GB2090236A

GB2090236A - Vibratory feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2090236A
Application number: GB8137089A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Arthur G Russell Co Inc
Current assignee: Arthur G Russell Co Inc
Priority date: 1980-12-29
Filing date: 1981-12-09
Publication date: 1982-07-07
Also published as: CA1171811A; DE3148796A1; DE3148796C2; JPS57121516A; GB2090236B

Abstract

An apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles has a feeder bowl which includes a helical ramp surface which terminates at the upper edge of the bowl. An annular ring (26) supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl has an upwardly facing article supporting surface (18) contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. An annular baffle (421 disposed above the ring and in coaxial alignment with it coacts with the ring to successively release articles from the ring to a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the ring. Separate independent drive mechanisms are provided for vibrating the feeder bowl and rotating the ring to enable the feeder bowl to operate intermittently to discharge articles onto the ring which may operate continuously. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vibratory feeding apparatus Background of the Invention This invention relates in general to article feeding devices and deals more particularly with an improved article feeder of the vibratory bowl type wherein the bowl is formed with a helical ramp along which articles to be fed travel in response to vibration or oscillation of the bowl.

The present invention is particularly concerned with an improved vibratory feeding apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles in axially side-by-side relation to each other wherein each of the articles has an elongated body and a radially enlarged portion axially spaced from at least one end of the body.

Apparatus of the aforedescribed general type has heretofore been provided wherein a supply of articles loosely contained within a vibrating feeder bowl are discharged upwardly by means of a peripheral ramp leading to a gated outer rim through which articles are successively discharged in a generally radial direction. If articles are to be fed from the feeder bowl directly to another machine which operates continuously or to a conveyor which feeds the machine, the feeder bowl must generally remain in constant operation to continuously advance articles along its ramp surface. Articles loosely received within the central portion of the bowl remain in a continuous state of motion and constantly rub or impact against each other.This condition is generally undesirable, particularly where the articles are made from a soft plastic material or the like and have a surface finish which may be easily damaged. The present invention is particularly concerned with this problem.

It is the general aim of the present invention to provide an improved article feeding apparatus of the vibratory bowl type for feeding a continuous supply of axially elongated articles oriented in axially side-by-side relation and wherein the drive mechanism for vibrating the feeder bowl may, if desired, be intermittently operated.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention an apparatus is provided for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles, wherein each article has an axially elongated body and a radially enlarged portion axially spaced from at least one end of the body. The feeding apparatus comprises a feeder bowl for containing a supply of articles to be oriented and fed. A generally helical track surface extends along the inner periphery of the feeder bowl and has a terminal portion which extends along an associated portion of the upper edge of the bowl. A drive mechanism is provided for vibrating the feeder bowl to move articles contained within a central portion of the bowl onto and along the track surface in one direction and in generally axial end-to-end relation to each other.A ring surrounds a portion of the outer periphery of the feeder bowl and has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with the terminal portion of the track surface for receiving articles from the terminal portion. The ring is supported for rotation around and relative to the feeder bowl.

The apparatus further includes drive means for rotating the ring, means for retaining articles on the supporting surface, and means for releasing each successive article from the supporting surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vibratory feeder embodying the present invention and containing articles to be fed.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of an article such as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the vibratory feeder shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing components of a drive control mechanism.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the drawings and referring first particularly to Fig. 1, a vibratory feeding apparatus embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is particularly adapted for orienting and feeding a continuous succession of axially elongated articles, such as the articles indicated at A, A in the drawings. Each article has an axially elongated body and a radially enlarged portion axially spaced from at least one end of the body.

A typical article A is illustrated in somewhat further detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a hollow axially elongated generally cylindrical hypodermic syringe body part. The syringe body part A is preferably made from transparent plastic material and has a generally cylindrical body portion 12 and a radially enlarged flange portion 14 integrally connected to one end of the body portion. An axially elongated nozzle portion 1 6 projects coaxially from the opposite end of the body portion 12.

Considering now the illustrated vibratory feeding apparatus 10 in further detail, it includes a feeder bowl indicated generally at 18, 1 8 which has a central portion for containing a supply of articles, such as the articles A, A. The feeder bowl 18 is preferably made from cast aluminum or like material and has a helical track surface 20 which spirals upwardly and outwardly from the central portion along the inner peripheral surface of the bowl. The track surface 20 is inclined radially outwardly and downwardly relative to the axis of the bowl 18, is wide enough to accommodate a single article A, and terminates in an arcuate terminal portion 22 at the circular upper edge of the bowl 18.

