for driving an eccentric weight at a desired speed. One embodiment employs a turbine which is carried between and by resilient disk members secured to mounting rings. A roller is driven by pressurized air and the vibrating apparatus is carried within and by a resilient ring. A ball vibrator also uses a resilient ring as a shock absorber.

Abstract: A piston vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing having a chamber with a free floating piston therein. The free floating piston is axially moved by a pressurized medium. Piston amplifying structure is provided for regulating the effective mass of the piston and thereby the amplitude and frequency of movement thereof in said cylindrical housing.

Abstract: In a warehouse setup, individual items of goods are moved onto and off of storage shelves on a rack by a vibrating action. A movable carriage supporting a vibrator is positionable at the ends of a storage shelf so that the vibrator can be placed in engagement with a particular shelf. The shelves are movably supported relative to the rack whereby the vibrating action is directed to the shelf but not to the rack.

Abstract: A vibrator operated by a fluid medium under pressure for the purpose of imparting vibration to a working platform carrying the material being handled. The vibrator comprises a base, a forward stroke chamber formed by a continuous seal situated on the side of said base facing the working platform, and a striker mounted on said seal of the forward stroke chamber and adapted to interact with the working platform under the action of the fluid medium for the purpose of imparting vibration to said working platform. The vibrator also comprises a reverse stroke chamber formed by an additional continuous seal situated on the side of the striker facing the working platform and connected to the source of the fluid medium.

Abstract: A conveyor having a frame, a piston and cylinder unit operable by means of pressure fluid and secured in the frame, a spring assembly for actuation of the piston, a holder mounted on the frame and reciprocable by means of the piston and cylinder unit and carrying a conveyor path for receiving articles. The piston and cylinder unit has inlet and outlet valves and throttle means at the outlet of the outlet valve. A control rod connected to the piston of the piston and cylinder unit is adapted to allow control of the cross-sectional passage area of the throttle means. The control rod has a back-off section which merges into the full diameter of the rod at one end over a long distance and at the other end over a considerably shorter distance. The conveyor permits moving articles by a throwing movement also along a slightly upwardly inclining conveyor path.

Abstract: This invention relates to a variable speed vibratory conveyor or feeder which comprises a material-carrying member mounted on isolation springs, and an exciter connected to the member by a spring system. The exciter carries a rotatably mounted eccentric weight for imparting vibrations to the material-carrying member, and a hydraulic control system is provided for varying the position of the eccentric weight relative to its axis of rotation in order to vary the amplitude of the vibrations imparted to the material-carrying member.