GB655453A - Improvements in or relating to an article feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

655,453. Feeding articles. POTTS, F. C. (Landis Tool Co.). Jan. 3, 1948, No. 238. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group II] A device for feeding a plurality of articles to a point of operation of a machine such as a centreless grinding machine includes a cylindrical upright hopper 11 for receiving the articles to be fed and means to vibrate and/or oscillate said hopper along and/or about a vertical axis and having a narrow curved upwardly inclined track 20 arranged along the inside wall of the hopper and forming a part thereof, the vibration and/or oscillation of the hopper being such as to move the articles towards the periphery of the hopper and upwards along the track 20 to a point of discharge. The track 20 is wide enough for only one article so that the articles advance up the track in single file and is so constructed and arranged that articles out of alignment are returned to the hopper. Abutment means (e.g. in the form of a suspended cam-like member 21) may be provided for removing from the track or correctly orientating thereon all articles in a vertical position. A hump 22 on the track causes the line of articles to buckle should the movement of articles beyond it become obstructed, if the rate of feed is too fast, the articles falling back into the hopper. A guiding device such as a vibrating tube 30 is arranged at the upper end of the track 20 for receiving the articles and directing them to the point of operation between the rolls 31, 32 of the grinding machine. The hopper is supported on a series of resilient members 12 arranged circumferentially around the hopper and inclined from the base 10 to the hopper, e.g. in counterclockwise direction and the pad on the bottom of the hopper is intermittently attracted by a solenoid 15 and causes the hopper to partake of a vertical motion as well as of a circumferential oscillation. Tube 30 is mounted on flexible members 27, Fig. 2, and is vibrated independently of the hopper but derives its power therefrom as by the member 12, Fig. 2, impacting against a limb of L-shaped member 29 secured to plate 25 which carries the tube 30. The feeding mechanism assembly may be adjusted vertically by screw 62 and in two perpendicularly related directions in the horizontal plane by means of screws 58 and 66 to position the delivery of the articles with respect to the point of operation between the grinding rolls 31, 32.