The feeder bowl 1 8 is mounted on a base 24 which is supported on vertically adjustable legs and contains vibratory drive mechanism of a wellknown type indicated schematically at 25 in Fig. 8, but not shown in detail. The drive mechanism 25 vibrates the feeder bowl 1 8 to move articles such as the articles A, A onto and along the track surface 20 in generally axial endto-end relation to each other. The construction and arrangement of the drive mechanism 25 may vary, but, preferably, the latter mechanism is arranged to impart helical oscillatory motion to the feeder bowl 1 8. More specifically, the bowl drive mechanism is arranged to oscillate the bowl about its vertical axis and at the same time reciprocate it vertically.Preferably, the drive mechanism 25 includes a tuning device which may be adjusted to cause the feeder bowl to vibrate at a predetermined frequency, as, for example, 60 Hertz. Disclosure of a typical drive mechanism for vibrating a feeder bowl of the aforedescribed general type is contained in U.S. Patent 3,048,260 to Willis for VIBRATOR FOR MATERIAL CONVEYING APPARATUS, issued August 7, 1 962. The aforesaid patent, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, is hereby adopted by reference as a part of the present disclosure.

An annular ring, indicated generally at 26, and best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, surrounds an upper portion of the outer periphery of the feeder bowl 1 8 and has an upwardly facing article supporting surface 28. The surface 28 is contiguous to the track surface terminal portion 22 and inclined radially outwardly and downwardly relative to the central axis of the feeder bowl, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A coaxial annular groove 30 formed in the ring 26 opens upwardly through the article supporting surface 28, for a purpose which will be hereinafter further discussed. The lower portion of the ring 26 is partially defined by a substantially radially disposed and downwardly facing lower surface 32 and a radially outwardly facing annular surface 34.

The ring 26 rests upon a series of angularly spaced support rollers 36, 36 and 36a which are journalled for rotation about horizontal axes and which engage the lower surface 32 and support the ring 26 for rotation about the vertical axis of the feeder bowl 1 8 and relative to the bowl. It is further supported by three equiangularly spaced support rollers 38, 38 journalled for rotation about vertical axes and engaged with the annular surface 34, as best shown in Fig. 5. The rollers 38, 38 retain the ring 26 for coaxial rotation about the axis of the feeder bowl. The roller 36a comprises a drive roller which frictionally engages the surface 32 to drive the ring 26. The roller 36a is driven through a belt and pulley mechanism by an independent drive motor 40.The latter motor and its associated drive mechanism rotates the ring 26 about its axis in a clockwise direction relative to the feeder bowl 1 8 as viewed from above and as shown in Fig. 3.

An annular baffle 42 is mounted in fixed position above and in generally coaxial alignment with the annular ring 26. Preferably, and as shown, the baffle 42 is generally cylindrical and has an inside diameter somewhat larger than the inside diameter of the ring 26. The baffle 42 is preferably cylindrical and spaced above an associated portion of the article supporting surface 28, a distance greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the syringe body portion 12, but less than the minor dimension of the enlarged flange 14. A downwardly opening gate slot 44 formed in the baffle 42 opens through the lower edge of the baffle at a discharge region angularly spaced from the region of the track terminal portion 22.The upper edge of the gate slot 44 is spaced a sufficient distance above the article supporting surface 28 to allow the radially enlarged flange portion 14 of a syringe body to pass therethrough.

A take-away conveyor, indicated generally at 46, which also comprises a part of the apparatus 10, is mounted in fixed position in the discharge region of the bowl 18 and extends in a generally tangential direction relative to the ring 26. The conveyor 46 has a frame assembly indicated generally at 47, which defines a guide track for receiving articles A, A from the article support surface 26 and guiding the articles in a generally tangential direction relative to the ring 26 to an exit or discharge point at one end of the frame.

The fram 47 includes a tangentially extending guide plate 48 which has a generally upwardly facing guide surface 50. The entry end of the guide plate 48 extends into the annular groove 30, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and is arranged so that the surface 50 is substantially contiguous to the article supporting surface 28. As viewed in the direction of its exit end, and as shown in Fig. 7, the frame 47 and its associated guide plate 48 are inclined downwardly and generally radially outwardly relative to the central axis of the feeder bowl 18.

