Fmc Technologies, Inc.

Fmc Corporation

Leonard Evansic

Randy K Baird

In a parts feeder driven by an electromagnet driver, the magnet core and the armature are rotationally misaligned either to adjust the lines of direct magnetic force between the electromagnet and the armature or, where the armature is magnetically charged, such that the magnetic force will exert both an attractive force between the magnet core and the armature and a relative torque between the magnet core and the armature which tends to align the poles of the armature and the magnetic core. A round baseplate design allows the unit to be simply enclosed for aesthetic or for potential air purging applications. Counterweights for tuning the parts feeder natural frequency can be bolted to the round baseplate, the counterweights having a ring segment shape to compactly fit on the round baseplate.

Parts feeder

A vibratory conveying apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention includes a base, a trough, and at least one spring assembly mounting the trough on the base for vibratory conveyance of material in the trough. At least one of the spring assemblies of the conveying apparatus is configured for selective adjustment of the spring rate of the assembly, so that the conveying apparatus can be efficiently tuned for conveying different types of materials, without resort to varying the air gap of the associated electromagnetic vibratory drive, or by otherwise altering spring rates or weight ratios of the conveying apparatus.

Vibratory apparatus having adjustable spring assembly

A sheet jogging device includes a compact housing having an inclined front face, and a rack resiliently mounted to said housing along said front face. Within the housing a drive spring is fixed at one end to the housing and connected at an opposite end to the rack. An electromagnet is mounted beneath the drive spring to exert an oscillating magnetic force on the drive spring to flex the drive spring about its base to reciprocate the rack along the inclined face of the housing.

Vibratory sheet joggers

Sheet jogging device

A vibratory conveying apparatus includes a trough operatively associated with a vibratory drive assembly for conveying pieces along the trough. The vibratory drive assembly includes a base member and a vibratory drive mounted to the base member. The trough is operatively associated with the vibratory drive to be driven into vibration substantially longitudinally with respect to the base member. First and second flexure members or bars extend longitudinally of the base member on opposite lateral sides of the base member, the bars connected at base ends to the base member. At least one leaf spring extends laterally across the base member, the leaf spring connected at opposite ends to distal ends of the bars and operatively connected at a center thereof to the trough. The flexure members provide increased flexibility at the leaf spring connections to increase useful spring life.

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Graceton, PA, United States of America

Leonard Evansic