Vibratory conveyor for conveying items and related filling machine and methods

Abstract

A vibratory conveyor includes a feed tray, an electromagnetic linear actuator and a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A sensor assembly is positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly. A vibratory conveyor in which the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibratory conveyor, comprising:
 a feed tray;   an electromagnetic linear actuator;   a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator;   a sensor assembly positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator; and   a controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 1  wherein the sensor assembly detects movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator by monitoring movement of a portion of the movable drive train. 
     
     
         3 . The vibratory conveyor of one of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the controller is configured to compare feedback signals from the sensor assembly to an intended movement profile, and to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator to achieve or maintain the intended movement profile over time. 
     
     
         4 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 3 , wherein the intended movement profile defines position of the portion of the movable drive train. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the movable drive train includes at least one spring element therealong between the electromagnetic linear actuator and the feed tray;   wherein the spring element has a fixed portion and a moving portion;   wherein both (i) a moving part of the electromagnetic linear actuator is connected to move in unison with the moving portion of the spring element and (ii) a segment of the drive train between the moving portion of the spring element and the feed tray is connected to move in unison with the moving portion, such that the feed tray also moves in unison with the moving portion of the spring element.   
     
     
         8 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 7 , wherein the spring element comprises oppositely oriented helical portions. 
     
     
         9 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the electromagnetic linear actuator includes a stationary cylindrical housing body in which a coil body of the electromagnetic linear actuator is partially disposed;   wherein the spring element is formed on a flexural end cap positioned at one end of the cylindrical housing body, wherein the flexural end cap is part of the movable drive train.   
     
     
         10 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 9 , wherein the spring element is formed by a cylindrical rim of the flexural end cap, wherein the cylindrical rim includes at least first and second spiral slots therein to form the oppositely oriented helical portions. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein the feed tray is one feed tray of a feed tray assembly, and the vibratory conveyor further comprises an additional feed tray that is operatively driven by an additional electromagnetic linear actuator that is separate from the electromagnetic linear actuator that drives the one feed tray. 
     
     
         16 . A filling machine including the vibratory conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein a discharge end of the vibratory conveyor is located such that items traveling along the vibratory conveyor drop along a fall path that includes a sensor assembly for sensing the items. 
     
     
         17 . A vibratory conveyor, comprising:
 a feed tray;   an electromagnetic linear actuator;   a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator;   wherein the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong.   
     
     
         18 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 17 , wherein the parallel spring element comprises a machined spring. 
     
     
         19 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 18 , wherein the machined spring includes oppositely oriented helical portions. 
     
     
         20 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the electromagnetic linear actuator includes a cylindrical housing body in which a coil body of the electromagnetic linear actuator is at least partly disposed;   wherein the spring element is formed on a flexural end cap positioned at one end of the cylindrical housing body, wherein the flexural end cap is part of the movable drive train;   wherein the spring element is formed by a cylindrical rim of the flexural end cap, wherein the cylindrical rim includes at least first and second spiral slots therein to form the oppositely oriented helical portions.   
     
     
         21 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the parallel spring element has a fixed portion and a moving portion;   wherein both (i) a moving part of the electromagnetic linear actuator is connected to move in unison with the moving portion of the parallel spring element and (ii) a segment of the drive train between the moving portion of the parallel spring element and the feed tray is connected to move in unison with the moving portion, such that the feed tray also moves in unison with the moving portion of the parallel spring element.   
     
     
         22 . A vibratory conveyor, comprising:
 a feed tray;   an electromagnetic linear actuator including a moving body portion within a fixed housing body;   a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator;   a flexural end cap associated with the fixed housing body, wherein the moving body portion of the electromagnetic linear actuator is connected to the flexural end cap such that the flexural end cap guides movement of the moving body portion of the electromagnetic linear actuator.   
     
     
         23 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 22 , wherein the flexural end cap includes an intermediate flex region along a length of the flexural end cap and the intermediate flex region is disposed around one of the fixed housing body or the moving body portion to maintain alignment of the intermediate flex region with a movement axis of the electromagnetic linear actuator. 
     
     
         24 . The vibratory conveyor of  claim 22 , wherein the flexural end cap includes a plurality of spiral slots formed in a cylindrical rim of the end cap and the cylindrical rim is disposed around the moving body portion and is connected to an end of the fixed housing body. 
     
     
         25 - 28 . (canceled)