Terminology

Angular Skirt

A conic section, calculated to fit at the required angle. attached between the bottom side of the track and the bowl wall to prevent parts from stacking and causing jams between the tracks.

Tooled Vibratory Feeder Bowl

The basic bowl complete with internal or external tooling custom designed to meet feed rate, part orientation, and other specifications as required.

Orientation

The correct position of the piece part at the discharge chute of the vibratory feeder. This is the attitude in which the part is to be presented to an assembly or placing operation.

Rate

The number of parts discharged per minute or hour, as needed to maintain production requirements.

External Tooling

Any construction outside of the vertical band which separates, orients, selects, confines, or relieves pressure buildup on oriented parts.

Return Pan

The structure attached to the outer band for the purpose of recirculating parts, to the inside of the bowl, that has been rejected by the orienting and selection devices.

Final Selector

A tooled section designed specifically to segregate only those parts that are in the correct attitude.

Adjustable Narrow Track Section

A short section of track that can be set at various widths. The length depends on the size of the part. This may be either a stainless or tool steel insert that can be adjusted to either orient or limit parts to a single file.

Sweep (Cam)

A stainless or tool steel insert placed above a track to control the part level or orientation.

Flange Mount

This is a continuation of the band below the bowl bottom to hold it to the cross arms of the base drive unit. Clamp nuts are used to attach small diameter bowls to the top member. On large diameter bowls, clamp nuts, along with a center bolt, are provided.

Cord Section

A straight section of either stainless or tool steel used to select or orient parts.

Baffle

A stainless steel deflector welded to the bowl bottom to guard the return hole thus allowing parts to flow evenly back from the return pan.

Air Jet

A small diameter tube mounted in place which is sometimes used to assist part movement. It is adjusted in the process of development to assist in orientation or final selection with the minimum amount of air pressure.

Parallel Blade Section

An area with a stationary or adjustable gap which orients parts (bolts, screws, etc.) to a “hanging attitude”.

Pre-Orientor

Tooling to change the attitude of a part to the proper position for final selection. A pre-orientor will generate higher feed rates’ and minimize recirculation of the parts, thus. extending the life of the bowl and part handling system, especially with regard to metal or abrasive parts.

Back Pressure Relief (or “Bubble”)

An area of the bowl tooling just prior to the entrance to confinement where the parts will buckle if the discharge is full and recirculate in the bowl. This relieves part pressure which would otherwise cause jamming conditions or misoriented parts to bridge across the bowl tooling.

Full Track Sensor

A means of providing a pressure relief when the parts will not efficiently bubble-off of their own accord. This device can be either a proximity, fiber optic, or pneumatic type sensor to signal the feeder to start or stop. Also, a sensor can activate an air jet to eject excess parts from the entrance to confinement, in which case the ‘bowl would continue to run (the latter is most generally used with multiple track bowls).

Discharge Chute (Horizontal or Down Angle)

A short section of track that is mounted to the bowl. The discharge chute controls parts in the orientation, achieved in the bowl and in most cases, conveys them to either a horizontal vibratory straight line or gravity track.

Confinement

A containing section used to control parts through the discharge chute. Confinements are designed in a manner to allow access to the parts by removal of “bolt-on” sections in most cases.

Scrap Chute

A scrap chute is used to discharge small particles of foreign material from the bowl without interfering with flow of the piece parts.

Quick Dump Chute

A quick-opening “window” that is provided to facilitate changing from one part to another when multiple styles or sizes of parts are being fed from the same bowl.

Running Surface

That portion of the basic bowl, pre-orientor, final selector or discharge chute with which the part makes contact. This is a variable dimension, depending upon the particular piece part.

Counter-Balance Weight

A solid steel block of predetermined size and weight that is added to the exterior of the bowl. The location is determined on a counter-balance wheel, in order to offset the weight of the external tooling, etc. (static balance).

Storage Hopper

A storage hopper is used to hold extra parts for replenishing the supply in the bowl. Hoppers are set to operate automatically by a signal from a level control switch, thus eliminating either a deficiency or an over-supply of parts in the bowl.

Gravity Tracks

Gravity tracks and vertical magazines are methods of conveying parts. This type track must be set on an angle great enough that gravity will convey the parts from the discharge chute of the feed system. A magazine is a track in which oriented parts are stacked. This device is usually preloaded; the feeder maintains a full stack.

Escapement

A mechanical device placed at the end of the feeder discharge, horizontal straight line. or gravity track to isolate the end part.

Placing Device

A mechanical means of placing an escaped part into a nest or onto another piece part.

Base Drive Units

The force used to power the LP Drive Unit is accomplished by using one or more electromagnetic coils which act upon pole faceplates to generate vibratory motion. The upper and lower members of the drive unit are constrained by leaf springs causing torsional vibration which is transferred to the top member in the form of feed motion. When the drive unit moves the parts at maximum efficiency with minimum current effort, the unit is said to be tuned to a natural frequency of the power source. The mass and diameter of the feeder bowl is the determining factor in tuning the unit. As this mass or diameter is increased, more leaf springs must be added. The rubber feet of the base drive plays an important part in allowing the lower member of the drive unit to act as a pendulum to power the bowl.

Coil Clatter

A warning sound which indicates that the coil gap is set too close, causing the pole faces to strike. This condition will result in damage to the drive unit if not corrected.

Clamp Nuts

A machined block at the end of each cross arm of the upper weldment for the purpose of attaching the bowl to the unit. Failure to do so will result in failure or malfunction of the feeder system.

Tuning

Proper tuning is an important factor in achieving maximum spring energy level. When a drive unit is improperly tuned (over or under-sprung) the spring tension does not correspond with the natural frequency of the feeder mass. Either condition prevents the mass from returning to its neutral position before the next magnetic pulse takes over thus restricting the full motion each 1/2 a second. Normal 60 Hz current produces 120 magnetic cycles per second and transmits 120 mechanical cycles per second to the bowl. Tuning the unit to a natural frequency of either 60 Hz or 120 Hz, for proper balance between coil assembly energy development and spring tension, is of utmost importance to a smooth and efficient feed system. At this balance point it should be noted that parts will feed at maximum efficiency with the minimum current draw. The addition or removal of springs may be necessary to obtain the balance needed. The same principles apply for 60 Hz except for one half of the magnetic pulse is cut out, leaving only 60 mechanical movements per second (sometimes referred to as 1/2 wave or rectified current). The air gap between the coil assembly and the armature plate is important. If the air gap needs to be reset, adjust it so the pole faces are as close as possible without striking. This will generate maximum power with minimum amperage draw. If the air gap is too small, the coil will clatter; if too large, the energy will not be used efficiently, causing the coil to overheat.

Straight Line Vibratory Drive Units for Vibratory Tracks

A straight line drive unit is designed to produce linear vibratory motion. It is used to power tracks that convey parts horizontally from the feeder bowl discharge to a dead nest or mechanism. It operates on the same principles of Base Drive Unit

Isolation Springs

The lower spring packs that act to absorb vibratory motion and transmit it to the body of the straight line drive unit.