The conveyor 46 further includes a generally vertically disposed fence 52 supported above the guide plate 48 and in general parallel alignment with the inner edge of the plate. The fence is mounted on the frame 47 so that the lower edge of the fence is spaced above the guide plate surface 50 a distance greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the syringe body portion 12, but less than the minor dimension of the syringe flange 1 4. A support rail 54 mounted on the frame 47 in parallel relation to the guide plate 48 has its entry end disposed generally tangentially of the ring 26. The upper edge of the guide rail 54 and the surface 50 cooperate to support articles A, A as the articles move through the frame 47 which comprises the conveyor guide track. An air manifold 56, shown in Fig. 7, has a series of jet nozzles arranged at spaced intervals along the conveyor guide track and directed toward the exit end to move articles A, A through the conveyor 46. A typical nozzle is indicated at 58 in Fig. 7.

Preferably, the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25 is arranged to operate intermittently. The arrangement for controlling the feeder bowl drive mechanism may vary, however, the illustrated control mechanism indicated generally at 59 in Fig. 8, includes a timer 60 for activating and deactivating the drive mechanism 25 and a photoelectric sensing device 62 for controlling the timer as will be hereinafter further described.

Another control mechanism, similar to the control mechanism illustrated in full lines in Fig. 8 is or may be provided to deactivate both the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25 and the ring drive unit 40, illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 8, in the event that an article becomes jammed in the machine 10, as will also be hereinafter further discussed.

Articles A, A fed from a supply hopper H (shown in Fig. 1) are deposited in the central portion of the feeder bowl 1 8. As hereinbefore explained, the feeder bowl is subjected to vibratory motion sufficient to move the syringe bodies or articles A, A placed therein in a path such that the articles A, A will travel upwardly along the ramp or track surface 20. As a syringe body or article A reaches the track terminal portion 22 it is free to move radially outwardly beyond the outer peripheral edge of the bowl 1 8 and onto the inner portion of the rotating annular article supporting surface 28. The spacing between the article supporting surface 28 and the lower edge of the baffle 42 is sufficient to allow the body portion 12 of the article A to pass therethrough.However, the baffle is positioned relative to the surface 28 so as to engage the enlarged annular flange portion 14 on each article A. Thus, the nozzle end of the article A will be thrown outwardly under and beyond the baffle 42 by centrifugal force causing the article to assume a position on the ring 26 wherein its longitudinal axis is generally radially aligned. The article A, which now rests on the upper or article supporting surface 28 of the ring 26, travels with the rotating ring to the gate slot 44. When the article reaches the gate slot 44 it is moved radially outwardly through the slot and generally onto the take-away conveyor 46 by centrifugal force.The spacing between the lower edge of the fence 52 and the guide plate surface 50 is sufficient to allow passage of the article body portion 12, however, the enlarged annularflange 14, which will not pass through this space, is engaged by the inner surface of the fence 52. An outer marginal portion of the annular article supporting surface 28 remains in engagement with the article body portion 1 2 after the article A is received within the conveyor 46. Thus, rotational movement of the ring 26 imparts the initial motion to the article A required to move it into the conveyor and toward the conveyor exit end. Air from the jet nozzles 58, 58 associated with the conveyor 46 impinges upon the article A to further move it through the conveyor.

The control mechanism 59 which includes the timer 60 and the photoelectric sensing device 62 provides a means for monitoring article movement and for disabling the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25 upon detection of a predetermined condition of article movement, as, for example, a slowdown of article movement below a predetermined rate of movement. The conveyor 46 preferably delivers articles A, A to another conveyor, such as the belt conveyor indicated at 64 in Fig. 3 which, in turn, delivers the articles to another machine, such as an assembly machine. Preferably, and as shown, the control mechanism 59 is associated with the belt conveyor 64 and is located some distance downstream of the conveyor 46. Movement of an article A into the path of the photoelectric sensing device 62 causes the sensing device to emit a high output signal which activates the timer 60.

The timer functions as a timing switch to turn off the feeder bowl drive mechanism upon conclusion of a predetermined timing cycle. When the article A passes the sensing device 62, the device emits a low output signal which resets the time. If the article moves past the photoelectric sensing device 62 within the predetermined period for which the timer is set the timer will be reset before it can cycle to shutdown the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25. However, if an article A stalls in the path of the sensing device 62 for a time longer than the predetermined time for which the timer is set, the timer 60 will cycle to interrupt power to the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25.

Power will be restored to the drive mechanism 25 when the stalled article moves beyond the sensing region of the photoelectric sensing device 62.

Thus, the feeder bowl drive mechanism 25 operates continuously for as long as articles continue to move at a rate equal to or greater than a predetermined rate, as, for example,1,000 articles per minute. However, when a backup of articles occurs on the conveyor 64 the vibratory feeding mechanism 25 is shutdown. Those articles which may already be in position on the ring 26 when shutdown occurs will continue to be urged toward and onto the guide conveyor 46 by the rotating ring and through the conveyor 46 and onto the conveyor 64 by air jets from the nozzles 58, 58. The drive mechanism 25 will be reenergized when the stalled articles again begin to move and will remain in operation for as long as the articles continue to move at a rate equal to or greater than the predetermined rate.

The mechanism for detecting an article jam in the machine 10 is substantially similar to the control mechanism 59, shown in Fig. 8, however, unlike the control mechanism 59 which shuts down only the feeder bowl drive 25 the jam control mechanism shuts down both the feeder bowl drive and the ring drive 40. The sensing device 62 which comprises a part of the jam control mechanism is preferably located in close proximity to the gate slot 44 at the entry end of the conveyor 46. If articles A, A fail to move onto and/or along the conveyor 46 at a rate equal to or greater than a predetermined rate, as determined by the setting of a timer 60, the jam control mechanism operates to shut down the entire machine 10.

Claims

1. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles, each of said articles having an axially elongated body portion and a radially enlarged portion axially spaced from at least one end of the body portion, said apparatus comprising a feeder bowl for containing a supply of the articles and including a generally helical track surface extending along the inner periphery of said bowl, feeder bowl drive means for vibrating said bowl to move articles onto said track surface and along said track surface in one direction and in generally axial endto-end relation to each other, a ring surrounding a portion of the outer periphery of said bowl and having an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with an associated portion of said track surface for receiving articles from said track surface, means supporting said ring for rotation around and relative to said feeder bowl, ring drive means for rotating said ring, means for retaining articles on said supporting surface during a portion of one revolution of said ring and means for successively releasing articles from said supporting surface.

2. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ring defines a peripheral skirt generally aligned with and extending radially outwardly from the upper edge of said bowl.

3. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said associated portion of said track comprises a terminal portion at the upper edge of said bowl and said supporting surface is contiguous to said terminal portion.

4. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a baffle supported in fixed position above said article supporting surface and having a lower edge spaced from said article supporting surface te allow at least the body portion associated with the one end to pass between said lower edge and said article supporting surface and to prevent passage of the radially enlarged portion therebetween.

5. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 4 wherein said baffle is further characterized as an annular baffle supported above and in generally coaxial alignment with said ring.

6. Apparatus as set forth in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said releasing means comprises a slot in said baffle opening through the lower edge of said baffle.

7. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said ring comprises a plurality of supporting rollers engaging said ring.

8. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support rollers comprise a plurality of angularly spaced apart rollers journalled for rotation about generally horizontally extending axes.

9. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in either claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises one of said support rollers.

10. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in either claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said support rollers comprise a plurality of angularly spaced apart supporting rollers journalled for rotation about generally vertically extending axes.

11. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes means for receiving articles from said ring and directing the articles in a generally tangential direction away from said ring.

12. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for receiving articles comprises conveying means including a guide track and means for moving articles along said guide track.

13. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in either claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said conveying means includes a guide plate having an upwardly facing guide surface contiguous to said article supporting surface.

1 4. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 13 wherein said ring has an upwardly opening annular groove therein and said plate has an end portion disposed within said groove.

1 5. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for moving articles comprises means defining a nozzle for emitting a jet of air directed generally toward the exit end of said conveyor to impinge upon articles received by said conveyor.

1 6. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 11 wherein said apparatus includes means for monitoring movement of articles through said article receiving means and means responsive to said monitoring means for disabling said feeder bowl drive means upon detection of a predetermined condition of article movement by said monitoring means.

1 7. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes means for monitoring movement of articles moved by said apparatus and means responsive to said monitoring means for disabling at least said feeder bowl drive means in response to a predetermined condition of article movement detected by said monitoring means.

1 8. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 17 wherein said disabling means is further characterized as means for disabling both said feeder bowl drive means and said ring drive means.

1 9. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 17 wherein said apparatus includes first conveying means for receiving articles released from said supporting surface and said monitoring means is positioned proximate said first conveying means.

20. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles as set forth in claim 1 7 wherein said apparatus includes first conveying means for receiving articles released from said supporting surface and second conveying means for receiving articles from said first conveying means and said monitoring means is associated with said second conveying means.

21. Apparatus for orienting and feeding articles substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.